It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:56 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourning.
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 5:02 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
On this day in 1970 in London England and at the young age of 27,Jimi Hendrix suddenly and unexpectedly died.The rock world was shaken to its foundations with Jimi's sudden death and guitarists who were always thought to be jealous of him quickly came forward and without exception every one of them was devastated.Granted when Jimi first appeared in England there was some professional jealousy but when they all realized that there was more to Jimi than just being an incredible guitarist,he won over even the most jaded of them.Jimi's disarmingly gentle and friendly disposition and self effacing humility, made him fast friends of the likes of Pete Townshend,Jeff Beck and especially Eric Clapton and Brian Jones (whom he was extremely drawn to,so much so that he insisted that it be Brian who introduced him at his incendiary debut at Monterey Pop).

Like most Baby Boomer musicians,my vow to become a musician was made on Feb. 4 ,1964 but it was when I heard Jimi for the first time that I really became obsessive about the guitar.I vowed that I was going to become as good as I possibly could and often practiced up to and over 10 hours a day,and this went on for years.I spent years dissecting as many of his licks as I could and spent many hours painstakingly going over his different sound effects that he made by manipulating the guitar's switches,springs etc. Even though I could never dream to play anywhere as well as he could,I spent years in bands playing covers of his songs and was able to make decent money at it,so some people must have liked my playing,even though I was my own toughest critic.Anyway after all these years,Jimi's music is still as fresh and captivating as it was over 4 decades ago and we can only speculate what he would have done had he been able to live out his life to a ripe old age.Many say that he would have eventually burnt himself out,but not I.I am sure that at the time of his death his music was on a cusp and was about to go through a major metamorphosis and change drastically.With the music on his Cry of Love and Rainbow Bridge it was obvious that his songwriting was becoming more serious and introspective and also more melodic and with more layered and complex.songs like "Angel","Drifting" and "Pali Gap" demonstrated how much his sense of melody had been refined and even with songs like "Freedom","Ezy Rider" and "Earth Blues" he embellished them with layers of instrument and vocal overdubs with interwoven harmonies.These songs were just a teasing taste of what was to come and were no doubt a minute part of the tip of the iceberg and what would have come from his brilliant mind had he lived long enough to commit them to vinyl.Eric Clapton put it better than anyone could when he said:"Jimi was a gift,he stayed with us for a while and then he went back with the other gods."

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourni
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 5:12 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:16 pm
Posts: 18677
Location: In this country town, where the laughter sounds...
Very well said. RIP JMH.

_________________
"Electric Lady"
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourni
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:32 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:43 pm
Posts: 173
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
R.I.P. Jimi.
He was a true genius that played his guitar from such a deep personal place that it gave the listener a window into his soul. Sometimes, while listening to one of his many solos, I have actually noticed my breathing changing pace or I've even found myself holding my breath as he holds a note and it's as though I can't breath back in until he lets it go!! Sounds mad but I'm being 100% honest!
He will never be forgotten. A true legend.
8)

_________________
"A monkey dressed in silk is still a monkey no less" - Rodriguez


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourni
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:38 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:12 pm
Posts: 520
Location: Perth, Western Aus.
Perspective. There was no more mourning for Hendrix than there was for Joplin, Morrison, Cobain or Winehouse.

Fans, and fans of celebrity were probably far more interested than most, and the legend grows over time. Boomers have practically planted these things to flower when they grow old. Die young, famous, and pretty and people will remember you and keep a flame. Get old on fame, and you more likely end up making a living doing matinees in the Vegas lounges and people say stuff like "didn't you used to be..?"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourni
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:42 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
I know exactly what you mean Dan,I get exactly the same symptoms when I listen to Jimi's music and often get a huge lump in my throat.There are parts of "Voodoo Child (slight return)" and "Bleeding Heart" (the Royal Albert Hall concert) that have the same effect.It was through Jimi that I discovered the conduit that flowed from my soul to my hands,his music just affected me that much.It was because of Jimi's music that I became the musician I am today and have had a very rewarding career since the age of 15.

Hi Drubbing;Nobody can say for sure what Jimi would have done had he lived or where he would be today,all we can do is speculate but I have a gut feeling that if he hadn't died so unexpectedly he would've turned out music that was even more amazing than anything he had written before.The music from his "Cry Of Love" and "Rainbow Bridge" is just a tiny peak into what was to come.I doubt very much that he would be a jaded has been playing the nightclub circuits for subsistence wages,I have a strong feeling he would've been actively writing music well into his old age and still inspiring guitarists far and wide.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourni
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 10:00 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:43 pm
Posts: 173
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
If the status that Clapton now holds is anything to go by I don't think Jimi would be doing Vegas Lounge gigs either had he lived. No offence. I can sort of get what you are trying to say but in reality I can't really think of any true 60's legends, that are still alive today, playing the current Las Vegas Lounge circuit so I'm a bit lost at the same time. Maybe there are some one hit wonders from that era doing that but no true legends that I can think of.
I am convinced, just by the sheer volume of posthumous releases, that if he could do all of that in just 4 years of being known, what he could've come out with down the track would've just been truly amazing! He was just reaching the stage of owning his very own studio and mastering its possible tricks and effects as well as jamming and experimenting with other people like Miles Davis and BB King etc so it is a real "if only" situation for sure. Not too long ago I read a biography on him called "Electric Gypsy". I've forgotten who wrote it but you might find it in a library near you if you look. It's an amazing book!
:P

_________________
"A monkey dressed in silk is still a monkey no less" - Rodriguez


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourni
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 11:28 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
Do we have post about the death of Hendrix/Lennon/Morrison/Holly every year?
Can't we just do round numbers, and wait for "50 years ago"?

