OK, let’s get down to business. Who is the greatest all-time rock guitarist? It’s a debate that has been going on for decades. It would be electric guitar. (Guitarists love to argue about their favorite guy ‘till they are blue in the face.) Jeff Beck? Eric Clapton? Jimmy Page? Actually Brian May of Queen just won a big Greatest Ever Rock Guitarist poll. Jeeze, I guess England had a few greats. Something in the water?
The U.S. though, had a few guitar gods of our own: Chuck Berry, Eddie van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and yes, Jimi Hendrix among many others.
Jimi was born in Seattle, Washington, yet ended up in England in the mid 1960’s and wowed the English guitar gods as well as the Beatles on their own turf. Indeed he opened a London performance with “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band,” shocking the locals just three days after the Beatles’ famous album release in England. Paul McCartney seems to love telling this “Pepper” story, and also about how much he loved Jimi and his musicianship.
Jimi’s accolades were practically numberless in his short career, but to mention a few, he had won Best Guitarist, Best Album, Performer of the Year, Artist of the Year, World Top Musician of 1969 and 1970, for starters. And his three studio albums Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland all were ranked in the top 100 greatest albums of all time in Rolling Stone Magazine’s listing. Not bad for four short years of a recording career.
Jimi had a very unsteady and problematic upbringing which may have contributed to his extreme shyness and mild temperament but also his wild stage clothes and flashy antics. And possibly his deep, deep soulful drive for …..excellence? fame? glory? …who knows.
But as to who the greatest electric rock guitarist of all time is? My humble opinion, no question, hands down, is Jimi Hendrix by a country mile. Countless guitarists have tried to learn his style, play faster, and possibly equal him. But no, not after fifty some years has it happened, nor will it ever. There will only ever be one Jimi Hendrix. Trying to out-Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix is about as futile as trying to out-Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder. It ain’t gonna happen Junior!
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