• JBSRV
  • JBSRV
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  • From: Colorado Springs-Colorado
  • Registered: 2008-07-04
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Topic: this makes me mad...

I was talking to a friend about Hendrix the other day and decided to show him Eric johnson doing Are You Experienced. He said something I have heard way too much of, "Nobody can cover Hendrix... it's not possible." I mean sure Hendrix was one of the greatest to ever pick up a guitar and don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan, but I just don't believe that he was good enough that nobody can ever cover his songs. I like Stevie Ray Vaughan's version of Little Wing better than Hendrix's personally, and it's the same with Voodoo Chile. Another constant argument is that he had soul. Yes he did... but doesn't every Blues player??? Oh well, just a little thought of mine... maybe I shouldn't get so worked up.

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • SRV
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  • From: Pittsburgh
  • Registered: 2007-09-13
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Re: this makes me mad...

I've always said that I thought Stevie Ray did Hendrix better than Hendrix.....I still believe that.....

And I don't buy the fact that nobody else can cover Hendrix, either.  Granted, at the time, there was no one like him.  But there have been almost 40 years for other great guitarists to learn what he did. 

All bets would be off though, if he was still playin', because he surely would have kept evolving.....

They're at home still runnin' for bells
Better San Juan
Than that blue collar hell
  • JBSRV
  • JBSRV
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Re: this makes me mad...

SRV wrote:

All bets would be off though, if he was still playin', because he surely would have kept evolving.....

I agree. I also think that if he would have gotten off of drugs, he would have been even better. I always have wished he would have done what Stevie did and gotten his life in order.

"It makes it sound like the amp is about ready to explode, that's because it IS about ready to explode." -Joe

"I've come all the way from Colorado... Long way from my home. Give me the hammer that killed John Henry..." The Ballad Of John Henry
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: this makes me mad...

People can do Hendrix, they just have to do it with the same freeflowing spirit that Jimi did it with. Don't do a note for note cover, but expand on the possibilities. That's what Hendrix did, and doing that keeps those song in that spirit, no matter how different they are from Hendrix's versions. Robert Randolph comes to mind of current day players doing that (with Hendrix covers).

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: this makes me mad...

It's for that reason, I always lived by this. If you DO Hendrix, do it DIFFERENT.

KWS does a good version of Voodoo Chile, mixes in Purple Haze and a little bit of Hey Joe into it and brings it all back into Voodoo...its pretty cool. But then again he's been doing it that way since '99 and it hasn't changed much. Seen him over seven times.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
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  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: this makes me mad...

I agree that there are a lot of talented guitarists who can COVER Hendrix just as well. The thing is, Jimi was a PIONEER. He did things that nobody had ever done before.
IMO, that's what set him apart.

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • Registered: 2008-02-14
  • Posts: 2,578

Re: this makes me mad...

JBSRV wrote:
SRV wrote:

All bets would be off though, if he was still playin', because he surely would have kept evolving.....

I agree. I also think that if he would have gotten off of drugs, he would have been even better. I always have wished he would have done what Stevie did and gotten his life in order.

He never stood a chance of doing so in that era. Drug related deaths only really started happening at that time, Morrison, Joplin etc.

Aynsley Lister's version of Crosstown Traffic is pretty good too, and stretched it out too. Personally I think Hendrix was a great talent, I agree with NPB though, generalky yiy beed to do it slightly differently from the original, otherwisw its worthless.

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
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8 Reply by crossroads (edited by crossroads 2008-08-14 03:48:27)

  • From: England
  • Registered: 2008-07-04
  • Posts: 265

Re: this makes me mad...

The important thing about Jimi was he was an innovator and a showman.I've heard a quite a few Hendrix live recordings over the years and some of his performances were frankly rough (no doubt due to drug abuse) but when he DID fly he was great.For that reason I only play the Voodoo Child double album which has all of the usual hits and some great perfomances on it.

I know one guitarist who won't listen to Hendrix , because he doesn't rate him, but has everything recorded by Robin Trower,who sounds pretty Hendrixy to my Bassman's ears.
This same guitarist rates Joe's playing , big time, although he is prone to saying "I could play that" then spending four months trying to learn it.Ha Ha,well Joe won't be losing any sleep.

No Ordinary Joe
  • Registered: 2006-09-13
  • Posts: 441

Re: this makes me mad...

I believe anybody can cover Hendrix I'm just not sure anybody can write like him.

"There is nothing to it.  You only have to hit the right notes at the right time and the instrument plays itself."---Johann Sebastian Bach
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: this makes me mad...

Hendrix had a unique way of looking at the world. You could chalk it up to drugs, but I think that's a huge disservice to how brilliant a writer he truly was.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

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  • From: Charlotte
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 2,350

Re: this makes me mad...

Ragamuffin1 wrote:
Bill S wrote:

I agree that there are a lot of talented guitarists who can COVER Hendrix just as well. The thing is, Jimi was a PIONEER. He did things that nobody had ever done before.
IMO, that's what set him apart.

I agree Bill,
Growing up... I absolutely loved Hendrix....At the time, there was nobody who could touch him in my eyes.....Lots of people just thought he was flat out too weird....He WAS a pioneer....
Others can now follow the open trail he left behind him.....He was the one who made the journey first... knocked down the obstacles and made it easier for all of those those who have followed in his footsteps....
You can cover Jimi...you might even be able to outplay him....but replace him....never...If you cover a Jimi tune... you should do it in YOUR OWN STYLE.....Put your own unique signature on it....SRV did it & so has Joe....You can cover some one's music without trying to copy it note for note or overshadow the original artist....It's more of a tribute that way rather than a competition....
Better off blazing your own trail & knocking down the obstacles on your own....Clearing the path for others to follow....Just like our Joe is doing right before our eyes with the blues.....Being a leader isn't always easy or the most popular thing to do...but the dividends will come...All those who follow will testify to that......Pete

Good thoughts Pete.   I heard Joe play "Are You Experienced" many times and it was always incredible.  Did I think that Joe was trying to sound like Jimi, No.   Joe was being Joe which is how he does cover songs...

Music is good for the Soul...