Jimi Hendrix, one of the most innovative and celebrated musicians of all time, had no time for pretense. While he was known for his electric stage presence, pushing musical boundaries, and thrilling audiences with his guitar prowess, he didn’t hold back when it came to critiquing other bands. This was especially true when it came to Pink Floyd’s live shows.
Hendrix, who was known for his outspoken opinions, was unimpressed with the iconic band’s live performances. He made his feelings clear when he was asked about them, bluntly stating, “I’ve heard they have beautiful lights, but they don’t sound like nothing.”
For Hendrix, the spectacle of flashing lights and complex set designs wasn’t enough to distract from what he saw as a lack of substance in the music. He believed their live shows were more about the visual experience than the sonic one, saying that they were simply playing “Johnny B. Goode” with the wrong chords.
Though Hendrix had great respect for Pink Floyd’s recorded music, his critique of their live shows was sharp. For him, a great performance was about more than the lights and spectacle—it had to be about sound, creativity, and energy. Hendrix’s commitment to delivering raw, unfiltered music meant that he held other musicians to a high standard, and in this case, he felt that Pink Floyd didn’t live up to his expectations.
Despite their different approaches to live music, this harsh critique only highlights Hendrix’s own dedication to pushing musical boundaries and his uncompromising standards for what he believed a live show should be. His opinion of Pink Floyd’s live sound remains one of the most memorable moments of his critical take on his contemporaries.
