Throughout history, musical virtuosos have emerged to mark their place in the medium’s evolution. In the 18th century, Mozart was recognised as one of the most talented composers of the classical era, a virtuosic master of the piano and viola. Two centuries later, critics hailed Jimi Hendrix as the Mozart of classic rock.
Of course, Bob Dylan’s songwriting prowess and the Lennon-McCartney collaboration surrounded Jimi Hendrix. However, his instrumental command stood unmatched. From his onstage pyrotechnics to the Woodstock protest, Hendrix rose to the status of rock god in a matter of years in the late 1960s.
Rock ‘n’ roll expanded dramatically in the 1960s, following in the footsteps of electric blues musicians such as Muddy Waters. Blues guitarists appeared to reach a pinnacle in the key psychedelic era between 1966 and 1970, thanks to leapfrogging and friendly competition. Along with Hendrix, renowned guitarists David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck competed for the canopy, often leaving one another in awe.
The late Jeff Beck and his fellow Yardbirds alum Eric Clapton ruled the roost in the mid-1960s. That is, of course, until 1967, when Hendrix released his masterpiece debut album, Are You Experienced. “When I saw Jimi, we knew he was going to be trouble,” Beck said in a 2021 interview with Louder Sound. “And by ‘we’, I mean me and Eric, because Jimmy Page wasn’t in the frame at that point.”
Beck mocked Hendrix’s onstage prowess, recalling the first time he witnessed it. Cool as a cucumber, this stylishly dressed American import could pull out all the stops. “I saw him at one of his earliest performances in Britain, and it was quite devastating”. Beck said with humble envy. “He did all the dirty tricks, like setting fire to his guitar, doing swoops up and down his neck, and using great showmanship to put the final nail in our coffin. I had the same temperament as Hendrix in terms of ‘I’ll kill you’. However, he did it in a much better package with beautiful songs.”
Beck felt that on a personal level, Hendrix was a closed book. However, he recalls meeting him on several occasions as a fellow London resident. Beck even claimed responsibility for the slide guitar heard on Hendrix’s second album. “He invited me down to the Olympic Studios, and I gave him a bottleneck. On Axis, he plays “Bold As Love.” “We met in New York and played at Steve Paul’s club, The Scene,” he explained.
Many fans will favor Hendrix’s 1967 debut album for its clean psychedelia. This is perfectly complemented by Mitch Mitchell’s jazz-inspired percussion. Meanwhile, others will remember 1968‘s Electric Ladyland for its raw psychedelia and the greatest Bob Dylan cover ever recorded. Perhaps the only thing we can all agree on is Hendrix’s unmistakable eye for intricate and compelling guitar work.
