Jimi Hendrix Wouldn’t Be Famous Today

[@jshearer94]

I appreciate that this wasn’t a “musicians today aren’t as good as they used to be” commentary but instead calling out the music industry for not respecting today’s musicians. Thank you.

[@hyperstimmed]

Musicians are just as great today and Rick knows it. The problem is that the labels don't promote real artists anymore, they push whatever simple crap follows their "top seller" formula, ignoring creativity because it isn't a guaranteed sell.

[@DavidCrigger]

@@hyperstimmed I afraid the fault spreads well beyond the labels and the industry... Yes they pursue "whatever sells" - but I don't know that has ever been much different. It's our society at large that decides what sells.... what interests us... and I'm afraid after having accommodated many new and different distractions - videos, computers, gaming, social media - music just doesn't occupy the same space it used for the vast majority of people... I hope the changes, of course. I hope we can recover what's been lost as a society - but I just don't know...

[@AstroSully]

Musicians today are just as good if not better. It's the musical industry and landscape that has changed caters to a "different" type of sound.

[@ahighervibe4086]

@@Methbilly I COMPLETELY and respectfully disagree. I was there... and enthusiast as you say WERE people on the streets! They bought the records, they went to the concerts, they listen to the radio, and many of them played music themselves as a hobby. In other words, most people were enthusiast… Not just a handful. And I understand your argument, I just don’t agree with it. It sounds like appoint made by a younger person no offense intended. If you’re older, then OK… But it doesn’t sound like a comment that would be made from someone who actually experienced the music of the 1970s.

[@georgestevens1502]

@@Methbilly Baloney. I listened to music morning, noon and night every day in the 60s and 70s. I even turned off the sound of announcers for sports games on TV to listen to music instead and not waste time listening to announcers instead of music. Radio, turntables and amps, concerts and festivals were just as ubiquitous as streaming now. There was always a way to listen to music all day long. Transistor radios were ear plug capable even back in the day. The notion that music today is better and more available than in the 60s is specious sophistry.

[@rm6058]

100% accurate. Centralization of power is always the death of creativity, independence and the individual.

[@tak178]

Exactly.

[@frqv]

Well said.

[@carlosimotti3933]

Yeah like pop rock wasn't centralized at the time 😂 Columbia anyone? There was just a higher quality and creativity required in order to get the ears and minds of the youth...and shove drugs and communism down their throats. Today they're fine with Taylor Swift and some (c)rappers.

[@e.d.1642]

That would have been nice if that's what he actually talked about. But this video is just listing people who were famous *among musicians* in the 70s. Big whoop, I learnt nothing from this except names.

[@RIbigDave]

​@@e.d.1642that would be your fault

[@robkilpatrick689]

The loss of free-form FM radio plays a major role here. In the late 60's, 70's, and even into the 80's, FM had DJs who could basically play whatever they wanted. This allowed numerous artists to break through. Corporate radio with its strict playlists and format have killed the public's access to any great music that might be out there.

[@BG-pg5tu]

Don't forget the fracturing of media as well, everyone can stream absolutely whatever they want, and people can carve out small audiences, but that's where they stay. Niche. Pretty sad.

[@nicholasnorris4393]

True that. Radio for the past 20 years at least has been like this unfourtantly. I'm big into bands like rush and zeppelin where all their albums have pretty good material. However, corporate radio just pretty much rehashes the best known songs.

[@frqv]

@@nicholasnorris4393 To a point where the songs got dirty from commercial misuse. 'We are the champions' comes to mind. Great song, hurts the ears these days because it is played to death on every event where 'we are champions' (which completly contradict the original song IMHO). Also, these days its 'money first, music second' while back in the days it was the opposite (yes, everyone still wanted to get paid, but the music was the art, not the moneymaking).

[@risingphoenix1484]

Don’t get it twisted payola was a major contributor to what got played.

[@RogerThat902]

@@BG-pg5tu but doesn't the niche mean more people can make a living than the few who were mega stars back then?

[@lloydharris4565]

I’m so Glad that Jimi Hendrix did become Famous in the 60’s because He influenced many many guitar players to play and He definitely deserves to be remembered through the ages!!!

[@djquinn11]

Most influential electric guitar player of all time.

[@lloydharris4565]

@@djquinn11 Amen to that!!!

[@RIbigDave]

​@@djquinn11and the best

[@johnwrath3612]

I’ve never heard anyone play like him. The reverse voodoo stringing, his giant hands and effortless string jumping hammer ons, the use of his thumb for fretting, the early use of pedals and effects, the minor 9th chords. His licks are instantly recognizable. You can always tell real Hendrix vs someone trying to imitate him.

[@lloydharris4565]

@@johnwrath3612 Amen to that Brother!!!🎸⚡️🎶🥇☝️😎👍

[@josephr9930]

Frank Zappa explained it the best when he said the old time cigar chomping executives gave the artist free will and when the young college kid executives took over they ruined music because they interjected themselves way too much.

[@samrapheal1828]

Exactamundo.

