Jimi Hendrix Wouldn’t Be Famous Today

In this episode we discuss why we know the musicians of the 70's and 80's, but not today's.

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[jshearer]

I appreciate that this wasn’t a “musicians today aren’t as good as they used to be” commentary but instead calling out the music industry for not respecting today’s musicians. Thank you.

[robkilpatrick]

The loss of free-form FM radio plays a major role here. In the late 60's, 70's, and even into the 80's, FM had DJs who could basically play whatever they wanted. This allowed numerous artists to break through. Corporate radio with its strict playlists and format have killed the public's access to any great music that might be out there.

[adampezzuolo]

I really appreciate that Rick jumps straight into his videos! No intro, no ads, no BS, he goes straight into it. I love it!

[bloozintro]

Hendrix stands out today as well as yesterday because he was SO much more than than a shredder on his guitar. His lyrics, his chord progressions, his melodies add up to so much more than his flamboyant stage performances. True, he was a force of nature on guitar, but as I said before, he brought so much more to the table. Of all the monster players that you itemized, I offer that none could match Hendrix' creative output.

[rm]

100% accurate. Centralization of power is always the death of creativity, independence and the individual.

[lloydharris]

I’m so Glad that Jimi Hendrix did become Famous in the 60’s because He influenced many many guitar players to play and He definitely deserves to be remembered through the ages!!!

[josephr]

Frank Zappa explained it the best when he said the old time cigar chomping executives gave the artist free will and when the young college kid executives took over they ruined music because they interjected themselves way too much.

[hohaia]

Jimi was more than a player. He was a creative force.

[michaelcorenzwit]

I was a professional guitarist in the 60s and knew every note played by those that you mentioned. IMO, the demise of creativity in the music industry coincided with the introduction of big money control of the content. Musical talent had a better chance to rise to the top when the entertainment industry was run by musicians. Today it no longer is.

[joslinnick]

When you play an instrument, it makes you apprecciate great musicianship even more.

[heentlasaa]

Just remember, Jimi Hendrix played Backup for many Soul and R&B Acts before going Solo. A Guitarist has to Know Rhythm; Chords, Different Time Signatures and Inverted Chords to Function in these Genres. Jim would get bored and play Scorching Lead Solos over Chord Changes, it resulted in James Brown Punching Hendrix, He was traded to Otis Redding for a couple Horn Players. Billy Cox stated Some Soul and R&B Acts weren't prepared for Jimi stepping out of bounds and adding Lead Solos when he was supposed to play strictly Rhythm. Some of these Bands would leave Jimi Stranded in the Middle of Nowhere. Jimi played Backup for King Curtis; Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Otis Redding, Curtis Knight, The Marvellettes, Ike & Tina Turner, John Hammond Jr, Little Richard, Joey Dee & the Starliters, Marvin Gaye, BB King, Sam Cooke and The Isley Brothers. Jimi Hendrix loved Jazz; Classical, Folk, Rock, Blues, R&B, Soul, Gospel, Country & Funk. Jimi Hendrix considered Bob Dylan a Master Lyricist and studied his Compositions. Jimi jammed with Miles Davis, Larry Young, Roland Kirk, Stanley Clarke, Wayne Shorter, Les Paul, John Mclaughlin and Other Jazz Musicians Producer Alan Douglas could Line him up With. Guitar Greats that love Jimi Hendrix Joe Satriani; Stevie Vai, John Mclaughlin, George Benson, Les Paul, Kenny Burrell, Slash, Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwei Malmsteen, SRV, Carlos Santana, Eric Johnson, Edward Van Halen, Tony Iommi, Jake E Lee, and Countless Others. Music Universitys and Jazz Musicians regard Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis as 2 of the most Innovative Musicians of the 20th Century. His Position in Modern Music is Unmovable. Period. Rest in Peace Jimi Hendrix.

[txss]

I always knew it but never realized it. I have to agree. Where are all the musicians? I started playing a musical instrument in 1965, a cornet. By 67 I switch to a Fender P bass. By 1969 I was in a band and had a hundred close friends and most of them played an instrument. There were 7 kids my age that lived on my street and all of us played an instrument and still do today. Of the 90 that are still alive, all but a few still play. In fact I've got a gig with 5 of them in Austin next week. One of my sons played in the school band for 7 years but nothing more than that. You can lead them to the trough but you can't make them drink. My 2yr old grandson has shown an intense interest in my playing and I vow before I die to teach/show him the lifetime of love playing a musical instrument can bring into your life. 2nd to my family playing a musical instrument has given me the most joy everyday of my life for the past 59 years. Damn, I should be famous after playing that long. O'Well, I think I'll go shred a few.

