Hendrix Overrated?

MTM105

MTM105

New member
I have always had a mystical concept of Henrix as an untouchable guitarist who superceded humanity with raw talent and vision.

After watching the Woodstock DVD, the concert footage really brought me down-to-earth; and I witnessed a guitarist who just seemed to be just an average working Joe jamming with his buddies.

The Woodstock DVD somehow ended my fascination with the whole Hendrix marketing campaign. Kinda like finding out Rob Halford is gay.

Am I alone in this opinion? I love listening to Jimi as much as the next guy.

I am sure this will stir up controversary, and I don't mean to offend. You really have to watch the DVD to know what I am referring to.

 
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a guitarist who just seemed to be just an average working Joe jamming with his buddies.
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Jimi certainly had his share of dicey drug-laden live performances, but this statement is a bit of a stretch.

 
I oughta bust you in da mouf!!!!

You do realize that there were no average Joe's like him in that day and age? That he revolutionized the way the guitar was played and the concept of what could be done with the instrument? That he was a divine songwriter and even better rhythm player and composer than lead player?

/emoticons/default_laugh.png Man, don't get me started!

 
Watch, or listen to Band of Gypsies then come back to us. Better yet, try to play along with Machine Gun.

Average working Joe. Hendrix. Right. /emoticons/default_laugh.png

 
Watch, or listen to Band of Gypsies then come back to us. Better yet, try to play along with Machine Gun.Average working Joe. Hendrix. Right. /emoticons/default_laugh.png
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Easily one of the most ass-kicking live performances by anyone, anywhere, ever.

 
I know I've said it here before. I've never been a Hendrix fan. I'm over 40, and last year picked up my first Hendrix record/cd ever.... "Are You Experienced?" I really wanted to like this, and dive further into his stuff. But........

I guess I am not experienced, LOL. Personally, I'll stick with the 3:03 pop song formula.

 
I, too, have watched Hendrix performances and thought to myself that what I was seeing was not as good as some of the performances by other artists. However, when looking at Hendrix in context, no one else was doing what we was doing at the same time.

I saw Van Halen live in 1982. I was blown away. I saw Van Halen in 1988 and thought that the solo part of the show was no better than what I had seen others do so many times during the years in between.

You really have to watch Hendrix with a certain frame of mind.

 
a guitarist who just seemed to be just an average working Joe jamming with his buddies.
Click to expand...
Jimi certainly had his share of dicey drug-laden live performances, but this statement is a bit of a stretch.
Click to expand...
You would have to watch the DVD to know what I am referring to. It is totally different than Woodstock, the movie.

 
Other than the fact that he changed the way the electric guitar is played, wrote some of the most brilliant timeless music of the last Centaury, was able to break down many racial barriers and stereotypes, create an unheard of volume of work in a 3-4 year period that is still being analyzed and studied and even arranged into symphonic pieces, helped the sale of countless Strats, Marshall stacks, fuzz and wah pedals...... and inspired countless people to pick up the guitar....

Yup... just an average Joe

 
Interesting. Maybe Jimi was looped on drugs in that performance - probably was.

I think, in many instances, for this guitarist who grew up in the 80s, Hendrix's talent is subtle. Sit with guitar in hand and try to play his stuff and you'll find that it's very tough. At least I do.

Now, I saw Buddy Guy perform with John Mayer on Austin City Limits (or whatever that show's called) and it was miserable. Guy's guitar playing, singing, all of it was about as bad as my dog dancing on my guitar. So...in some way I can relate to your story of feeling nothing about what's coming out of the speakers of a legend.

 
a guitarist who just seemed to be just an average working Joe jamming with his buddies.
Click to expand...
Jimi certainly had his share of dicey drug-laden live performances, but this statement is a bit of a stretch.
Click to expand...
You would have to watch the DVD to know what I am referring to. It is totally different than Woodstock, the movie.
Click to expand...
I own every legally released Hendrix DVD along with some bootlegs. I'd say the worst "released" Hendrix performance was probably Hendrix Plays Berkley...I watch the Woodstock DVD and get chills and immediately go find my strat...

 
I think steve was exactly right. Theres alot of other guitar players that have come along after Jimi and copped a ton of his style and can leave people who "aren't experienced" saying "so what?" when they go back and hear Hendrix. I guess I've always looked at it the other way seeing that people are still borrowing licks from him some 35 years later he must have been way ahead of his time.

 
Sit with guitar in hand and try to play his stuff and you'll find that it's very tough. At least I do.
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I can't play the way he does. He stretches his middle finger from his index finger to go over to the next fret, from 1st to third fret for example. That, I believe, is what created his sound and legacy. He had that niche and tried to use it to every advantage.

 
I was to young to experience Hendrix first hand, but put me on the list of guys who can't get into his stuff except what I've heard on the radio. And even some of that stuff is blah. The guy can play no doubt, but I don't have to like it.

 
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