Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have been at the top of the rock world for decades, but even they couldn’t escape the magnetic pull of Jimi Hendrix’s talent. The legendary Rolling Stones duo, responsible for countless hits and enduring success, found themselves in awe of Hendrix, who redefined the guitar and rock music as a whole.
Jagger, never one to lavish praise easily, was quick to admit the sheer brilliance of Hendrix’s playing. “Jimi Hendrix could play the ass off anyone,” he said, comparing the guitarist’s skill to that of blues icon B.B. King. “I think he was as good a blues player as B.B. King is. I think he could do it standing on his head, you know what I mean?” For Jagger, Hendrix’s ability to blend styles and electrify audiences was unparalleled.
Richards, too, recognized Hendrix’s transformative effect on music. While he acknowledged the immense talent, he also noted that Hendrix’s innovation had forever changed the guitar. “Unfortunately, he ruined the instrument,” Richards remarked, adding, “Because after that, everybody growled through it.” Hendrix’s influence was so powerful that Richards felt it altered the very essence of guitar playing.
Their admiration for Hendrix started early, especially after seeing him live. In 1967, while taping Top of the Pops, Jagger witnessed Hendrix’s stage presence firsthand.
“I loved Jimi Hendrix from the beginning. The moment I saw him, I thought he was fantastic. I was an instant convert,” Jagger recalled. “Mr. Jimi Hendrix is the best thing I’ve ever seen. It was exciting, sexy, interesting.”
Behind the scenes, Jagger described Hendrix as a “sweet guy” with whom he briefly struck up a friendship before his untimely death in 1970. Yet, Jagger also recognized the pressure of fame that weighed heavily on Hendrix. “Suddenly he gets what he wants, then has to play ‘Purple Haze’ every night,” Jagger reflected. The repetitive nature of his success, combined with the demands of stardom, may have contributed to Hendrix’s struggles with addiction.
Despite his tragic passing, Hendrix’s legacy has lived on, with Jagger and Richards continuing to pay homage to his genius. Richards summed it up best when he called Hendrix simply, “Incredible.”
