E. Van Halen or Hendricks? Who was better?

Question

I grew up listening to Eddie and loved him, however, after listening to Hendricks's library and watching footage of him live, it seems Jimmy was more "one with the music" as if his body was just and extension of the whole note and song...more existential. Not to take anything away from Eddie, but I have to give the nod to Hendricks.

Who do you think?

Answer 1

I love Van Halen, and point to him and SRV as my main influences. I will never turn my back on VH.

At the same time, Hendrix was some type of supernatural musical freak. He played like a maniac, got in touch with some otherworldy song development skills, and made jaws drop for several years when he hit the scene. He was instrumental (pun intended) in development of a ton of musical equipment.

Eddie was awesome in his day. It seems like he is starting to diminish in his creativity, songwriting, and virtuosity latley. Just seems to me like if Hendrix would have survived - he would have just kept pushing the musical envelope, and surpassing what anyone could have ever understood as music.

Answer 2

Without a doubt, Eddie!

However Hendrix / Hendricks did some amazing songs, and Jimmy had very good idols.

Answer 3

Hendricks

Answer 4

I've seen them both. Obviously they're both great guitar players but Hendrix was more than great,he was revolutionary.Nobody had ever played like that before. not Clapton , not Page , not Allman, not Garcia not even Frank Zappa had ever played anything like that.
Just as Robert Plant set the standard by which all future heavy metal lead vocalists would be judged . Hendrix set the same standard for guitar players

Answer 5

Jimi Hendrix - for his time, Jimi was probably the most original artist. In fact, plenty famous artists claim they were inspired by him. Perhaps it was all the drugs, but he was definately one with his music. Eddie is great, but Hendrix is always going to be one of the most coveted guitarist of all time, which I don't believe Van Halen will ever achieve that status.

Answer 6

FYI, you can agree or disagree with this list by Rolling Stones magazine.
The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

1Jimi Hendrix
2 Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band
3 B.B. King
4 Eric Clapton
5 Robert Johnson
6 Chuck Berry
7 Stevie Ray Vaughan
8 Ry Cooder
9 Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin
10 Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones
11Kirk Hammett of Metallica
12 Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
13 Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead
14 Jeff Beck
15 Carlos Santana
16 Johnny Ramone of the Ramones
17 Jack White of the White Stripes
18 John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
19 Richard Thompson
20 James Burton
21 George Harrison
22 Mike Bloomfield
23 Warren Haynes
24 The Edge of U2
25 Freddy King
26 Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave
27 Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits
28 Stephen Stills
29 Ron Asheton of the Stooges
30 Buddy Guy
31 Dick Dale
32 John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service
33 & 34 Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth
35 John Fahey
36 Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MG's
37 Bo Diddley
38 Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac
39 Brian May of Queen
40 John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival
41 Clarence White of the Byrds
42 Robert Fripp of King Crimson
43 Eddie Hazel of Funkadelic
44 Scotty Moore
45 Frank Zappa
46 Les Paul
47 T-Bone Walker
48 Joe Perry of Aerosmith
49 John McLaughlin
50 Pete Townshend
51 Paul Kossoff of Free
52 Lou Reed
53 Mickey Baker
54 Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane
55 Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple
56 Tom Verlaine of Television
57 Roy Buchanan
58 Dickey Betts
59 & 60 Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien of Radiohead
61 Ike Turner
62 Zoot Horn Rollo of the Magic Band
63 Danny Gatton
64 Mick Ronson
65 Hubert Sumlin
66 Vernon Reid of Living Colour
67 Link Wray
68 Jerry Miller of Moby Grape
69 Steve Howe of Yes
70 Eddie Van Halen
71 Lightnin' Hopkins
72 Joni Mitchell
73 Trey Anastasio of Phish
74 Johnny Winter
75 Adam Jones of Tool
76 Ali Farka Toure
77 Henry Vestine of Canned Heat
78 Robbie Robertson of the Band
79 Cliff Gallup of the Blue Caps (1997)
80 Robert Quine of the Voidoids
81 Derek Trucks
82 David Gilmour of Pink Floyd
83 Neil Young
84 Eddie Cochran
85 Randy Rhoads
86 Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath
87 Joan Jett
88 Dave Davies of the Kinks
89 D. Boon of the Minutemen
90 Glen Buxton of Alice Cooper
91 Robby Krieger of the Doors
92 & 93 Fred "Sonic" Smith, Wayne Kramer of the MC5
94 Bert Jansch
95 Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine
96 Angus Young of AC/DC
97 Robert Randolph
98 Leigh Stephens of Blue Cheer
99 Greg Ginn of Black Flag
100 Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Answer 7

Jimy Hendrix...let's get the spelling right.

Unbelievalbe guitar player...Eddie played some serious licks in his time, but Jimy played rythm and lead at the same time with very little studio effects, pedals and trickery.

Answer 8

Neither. Stevie Ray Vaughn. Don't get me wrong, Jimmie and Eddie both rock but Stevie Ray had soul.

Answer 9

Jimi was able to do what he did playing a right handed guitar upside down and restrung since he was left handed. When you hear any guitar player talk about influences Jimi is one of the first names out of their mouths. If Clapton and Jeff Beck say you are the best, you are the best.

Answer 10

Hendrix