Can't the other September 18ths be Frankie Avalon's birthday?

Today, Nile Rodgers is turning 62 - that's much more cheerful news!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourni
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 5:23 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:43 pm
Posts: 173
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
arth1 wrote:
Do we have post about the death of Hendrix/Lennon/Morrison/Holly every year?
Can't we just do round numbers, and wait for "50 years ago"?

Can't the other September 18ths be Frankie Avalon's birthday?

Today, Nile Rodgers is turning 62 - that's much more cheerful news!


If you don't wanna talk about it then don't talk about it! Why even make a comment then? I wasn't not being cheerful, just simply paying my respects to an a great artist that another person posted about. No one has a gun to your head forcing you to read or comment. If anyone is being a downer here I think it's you man.
:?

_________________
"A monkey dressed in silk is still a monkey no less" - Rodriguez


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourni
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 6:59 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:12 pm
Posts: 520
Location: Perth, Western Aus.
guitslinger wrote:
Hi Drubbing;Nobody can say for sure what Jimi would have done had he lived or where he would be today,all we can do is speculate but I have a gut feeling that if he hadn't died so unexpectedly he would've turned out music that was even more amazing than anything he had written before.The music from his "Cry Of Love" and "Rainbow Bridge" is just a tiny peak into what was to come.I doubt very much that he would be a jaded has been playing the nightclub circuits for subsistence wages,I have a strong feeling he would've been actively writing music well into his old age and still inspiring guitarists far and wide.


He died at what was likely his peak, or near it. The next best example of sheer creative output in a short span, was Dylan. If he'd died in the early 70s, these threads would be the same 'what ifs..' Well... Dylan is still here and he's got old and bored a long ways back. Beck is noodling different stuff, but is old and boring. Clapton hasn't broken any ground since Blind Faith, he turned into a radio friendly pop rock guitarist and singer, then when he'd made a pile of money, went back to a blues sound that's been around since the 3 kings. The Stones have become a hit jukebox for boomers with money.

That is far more likely how Hendrix would have gone too. Far less likely to have stayed a uber creative Guitar God.


Last edited by Drubbing on Fri Sep 19, 2014 7:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourni
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 7:02 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
Electric Gypsy is a great book but is you want a first hand totally honest account of Jimi's life, or more accurately,life with Jimi,pick up the autobiography by his younger brother Leon : "Jimi Hendrix-A Brother's Story".Leon talks about their rough childhood that was marred by their alcoholic,free-willed. usually absentee mother a sometimes abusive father and having their other 4 siblings either placed in care of just taken from them.Leon also speculated how their adoptive "sister" Janie ended up with total control of Jimi's estate after Jimi's dad All had promised all of Jimi's rather large but very close extended family that they'd all be taken care of.That situation is not only sad but it is an outrageous display of greed and deception and truth be known,probably swindling. "Room Full of Mirrors:A Biography of Jimi Hendrix" by Charles R. Cross, is by far the most truthful and well researched of all the Hendrix bios that I have read so far...and there have been quite a few.This bio is the first one that I've read that makes any reference to Jimi's other siblings Joseph,Frederick,Pamela and Kathy besides Leon. I don't know if other biographers chose to leave them out because they all had some kind of physical disabilities or if they just didn't do as diligent research as Cross did.I don't see anything wrong with paying tribute to any great musician be it Mozart,Bach or Jimi,on the anniversary of their death,it is quite fitting to honor them and to keep their memory alive and if people find these threads either frivolous or offensive in some way they can choose to ignore them just as I imagine they would change stations if some news or music program were to pay homage to them.It will always puzzle me when I think of the lengths some people go to in order to have something to complain about. The petulance of being petty must be an enjoyable pastime for some folks.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: 44 years ago today-the whole rock world went into mourni
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 7:50 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:43 pm
Posts: 173
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
Thanks for the reviews on the best bio's to read! That's great. Like you say, Electric Gypsy doesn't go very deep into is family tree or say much about any siblings or anything. Sounds like they are well worth checking out. I didn't know anything about his sisters sinister greed going on behind the scenes either until I just looked it up briefly. Thats terrible. Here I was stupidly thinking that when I bought an authentic Hendrix product that I was supporting his "good" family.
A line of lyrics that Hendrix wrote just popped into my mind: "...I sure hope they don't try and wrap me up in cellophane and try to sell me"!!!
Poor Jimi.....at least he's at peace now.
:|

_________________
"A monkey dressed in silk is still a monkey no less" - Rodriguez


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: