Terry Kath is a giant among the giants of guitar players. What talent!
Terry Kath is the only guitar player I can find reasonable (to me) evidence that Hendrix went out of his way to compliment. I know there are several others that lore purports Jimi said were better than him but I have never seen anyone familiar with Jimi during his lifetime quoted as having heard him make statements about individual players other than Kath. I know Jimi enjoyed other players but that’s not the same as being in awe.Terry Kath is a giant among the giants of guitar players. What talent!
Yes, and it's magnificent.Recently watched a great documentary on Terry Kath. Iirc, It was done by his daughter.
Hendrix is on record having complimented several guitarists, and former band mates have filled in even more blanks on others he idolized. Besides the obvious blues giants from the 3 Kings to Muddy to Elmore, etc...from his own era, Hendrix publicly complimented Clapton, Cropper, Gibbons, and probably the highest honor of all, Rory Gallagher! (When on the Mike Douglass Show, Hendrix was asked, "So what's it like being the best rock guitarist in the world?" Jimi paused for a second, smiled, and replied, " I wouldn't know, you'll have to ask Rory Gallagher!"Terry Kath is the only guitar player I can find reasonable (to me) evidence that Hendrix went out of his way to compliment. I know there are several others that lore purports Jimi said were better than him but I have never seen anyone familiar with Jimi during his lifetime quoted as having heard him make statements about individual players other than Kath. I know Jimi enjoyed other players but that’s not the same as being in awe.
The Mike Douglas quote is apocryphal. I have watched that interview. What Jimi said was “I’ll say I’m the best guitarist sitting in this chair” with a sheepish smile. He was clearly uncomfortable with all the praise Mike Douglas was heaping on him, but he did not name check other guitarists.Hendrix is on record having complimented several guitarists, and former band mates have filled in even more blanks on others he idolized. Besides the obvious blues giants from the 3 Kings to Muddy to Elmore, etc...from his own era, Hendrix publicly complimented Clapton, Cropper, Gibbons, and probably the highest honor of all, Rory Gallagher! (When on the Mike Douglass Show, Hendrix was asked, "So what's it like being the best rock guitarist in the world?" Jimi paused for a second, smiled, and replied, " I wouldn't know, you'll have to ask Rory Gallagher!"
That's from the Dick Cavett interview. He was also on Douglas but that one seems lost for the ages like many things put to umatic tape back then. It may or may not have happened. It was certainly claimed in a Gallagher biography I read. I think we also live in a world of instant info where if a video clip doesn't exist, that automatically equates proof that it didn't happen. I'm not quite ready to make that leap as there is SO much that was lost to the ether during the early age of video magnetic tape. Either way, Hendrix certainly praised many other players. Certainly in private as attested to by former band mates.The Mike Douglas quote is apocryphal. I have watched that interview. What Jimi said was “I’ll say I’m the best guitarist sitting in this chair” with a sheepish smile. He was clearly uncomfortable with all the praise Mike Douglas was heaping on him, but he did not name check other guitarists.
Monster player sadly overlooked by American audiences for the most part. He's absolutely guitar royalty across the big pond. Definitely worth doing a deep dive into.While I have heard the name, I don't know much about Mr. Gallagher:
Rory Gallagher - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
I agree he was complimentary to other players and I probably overstated the case in my original post. Also you are right about it being Cavett. What I meant about Kath is that although Jimi complimented other players, Kath he made comments indicating a level of awe. He definitely loved Billy Gibbons, from what I’ve read he had mixed feelings about Clapton, liking his lead playing but thinking he wasn’t a complete player because he didn’t play much rhythm.That's from the Dick Cavett interview. He was also on Douglas but that one seems lost for the ages like many things put to umatic tape back then. It may or may not have happened. It was certainly claimed in a Gallagher biography I read. I think we also live in a world of instant info where if a video clip doesn't exist, that automatically equates proof that it didn't happen. I'm not quite ready to make that leap as there is SO much that was lost to the ether during the early age of video magnetic tape. Either way, Hendrix certainly praised many other players. Certainly in private as attested to by former band mates.
20 years olds.......amazing!
Great way to spend an hour and a half.