I don't know if you've noticed, or even care about it, but i realized a long time ago that most (good) performers nowadays get older and older, or are dead already. First of all, you probably have to mention Jimi Hendrix, guitar god that decided to spend 27 short years on earth to enlighten us with his music and spirit. I personally don't think that music would have been and would be the same if Hendrix wouldn't have been around. He just is the most influencial guitarist there is, was, and ever will be. Just accept it. Sure, there are greats as Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, John Frusciante, Duane Allman, and so many more, which have contributed amazing things to music in general, but none of them could ever or will ever, seeing as most of them are still alive and doing their thing, reach the levels of greatness Hendrix had reached. Now, most of you probably won't agree on this next little paragraph, but to those of you who do, Kudos. I'm gonna talk about Dylan here. Bob Dylan. So any of you who haven't done so, which i assume are about 83.6 percent of you, listen to the Bootleg of the Rolling Thunder Revue. It is the best live album i have ever listened to and probably will remain the same for many years. Bob Dylan simply writes the best lyrics (thats probably why i love Hendrix' cover of "All Along the Watchtower" so much), and does write great guitar riffs that completely match what he's writing about. Sure, he can't compete with the above mentioned guitar greats, but what the hell, he doesn't have to. Dylan wouldn't be Dylan if he'd do, say, Satriani like Licks to his songs. It just wouldn't fit, wouldn't be as great. Don't get me wrong here, Satriani (I just recently got into the greats of his playing) is an awesome player, but he does different stuff. Oh, and to all of you who think Dylan can't sing...fuck off. Anyway, on topic: Dylan is old, he just is. Luckily he still is on tour and doing what he does best. I can't say enough how much i owe to Dylan. I love you Bobby. Next in line is John Antony Frusciante. Another "living" musician. He wasn't though, a while ago. During his Heroin years he died like, what, 48 times? Anyway, I really have a lot of respect for John. Getting away from that stuff he was taking, becoming that crazy musician he is today. Even though others might say that he was at the height of his talent while recording "BloodSugarSexMagik", I'm gonna say he is today, or at least that he's a way better, nicer, cooler, more inspirating person today. His music is really really really amazing. He writes awesome songs, and he has a 62 strat. Hey, that alone is a reason to like a guy. To keep it Red Hot: Hillel Slovak. Boy...people forget about him so easily. He was the guy that inspired John Frusciante to pick up a guitar. He was the one that made the Red Hot Chili Peppers what they are today. He was the one that died at age 26...unfortunately. I still think it was a tragic day, even though if he hadn't died, John wouldn't have joined the Red Hot's. It would have been so interesting to know whether or not the Chili's would have continued as they did or taken a completely different route. Still, if he would have stayed alive...well...I say it was a sad sad day the day Hillel Slovak left this earth
More is to come here, I just don't feel like writing about all the other (500) artists that died, or are among the few that make good music today
A great part of the reason that Hendrix reached such a god-like level, though, is because he did die at such a young age. He would, of course, still be considered an amazing guitarist if he was alive today, but I don't think he would be as revered as he is if he didn't die in "true rock n' roll fashion."
When something so tragic like that happens, people tend to embellish it, to idolize and popularize. Hendrix went from being famous for the way he lived to infamous for the way he died, but I can't see him being as popular as he is if he was still alive today.
No, but it did make him more famous. People tend to be revered much more after they die, since people tend to focus on them on much broader terms as memory fails - with the flow of time, the bad become badder, and the good become...erm...gooder.
I think if Jimi Hendrix didin't die and kept making music, he would've over-done it. He would just keep touring and his talent would keep fading. Even though when he was alive he was a guitar god, you can't be certain he will stay that great forever. Just look at what happened to the Rolling Stones.
^sure sure...but hillel definitely made a big impact on johns playing. i mean he learned all bass and guitar parts for the first three chili albums because he was such a fan of hillels work
I like this, it is great, but I have to agree with allie is cool, Hendrix was a great musician, one of the most influential guitarits, but as he said himself "I dont think ill live to be 28 years old, I have nothing more to live for, I have giving the world all I have musically and Have nothing else left" (it was something to that extent, I dont have the exact quote on hand) He had given us all he had, and thank God for what he gave us, he changed music forever, I find the quote Ironic too, he died, what like 2 months before his 28th birthday.
great thread, I agree for the most part with everything, just had to add a little more to discuss
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