[billnobles]

I was a garage drummer in the 70's. All the guitar players loved Hendrix, Clapton, Page. They had riffs and solos that carried the bands. The school band guys could read music and excelled. Drums and piano went hand and hand. There's something lost today.

[daijay]

A few years ago my mother and her friend would have afternoon teaand I would join them. They were in their eighties. One afternoon we were talking about music and I mentioned Jimi Hendrix.
"He was such a lovely boy, " my mums friend said.
"Did you know him?" I asked her.
She had met him after befriending his girlfriend. He had told her that sometimes he felt lonely here in the UK, so she invited them to her house for afternoon tea and sandwiches. It became a regular thing for them. She said she had no idea who he was other then he was an extremely polite, lonely American who played music for a living. Apparently her called her his English mom.

[paulsimmons]

Billy Shehan said in an interview that the difference between “the good ol’ days” and today is that the number of local clubs and venues have dropped and today’s up and coming players don’t get a chance to develop like groups in 50’s through the 70’s. Between DJ’s and karaoke clubs, there aren’t many live gig situations. Heck, by the time the Beatles were “discovered”, they were polished musicians with thousands and thousands of live gigs behind them! So many of the names you mentioned were polished before anyone knew about them and then they blew people away! Eddie Van Halen was ready for his shot when he got his chance because he’d done his homework and knew what he wanted to achieve. The same for all the rest on your list!

[diatonicjon]

Jimi was the whole package. It was metal, lead, R&B, blues, rock, even country at times. Jimi loved country. His amazing, unique rhythm in general, his beautiful voice, the lyrics/story (so much of which came from such a broken childhood), the authenticity, the groundbreaking, paradigm shifting feedback and lead tones from Machine Gun and so many other tracks. Jimi was the WHOLE package. Both Jimi and Eddie changed form and function of electric guitar and modern music. Today, we call an Ed Sheeran a great songwriter, or a Taylor Swift. The bar Jimi set has not been reached, in my opinion. Exhibit A is Little WIng. Simple chord progression, UNFORGETTABLE song. So many others... Nobody holds a candle to Jimi. Eddie was just as influential and important, just different. He was the whole package, too! He sang, wrote piano parts, knew drums, so did Jimi! But without Jimi there would be no Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift or pop star. Jimi was a rockstar and a visionary artist, but what the machine ultimately turned the most attention drawing thing into, at the time, was "pop." Jimi's grandmother spoke about things he said to her, about how he felt he was being used and abused for money, and was even in fear for his life. I have read a dozen books from different accounts and angles on Jimi from others and studied his life for years.
Jimi predated the mechanized music industry, though back then it was basically ruled by a different mechanized financing which shall not be disclosed, despite the evidence (sure, drowning in wine isn't an old Mob trick...). Jimi had it all, went through it all, spoke his truth about his life authentically through music. Jimi was like a rising phoenix in music, born from ashes; "...cause the life that lived, is dead." "Fall on trees, just don't fall on me. Point on, mister businessman, you can't dress like me." "I'm the one who's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to." Love you, Jimi. Thank you for everything!

[kylemckay]

Jimi came up in the perfect era for the type of artist he was. One in a million.

[GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy]

'How many diamonds have been overlooked in the pursuit of coal?' That saying pretty much sums up today's music and music industry ( and why Jimi Hendrix wouldn't be famous today ).

[systemaroc]

I think that your videos are a good reference to learn about music and musicians . Not only are you teaching music but also its history. These videos will indeed help the next generations to develop good taste for the real music that stands the test of time. Thank you Rick

[d_xllyles]

I just ran across this video. I don't know how I missed it but wow it struck a cord with me. Your expression of a muscian's impact in the previous century 70, 80, early 90's is an excellent and thought provoking video. I listen to and procure a lot of music and I'm always on the hunt for new talent the strikes or stimulates that felling that this person is a virtuoso of his or her craft. The performance by a muscian being great may be just my opinion of what is good but that's what I find that is all about. Yes times have changed but I still look for that superstar who grinds everywhere not just in a band or his or her genre. Keep producing these execellent videos and hopefull I won't miss the next one as I have no excuse for being so late on this one because I have be a subscriber for more than a minute. I just want to say that was a powerful list you read and it only scratched the surface of what took place in the past. Must of all this one made me smile!!!! great job and thank you.