Do you think Hendrix is overrated?

Question

I think he is a freakin god!

Answer 1

No underrated

Answer 2

I think--and have always thought--that Hendrix is vastly overrated. I offer no apologies for saying so, and I'm not going to water down my comment with a "Gee, I know I'm supposed to agree with everyone else..." line of nonsense.

I don't care what proportion of people call him a "god" (what a ridiculous statement) or incessantly place him in the #1 slot on "Best Guitarists of All Time". I can't stand the vast majority of his music, I am unimpressed with his technical ability, and in fact, his playing sounds very sloppy to me.

Oh wait--he originated distortion and other guitar-playing elements that continue to this day. I give him credit for that. But to my mind, that doesn't make him the "best guitar player". If you're going to go with that line of thought, why isn't the person who invented the guitar to begin with considered the "best guitar player" ever? Or the person who invented the electric guitar? They weren't influential enough?

I don't equate "most influential" with "best", because it makes no sense to do so. Maybe without Hendrix, music would have morphed into forms you would be happier with today!

Oh noes, here come the flames! :)

Answer 3

I don't think he is overrated and I think and feel that without him we wouldn't have the great guitar gods of today that push the envelope. When he came along he blew peoples minds. He couldn't even read music but he had such a good background in the blues and soul/funk that he tried out a new sound and that is the Hendrix that was a trailblazer, he put into his music what he felt in his soul and it came through to his performances and is captured on record. To really appreciate him you have to know music and totally open your mind if you know what I mean

Answer 4

Hendrix = God

Answer 5

yes i do.

Dont get me wrong, i think he was a very exceptionally good guitarist, but i dont think his songs were very good outside the people who like them.

I dont think anyone who isn't a hendrix fan would go out there way to listen to his songs is what I mean.

You'd be surprised actually how few people can name a single hendrix song, yet be convinced he's the greatest guitarist ever...

Its not far to say greatest guitaring to anyone anyway, every 'great' guitar player is great because they have their own style of playing ie. clapton, hendrix, may, knopfler to name a few.

So yes i think he's over-rated simply because i dont think his song writing ability or singing were exceptional, his guitaring playing however was.

So in short, although i can easily recognise his guitar playing was exceptional, i would not say he is a god, i would say however that 99% of guitar players were anywhere near as good.

Answer 6

I've been around since Hendrix was around and I have to say that in all those decades I've not heard one person say he was overrated, ever! Nothing but ultimate praise for his mega-talent.

Answer 7

in the 60's he was awsome, now a days for us it's a little overrated but it's the same way our kids in about 15 years will feel about our music that we listen today.

Answer 8

Jimi was a personal friend of mine, and I don't think he was a 'freakin god' ... but he was (and still is, many years after his death) THE BEST GUITARIST EVER!

Answer 9

No he's not overrated but gimmee Stevie ray vaughn anyday

Answer 10

He is a freakin guitar god.

No guitarist will be able to compare to his music and his impact on culture, ever.

Answer 11

Just the opposite.