[@mirllewist3086]

@@samrapheal1828 Yes! In Zappa's excellent book, "The Real Frank Zappa Book" from 1989 he definitely talks about what you are saying -- how the old cigar-chompers running the record labels would take a flyer on anyone they thought the kids might like and buy. And then the label execs became young folks who wanted to be as cool as the performers and it all kind of caved in. I have a friend my age (mid-50s...) whose son is an excellent musician but can't get booked anywhere because all the club owners are my age or older and are imposing their own subjective tastes onto how they promote - - not on putting a big variety of musicians out there and letting different markets evolve naturally. And make no mistake - for every Hendrix and Fripp and Summers and other amazing musician that surfaced, there was also Donnie & Marie, Mousercise (a platinum record), Tiny Tim, and a ton of other crap that was also put out there in the marketplace. Basically the bosses were willing to make a multitude of bets in many different directions - and many kinds of styles (or lack thereof) could become popular in their own ways. IMHO, today music execs think they are arbiters of coolness, and as such pick and promote narrow monocultures --- pushing into markets, rather than letting markets pull from the amazing range of talents that exist.

[@dantwomey4215]

Now this is interesting. When did this transformation happen? Ballpark?

[@dantwomey4215]

Sort of like Umpires who think they're part of the "show" in the sports realm.

[@mirllewist3086]

@@dantwomey4215 Definitely recommend checking out Zappa's book, "The Real Frank Zappa Book". He has a lot of discussion on the music business. He basically recognizes that he was one of the folks / bands that benefited from record execs being willing to bet on all kinds of acts to just see what would happen - and how that door started to close sometime in the 80s, give-or-take

[@michaelcorenzwit6860]

I was a professional guitarist in the 60s and knew every note played by those that you mentioned. IMO, the demise of creativity in the music industry coincided with the introduction of big money control of the content. Musical talent had a better chance to rise to the top when the entertainment industry was run by musicians. Today it no longer is.

[@Hun_Uinaq]

It doesn’t surprise me that if the music industry is run by musicians, great musicians are going to get a lot of recognition. As a guitarist, I know how I feel whenever I sit in a jamming session with somebody that has a real amazing talent. You can’t shut up about it to your friends. This is especially the case with her musician friends. Before that kid knows it, other people are coming up to them and wanting to play some music with them. I imagine that in an industry wide type setting it’s no wonder things wound up the way they did.

[@ThenISaidHey]

It's also true with film. Let's not pretend that both music and film were run by studios early on. Something happened in the 60s and 70s (stretched into the 80s) that produced both great music and film. Whatever happened waned as each decade passed. I can't think of a song I am truly moved by since the early 2000s. In that same period, I can't think of a film ("TV" series excluded) that caught my fancy either. Am I just old and shouting at clouds?

[@rhysdavid]

@@ThenISaidHey the only band of this age that comes to mind would be the Foo Fighters (songs like Everlong, Rope, My Hero, are fairly moving. There are a few others but they dont seem to be popular. Nowadays a few tv programs are still amazing, but they often get dragged out too long

[@scottashe984]

The internet killed the music industry dead. Managers, labels, bands come and go. Trends come and go but the internet turned the industry on its head. Big money can be good or bad. It's a tool. Bands today no longer have someone shaping the bands aesthetic, their clothes, how they are billed and advertised or a producer that spends months or a year or two working with then. The money is gone all but for a few chosen ones that are also likely to be created from scratch by a producer under orders from corporate media executives.

[@TrueMithrandir]

bingo!!

[@adampezzuolo5618]

I really appreciate that Rick jumps straight into his videos! No intro, no ads, no BS, he goes straight into it. I love it!

[@CP3oh322]

Most vids "OMG you won't believe what happened! In today's video I'm going to talk about it but let's first spend most of the video waffling. I'll discuss the actual topic in the last three minutes of the vid. Like and subscribe. Today's video is sponsored by Skillshare"

[@SlimyLotusKing]

@@CP3oh322 - It's a trend now because the creators make more money if they can keep you watching a video longer. Hopefully most people will get hip to this and stop watching, thus reversing the trend.🤞

[@hohaia01]

Jimi was more than a player. He was a creative force.

[@mikebowman9844]

True. A creative force.

[@usernameonutube]

Yes a lot of times people fancy themselves great players just because they can play fast for example and it’s much more than that that makes a musician

[@jamberry8026]

YES

[@franklinblack2716]

I just a rant about that!! Hendrix influenced the British players with the Blues, Michael and Prince. He was quirky enough to be a STAR today..look at Miami Pop and Foxey Lady.. Beato ass ticked me off with this video

[@DoIGetTube]

No, Hendrix was a DESTRUCTIVE force! He did more and worse to ruin rock 'n' roll than almost anyone else by causing distortion, NOT cleanliness, to become the norm in rock.

[@joslinnick]

When you play an instrument, it makes you apprecciate great musicianship even more.

[@dobieprime]

this is true. I began piano lessons when I was 9. Eventually I heard Elton John and Billy Joel and I dreamed of playing the way they did. Rick Wakeman. OMG. Keith Emerson. I wanted to play like they did.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

I can't play anything. I appreciate anyone who can.

[@JamesLarcom]

@@peterolbrisch8970 My younger sister and I grew up playing the piano, then I went on to play the trumpet and she the saxophone. When our divorced mother met the man who would become our step-father, we asked him if he played any musical instruments. He confidently told us, "I can play them all." Needless to say, we were both pretty impressed - until, to prove his point, he played a record on his phonograph. We thought that was pretty funny.

[@blatherskite3009]

Sadly, the inverse is also true: you really start noticing the mediocre stuff ... and there's a lot more of that :)

[@retromaster2000s]

That's me I am a drummer Hendrix is amazing The Tubes were influenced by him he left out Roger Steen from The Tubes and Bill "Sputnik" Spooner just because they didn't get to where the others.

[@fredcroft7517]

There was a lot more to Hendrix than his playing (though that was definitely legendary). He was a powerful writer, striking performer, and evocative vocalist as well. Hendrix 2022 would've been a different artist than Hendrix 1967 - but I suspect he would've still made an impact.

[@TheJoeylush]

I agree totally.... I also think Jimmy's passion for music, skill, and being in touch with that day's topic ...he still would have been a star

[@adamstricoff9708]

Leon Is Still Alive. Does he use auto tune? Consider the Quest Tion

[@TheFoolArts]

Yup, he'd be also influenced by different people, music...

[@t_ylr]

Yeah I think if he came out today he'd probably be on the same level as Joe Bonamassa. Not nearly as famous but still a successful artist with a decent following. Or maybe he would go the Pop route and be super famous and have a bunch of Grammy's like John Mayer.

[@jakalfakka]

You've got Lil Nas X as today's Hendrix.

[@jeffdirks360]

Hendrix was extremely innovative as well as skilled. Todays biggest stars are often marked by their personality. Given how talented and creative Hendrix was it is hard to imagine that he wouldn’t be famous with the platforms, musical tools, and his ability to be an icon, or in todays terms: influencer.

[@AaronAaronAaron]

ABSO-LUTELY

[@leinardesteves3987]

Exactly. If hendrix is alive today he'd find a way to merge everything that came before, and he'd have waaaaaaaay more choices of pedals

[@mrchihuahuaboy4306]

Unfortunately most young people don’t care about guitar it’s not as popular as it once was lots of the youth enjoy rap music or catchy pop songs

[@dailygiftsforever]

I venture to guess both of those who even entertained that idea haven't climbed Everest.... Hendrix sonically was and is a master, these clowns should invest in playing from the heart. Oh yeah, that's right.... they are the expert, who don't tour, no records just .... talk of an expert. A laugh... bad one at that.

[@Tom-em8yr]

jeff, your brain washed!… hendrix sucks!

[@bloozintro]

Hendrix stands out today as well as yesterday because he was SO much more than than a shredder on his guitar. His lyrics, his chord progressions, his melodies add up to so much more than his flamboyant stage performances. True, he was a force of nature on guitar, but as I said before, he brought so much more to the table. Of all the monster players that you itemized, I offer that none could match Hendrix' creative output.

[@dandelion381]

Thank you, so very true. Jimi was pure genius, genius. If there are people who cannot see this open your heart and mind and appreciate what he gave us. Jim E, Kelowna BC.

[@ChanceMath]

jimi hendrix a shredder? 🤣🤣🤣

[@billnobles7650]

I was a garage drummer in the 70's. All the guitar players loved Hendrix, Clapton , Page. They had riffs and solos that carried the bands. The school band guys could read music and excelled. Drums and piano went hand and hand. There's something lost today.

[@EdgeO419]

The experience as a band was tight as hell too.

[@alanmiller2250]

Exactly true. If you can't play a blues solo, you lose 33% of all music.

[@JerryCarcia]

Hendrix, Garcia, will live forever in the hearts and souls of young and old who appreciate genius. I meet so many young Deadheads,it's encouraging. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@lotharluder2743]

If Hendrix would be still around of course there would be great influence. It is the spirit of love and peace.

[@Play-On7]

This reminds me of a comment I read some years ago that went like this "Boomers can't complain about today's music being worse since they are the ones that cut music programs from schools." I think there might be some truth to that statement.

[@christopherbjorklund3204]

I’ve said this for an eternity. I truly agree. So many artists then are mere KZbinrs today. Neil Young said similarly he’d have no chance today because he didn’t look the part and didn’t fit into MTV’s mold.

[@noahleach7690]

mtv is not today old timer lol

[@GapToothBitch]

@@noahleach7690 I assumed Neil said that in the 80s or 90s because MTV is non existent now it seems

[@mithilaum]

@@noahleach7690 what he means is that “similarly, back in the day, Neil Young had commented on the historical equivalent of that time- MTV”

[@Kanendd]

True.

[@frankmarsh1159]

Teen aged girls had posters of David Gilmour and Jimmy Page on their walls not because they were cute but because they were great guitar players and everybody from high school kids to grandparents had favorite musicians. A favorite guitar player or favorite drummer etc...From the early jazz age up thru the rock era and in to the nineties musicianship was valued by the general public. Then something happened. Ask a kid today who their favorite guitar player is. Can they even name a guitar player? Or any musician for that matter?

[@paulsimmons5726]

Billy Shehan said in an interview that the difference between “the good ol’ days” and today is that the number of local clubs and venues have dropped and today’s up and coming players don’t get a chance to develop like groups in 50’s through the 70’s. Between DJ’s and karaoke clubs, there aren’t many live gig situations. Heck, by the time the Beatles were “discovered”, they were polished musicians with thousands and thousands of live gigs behind them! So many of the names you mentioned were polished before anyone knew about them and then they blew people away! Eddie Van Halen was ready for his shot when he got his chance because he’d done his homework and knew what he wanted to achieve. The same for all the rest on your list!

[@jeremythornton433]

Nowadays it seems that more than most bars just want a DJ or karaoke. Live music bars are very few and far between here in Toronto at least. It also seems to me that most audiences don't want bands where the players are flashy. The we get into all of the tribute bands. Heck, we have at least 4 AC/DC copy bands but I don't know how they mange to get enough work to survive. In the 70s, I was playing in bands and we pretty much gigged 6 nights a week for months on end. I don't know of a single venue that has live music any night other than a Friday or Saturday. It's really sad.

[@ProcyonChild]

Yeap, nowadays being in a band and getting somewhere is so fucking hard, to find people that have the drive to do it, then to see that local music barely gets any support even when talented, places to play just keep closing and no new open, it's rough to start a band when the avenues that existed back then have substantially disappeared

[@josephbasar5382]

Speaking to Billy Sheehan's comment, John Scofield eloquently said in his interview with Rick, "There aren't enough crappy gigs around anymore."

[@Trailrunner1978]

I totally agree.

[@SeptemberChild1835]

The Beatles weren’t polished musicians.

[@txss]

I always knew it but never realized it. I have to agree. Where are all the musicians? I started playing a musical instrument in 1965, a cornet. By 67 I switch to a Fender P bass. By 1969 I was in a band and had a hundred close friends and most of them played an instrument. There were 7 kids my age that lived on my street and all of us played an instrument and still do today. Of the 90 that are still alive, all but a few still play. In fact I've got a gig with 5 of them in Austin next week. One of my sons played in the school band for 7 years but nothing more than that. You can lead them to the trough but you can't make them drink. My 2yr old grandson has shown an intense interest in my playing and I vow before I die to teach/show him the lifetime of love playing a musical instrument can bring into your life. 2nd to my family playing a musical instrument has given me the most joy everyday of my life for the past 59 years. Damn, I should be famous after playing that long. O'Well, I think I'll go shred a few.

[@potatosalad9085]

Nowadays there's a lot of stuff that catches your attention and priority over the instrument, like the phone scroll or the computer. So even if you wanted to it'd be difficult to find the motivation for it. Also, teens don't see bands of their age other than corporate boybands so

[@topsecret1837]

You can look for them on the internet these days, fortunately. Lots of bands that did not and have not been mainstream for a long time!

[@potatosalad9085]

@@topsecret1837 fair, at 18 I am a Madness fan, though I live in Florida LOL

[@AlexMoukalaMusic]

This is something I noticed in my own music, I myself sometimes write simple tracks that blow up dysproportionately more compared to other tracks, still composed by me, where I put way more effort, passion and soul instead. I think people still love music deeply, but their appreciation for it comes from so many reasons that have nothing to do with skill. Talent and skill are still valued but they're low on the totem pole, it seems.

[@theetravismiller6183]

People wanna feel like it's something they can connect with and understand the melody and structure easy enough to memorize and sing along. It's hard for a non musician to sing along to more intricate music.

[@znostreet5313]

me too

[@ohhnyx9229]

I came to the similar conclusion that skill only really matters if it's helping the song itself shine. Like, you can shred on blues but it probably won't make it better than a simple pentatonic solo with emphasis on the touch rather than the notes per second. In the end, what makes a song good for someone is how they like the feeling of it I think. Sometimes, the technicality and playing maturity makes the song's mood (polyphia, slipknot and a lot of metal music etc). Sometimes it comes from somewhere else (johnny cash, bob dylan etc weren't really technical players, but they fucking knew how to set a mood. In modern music, the feels of the songs are different but same idea). idk if it makes sense, but tldr: I think the feel/mood of a song is what makes or breaks it, and skill isn't always what helps transmit it.

[@KindaKaon]

Would you not argue it takes talent and skill (of a different kind) to write catchy/popular songs?

[@williamsporing1500]

Yea, same here. You have to take into consideration that the general public doesn’t play, they’re faces are stuck in their phone, and they have the attention span of a goldfish. I’m an old 63 year old prog guy. Give me something I can listen to 20 times and still hear something different each time

[@heentlasaa9974]

Just remember, Jimi Hendrix played Backup for many Soul and R&B Acts before going Solo. A Guitarist has to Know Rhythm; Chords, Different Time Signatures and Inverted Chords to Function in these Genres. Jim would get bored and play Scorching Lead Solos over Chord Changes, it resulted in James Brown Punching Hendrix, He was traded to Otis Redding for a couple Horn Players. Billy Cox stated Some Soul and R&B Acts weren't prepared for Jimi stepping out of bounds and adding Lead Solos when he was supposed to play strictly Rhythm. Some of these Bands would leave Jimi Stranded in the Middle of Nowhere. Jimi played Backup for King Curtis; Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Otis Redding, Curtis Knight, The Marvellettes, Ike & Tina Turner, John Hammond Jr, Little Richard, Joey Dee & the Starliters, Marvin Gaye, BB King, Sam Cooke and The Isley Brothers. Jimi Hendrix loved Jazz; Classical, Folk, Rock, Blues, R&B, Soul, Gospel, Country & Funk. Jimi Hendrix considered Bob Dylan a Master Lyricist and studied his Compositions. Jimi jammed with Miles Davis, Larry Young, Roland Kirk, Stanley Clarke, Wayne Shorter, Les Paul, John Mclaughlin and Other Jazz Musicians Producer Alan Douglas could Line him up With. Guitar Greats that love Jimi Hendrix Joe Satriani; Stevie Vai, John Mclaughlin, George Benson, Les Paul, Kenny Burrell, Slash, Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwei Malmsteen, SRV, Carlos Santana, Eric Johnson, Edward Van Halen, Tony Iommi, Jake E Lee, and Countless Others. Music Universitys and Jazz Musicians regard Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis as 2 of the most Innovative Musicians of the 20th Century. His Position in Modern Music is Unmovable. Period. Rest in Peace Jimi Hendrix.

[@peter-ek3uh]

I apreciate the left in the middle of nowhere part. It happens alot. My style is like Zappa I started very young. I know what its like to be stranded in a sea of cheese! But also I know what it feels like to have solos cut short "cut throat"...onstage by a band I was playing with. And I am not going on a fusion rant either. Just being intentionally stepped on.

So great comment. Thank you.

[@arthurdent1097]

@@peter-ek3uh that's when you go sailing

[@peter-ek3uh]

@@arthurdent1097 Primus is awesome!

[@EnCroissant]

*universities

[@daijay9084]

A few years ago my mother and her friend would have afternoon teaand I would join them. They were in their eighties. One afternoon we were talking about music and I mentioned Jimi Hendrix. "He was such a lovely boy," my mums friend said. "Did you know him?" I asked her. She had met him after befriending his girlfriend. He had told her that sometimes he felt lonely here in the UK, so she invited them to her house for afternoon tea and sandwiches. It became a regular thing for them. She said she had no idea who he was other then he was an extremely polite, lonely American who played music for a living. Apparently her called her his English mom.

[@whoneedsposers]

Cool story bro.

[@jamescampbell2521]

Great story.👍

[@rainerbuechse6923]

What a story

[@gjingodjango]

Wow

[@jimmycain8669]

And Al Capone lived with my great grandma (Mamma Uch) in the Bronx before he went to Chicago.

[@diatonicjon]

Jimi was the whole package. It was metal, lead, R&B, blues, rock, even country at times. Jimi loved country. His amazing, unique rhythm in general, his beautiful voice, the lyrics/story (so much of which came from such a broken childhood), the authenticity, the groundbreaking, paradigm shifting feedback and lead tones from Machine Gun and so many other tracks. Jimi was the WHOLE package. Both Jimi and Eddie changed form and function of electric guitar and modern music. Today, we call an Ed Sheeran a great songwriter, or a Taylor Swift. The bar Jimi set has not been reached, in my opinion. Exhibit A is Little WIng. Simple chord progression, UNFORGETTABLE song. So many others... Nobody holds a candle to Jimi. Eddie was just as influential and important, just different. He was the whole package, too! He sang, wrote piano parts, knew drums, so did Jimi! But without Jimi there would be no Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift or pop star. Jimi was a rockstar and a visionary artist, but what the machine ultimately turned the most attention drawing thing into, at the time, was "pop." Jimi's grandmother spoke about things he said to her, about how he felt he was being used and abused for money, and was even in fear for his life. I have read a dozen books from different accounts and angles on Jimi from others and studied his life for years. Jimi predated the mechanized music industry, though back then it was basically ruled by a different mechanized financing which shall not be disclosed, despite the evidence (sure, drowning in wine isn't an old Mob trick...). Jimi had it all, went through it all, spoke his truth about his life authentically through music. Jimi was like a rising phoenix in music, born from ashes; "...cause the life that lived, is dead." "Fall on trees, just don't fall on me. Point on, mister businessman, you can't dress like me." "I'm the one who's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to." Love you, Jimi. Thank you for everything!

[@johnbrady1211]

When Rick said “ I know, I remember, I was there”, I got watery eyes. I’ll be 68 in a few days. I remember also. And as I watch these guys pass on, it makes me sad and I think about my own mortality. Rick forgot to mention Leon Russel, who sang “How many days has it been since I was born? How many days ‘till I die?” Leon was involved in so many other artists, producing, singing, playing keys, guitar, bass. He helped make the Bangla Desh concert happen for George Harrison, bailed Joe Cocker out of his visa problems with the “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” tour. Yep, these guys were star’s because of their musicianship. Great post, Rick.

[@johnjperricone7856]

I'm 58 in November. I DO remember hearing Van Halen for the first time.

[@RyanStone143]

50 for me in Feb. I'm sad that time is flying by so quickly.

[@helenespaulding7562]

@@RyanStone143 it flies ever faster. Believe me

[@henrylipponer7667]

Yea, me too, 68 in September n I'm not too happy about it either but I also was " There " where concerts were always $4 for three famous major acts!

[@Tom-Yum-Gai]

Leon Russell was one of THE BEST SHOWS I ever saw (for example I saw ELP play at the same venue a month later, doing Tarkus, just out). FANTASTIC, his voice gave out at the end and he still did 3 songs that rocked the place. The place was on it's feet. I had a short guy I went with on my shoulders (all he could see was shoulders) for some of the show. Perhaps in the top ten or most under rated acts of that time. You may not know him but you've HEARD HIM. Find the documentary movie The Wrecking Crew.

[@fearitselfpinball8912]

I’ve always thought Jimi Hendrix was dramatically underestimated as both a songwriter and a lyricist (‘footprints dressed in red…’, 'her fiery green gown sneers at the grassy ground...' ). His musicianship takes centre stage for obvious reasons but his big, loose virtuosity is almost always happening in the context of really superb songs (Crosstown Traffic, Foxy Lady, Bold as Love, etc.) I have the same feeling about Chet Atkins: a kind of' songwriters virtuoso'. There’s always a hook. Always something compelling-even… commercial-in the rhythm, the melody… I guess I think that when musicianship is beautifully integrated into compelling musicality in songwriting that’s when it works. So on that logic, there's still a place for a modern day Hendrix (as long as they're not technically good in a way that is remote from compelling musicality). On the other hand, it feels like the age of the instrument is somehow over. I have a little song I wrote about my wife and I called 'The people we aren' t'. It has some lines in the second verse that I like: The people we aren't keep reminding me the 1960s was a long, long time ago and you can't hitch-hike anymoe-- no you won't get very far with a hand written poem and an old guitar...

[@dariusus9870]

I feel exactly the opposite. It is easy to write poems When you have nothing to say Stringing empty words on patterns That impress as mere word-play.

[@persephone1062]

@@dariusus9870 Sounds like you're confusing real poetry w/exactly what you're mentioning: "Stringing empty words on patterns...mere word-play" The two are vastly different from each other, and writing true poetry requires great skill. Of course there are many ppl who don't recognize or can't properly interpret true poetry, and therefore conflate the two...

[@dariusus9870]

@@persephone1062 help me understand what "true" or "real" poetry is. What is that which makes lyrics to be true poetry? Just because I've used some lyrics to express my opinion on Jimmi' writing doesn't mean that I'm confusing anything. But if you ask me what's real poetry i couldn't say nor do i believe that such ridiculousness exists. There are lyrics that one likes and lyrics that one doesn't like. As I've said in my previous comment " i feel exactly the opposite" it's a feeling, a subjective interpretation. But maybe they's an objective measurement of "realness" that i don't know about. To me, Hendrix's lyrics are nothing more than merely words that sometimes may rhyme.

[@dariusus9870]

And just to be sure, are the lyrics that i wrote in my comment true poetry or not?

[@lundsweden]

Actually Hendrix had trouble making it in the U.S, that's why he went to the U.K. He was a great songwriter and extremely creative. The dude was quiet but definately had charisma too. So IMO Jimi was a total package, not just a great player!

[@ursula3438]

I think, Hendrix is one of the few exceptions who could actually make it today, but not because of his McCartney/Stevie Wonder/Prince like genius, but because he also looked like the coolest cat around. And in today's music business looks are sadly everything.

[@bluesenthused7244]

@@ursula3438 I would respectfully disagree on your point about looks. Ed Sheehan ain’t pretty, but he sure sells a lot of records. A single of his is almost guaranteed #1. I would also argue hendrixs’ genius is just as stellar as any of the fore mentioned musicians you named, perhaps even more so

[@ursula3438]

@@bluesenthused7244 Sry, I think I worded that wrong. I'm a huge Jimi fan and wanted to actually say that to me he's in the same league as Macca, Stevie and Prince.

[@ursula3438]

@@bluesenthused7244 Maybe it's not solely about looks but it's definitely about image, wouldn't you agree?

[@swagedelic]

Back in the day, white Americans had a difficult time of accepting a black man as a star. Well that seems to be every decade. So, of course Hendrix had to do it in England and when Americans saw that the Brits loved him, then they wanted to own Hendrix as their own. For example, Americans, especially the lighter-toned folks, have to follow the leader, hence you have trump and 30% of the population committing crime like storming the Capitol.

[@shawnstephens1251]

People just aren't blown away by music today like they used to be. There is so much of it and none of it is very impressive, even if it might be good. I'm reminded of a quote from Eddie and the Cruisers. "If I came out to the club and heard you play, it would be nice, and I would enjoy it. Then I would go home and forget all about it."

[@GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy]

'How many diamonds have been overlooked in the pursuit of coal?' That saying pretty much sums up today's music and music industry ( and why Jimi Hendrix wouldn't be famous today ).

[@aldito7586]

You got it all wrong . Jimi would wipe the map with everyone today !!!

[@robjones2408]

@@aldito7586 Too true. I was on good terms with the late Eddie Clarke, former guitarist of Motorhead and he told me no guitarist before or since could match him onstage. With KZbin, Jimi would have been global.

[@johnsolis7631]

Beatles is all wrong Hendrix was a great live improviser. He would be all over internets with his own content, music, Beatos music sucks and depressing he really doesn’t know anything besides regular music theory of the common practice. Beatos is uncreative, same as Berlin, it’s a big mystery for people like them, and all the rest of music teachers that really never had a clue about anything.

[@MrGnuifje]

Jacob Collier is famous. Snarky Puppy are famous. Not Drake level famous but famous enough. So why wouldn't Jimi 2022 be famous?

[@sircusboy351]

We have John Mayer out here being a star. Somehow, we arguing that Hendrix wouldn't be a star? The music industry no longer has a monopoly on who and what everyone listens to. That is what we asked for and now we have it. Everyone upset about the change they asked for 20 years ago. We can complain that it didn't turn out the way we would have liked. Need to just accept people are getting access to things they want easily now. Perhaps, it is low brow in some peoples opinions. I think what we need to realize is we probably wouldn't have ever heard of Abasi or Henson if we didn't have social media access like we do now. All it would have took was one chump in the music industry to shut those guys down. They'd would scoff at Henson for not singing. How does that sell albums? They'd just be in clubs in LA or Nashville with no exposure. Everyone has opportunity now in many ways. Who cares if the music industry isn't driving it. The people are.

[@kylemckay94]

Jimi came up in the perfect era for the type of artist he was. One in a million.

[@frederickglasser5617]

Yes but if he lit his guitar on fire and no one was there to see it and no one filmed it and no director made the movie we wouldn't remember it 50 years later.

[@23wtb]

Hype.

[@lesleylesley5821]

One in four billion at the time. A flash in the pan, same with Joplin and Morrison. They were unique talents at just the right time.

[@bradysheaplays1499]

@@frederickglasser5617 Bullshit. Jimi was way more than that, and he spent the last year of his life trying to get away from the theatrics.

[@cree8vision]

I've always said Hendrix became famous at just the right time. If he had been 5 or 10 years younger, he would have been a very notable R&B artist. The technology just wasn't there in the 50's to do what he was able to do, the psychedelic movement, plus the influence of Bob Dylan on his lyrics wouldn't have been there.

[@Player-125]

Jimi was a persona as well as an innovative artist. He demanded to be seen as well as heard. He would’ve been huge on social media, especially a visual platform like Instagram.

[@BabyJesus66]

He was kind of humble and shy in person from what I've heard over the years so he might not have been vain enough to post pics and selfies on social media like young people do these days. But he definitely had a cool look and persona

[@dra.eddyveronicamora8377]

Do you really believe that he were alive, he would be in social media??!

[@acetate909]

Jimmy Hendrix is a household name that transcends the music industry. Name the best guitar player to emerge over the past ten years and ask yourself if the average person would recognize that name in the same way the average person recognizes the name Jimmy Hendrix. Rick is spot on in this video. Hendrix would not have been a world famous musician had he been born in 1995. For better or worse we live in a much different musical culture than what existed in the late 60s through the 70s.

[@juan3zz]

I agree with you, Jimi was very Unique. He was something Special, and types like him can and will make it in any generation.

[@stringrip]

@@BabyJesus66 That's true although back in the day he was willing to burn his guitar when his manager and a music journalist suggested it as a way of getting media attention.

[@lovepg56]

If you ever saw Jimi Hendrix live in person you would know that Hendrix was such an extraordinary talent and so original and he was an extraordinary talent as a performer singer song writer arranger and image icon ! Anyone who still reverberates as strongly as Hendrix over 50 years would be a star today !

[@systemaroc]

I think that your videos are a good reference to learn about music and musicians . Not only are you teaching music but also its history. These videos will indeed help the next generations to develop good taste for the real music that stands the test of time. Thank you Rick

[@animenoisepodcast]

Let me start by saying, that I love Jimi. I love almost all of the famous classic rock bands. Even born in 94, It's what I grew up on and what made me want to pick up an instrument and study music and perform it. But I think that maybe part of the reason why Jimi Hendrix wouldn't be famous today or really why music like his doesn't top the charts anymore is because people want things to be easy to understand. And more specifically record labels want to sell things as quickly and as easily as possible. I think another key part is that doing drugs and getting drunk at concerts is just as popular if not more popular than it was in the 70s, but unlike the 70s, the average person getting wasted at a concert isn't doing it to expand their consciousness or participate in the "free love" concept. Most people are doing the exact opposite, taking drugs to not think about the stresses of life that come back around on Monday morning. Or maybe that's even over thinking it and they're just trying to go get a quick hook up at a club. In any case, it's not nearly as easy to dance (especially when you're wasted) to Jimi as it is to dance to the same manufactured, very predictable pop music of today. There's also the fact that pop music is just so easy to make and produce from your bedroom and even easier to consume from your phone. We live in a "McDonalds" generation of music where everyone knows how quickly they can get it and exactly what it tastes like. So thank you for teaching us so much about music and ranting about its current state of production! It's really refreshing! Also, I don't know if I have any right to suggest content for your already amazing channel, but maybe consider getting an interview with those younger, cookie cutter pop, chart toppers. Someone that your kids would know right away and see if you can get the youth on board with your channel. Maybe they might learn something so we can get cooler grammy nominees in the near future.

[@n6gold]

I was a teenager in the 60s and had the good fortune to see most of the top bands live…often more than once. Those of us who loved Hendrix, Led Zep etc would have been horrified if any of them had singles that charted.Hendrix never had a #1 single in the US/UK. Nor did Led Zep. Hendrix wasn’t just a great and highly original writer, arranger and guitar player, he was also a showman… playing behind his back, with his teeth, setting fire to his guitar, making love to it etc. And, even today, the world loves a showman

[@steffanhoffmann8937]

It's a sad reflection of the Smartphone generation. Who have the attention of gnats; generally speaking.

[@alexjenner1108]

Interesting points, I'm hoping Rick does a follow up on why a British artist from the 70s/80s like Kate Bush would not be popular today.

[@JazzgutsVGvanKampen]

I was a teacher at the music school in Leusden Holland, slowly I saw many things change over the years. I know exactly what you're talking about, in the seventies the guitar solo was nearly in every tune, a highlight in a good composition. That changed slowly because of today's mindset which is more about money and materialism than Art and creativity, that's my honest idea, greetings Vic

[@RayTech70]

I love you Rick Beato you show us so much about REAL MUSIC. You are a hero to me!

[@wecanonlywish9194]

Hendrix CHANGED the music style of the day. Before his entrance to the scene, we were playing the kind of rock, that was very melodic and vocally strong. Jimi brought a WHOLE different style of brutal attack and we had our mouths open, knowing that this would be a a new style of the future to come. Every solo was lick oriented, and we saw the challenge in learning his style. ( Not mentioned..was the introduction of the unwrapped third string. Suddenly, we were able to bend the 3rd, which led to so many more riffs to learn. The fact that his vocals was the tension in a line, his shadow playing, following the vocal line...was a challenging, but important part.) Ohhh.. and by the way, I'm 70 years old and was blown away by his ability to create and play the rhythms to "EASY RIDER", "LITTLE WING", "NIGHTBIRD FLYING" with such ease.. His stent with the Isley Brothers, taught him R&B rhythms that furthered his knowledge... Well enough said. You had to be there, to know and feel the iconic change to the musical of the day.

[@persephone1062]

@WeCanOnlyWish: AMEN!!!!

[@JimDeferio]

There was absolutely nothing original about Hendrix. Paul McCartney's fiery & psychedelic guitar bridge on Harrison's "Taxman" (released August 1966) inspired Hendrix with Purple Haze where he used some of the same triplets.. No doubt McCartney was himself inspired by The Yardbirds song "Shapes of Things" (Feb. 1966) and The Byrds "Eight Miles High" (March 1966). Then there is the Paul Butterfield Blues Band with their "East-West" (Aug. 1966). Then a LOUD THUNDEROUS EPLOSION from Eric Clapton on the Fresh Cream album (Dec. 1966) with his guitar bridge/solo on "Spoonful". First genuine heavy metal example that inspired Jimmy Page, Hendrix and others. Plus there was distorted fuzz guitar going back to 1959 and numerous other influences and great guitarists like the lead guitarist for Bill Haley and His Comets in the early 1950's (and before). I guess if you like a steady diet of the pentatonic minor then Hendrix is for you but he proved himself to have plateaued with that horrendous "Band of Gypsies" performance. I still remember how disappointed I was after purchasing the album way back in 1971 (or maybe in was 1972 when I had a bit more money to waste).

[@michaeldean4712]

I've been listening to Stevie Ray Vaughn the last few weeks. Each album has a short interview (SRV Speaks), in which he answers a question about music. In one he talks about how Jimi Hendrix went places that no one else did. When a great player talks about another great player, it says a lot. I think Jimi would stand out in any era, because he would make his own path, regardless of the musical landscape.

[@nightwolf2666]

I saw SRV's last concert the week that he died in the helicopter crash. So sad, it broke my heart. I can't believe Rick hasn't done a video of his history yet. So many guys I knew that were snooty "metal heads", LOVED Stevie, he had so much respect.

[@wallywanker7435]

Nah people on you tube would say he sucks lol. There are so many guitar “experts” now if you aren’t perfect they destroy you. These same experts wouldn’t even be playing if it wasn’t for Hendrix , page , Clapton and the rest from that era. Even the guys in the 80s were playing because of those guys in the 60s. Joe bonamasa is a great player and would be revered in the 70s now the experts rip him. Just too many tools playing now. They would probably quit if they had to learn to play back then , the beginner guitars sucked there were no tuners now it seems parents buy their kids the best equipment and you can learn anything on the computer. Back when I was young I got a guitar from a store like sears a cheap amp and was yelled at to turn it down every day not even a word of encouragement.

[@valebliz]

Hendrix today would develop in a different musician from what he developed into in his own time, so yeah basically the whole discussion is stupid and worthless.

[@Atomic1710]

Couldn’t agree more whicha

[@persephone1062]

@@wallywanker7435 ...seems that we're in the age of the dumbing down of musical literacy -- but so glad you mentioned Joe B.! ...much love and respect for him (also for SRV mentioned above)

[@MrLinights]

Rick, to be known you have to compose something that strikes a chord with people first, then you can take them in an odyssey with your musicianship. I see a lot of players displaying great chops on KZbin but not much composition that'll stand the test of time.

[@TheSteve1037]

I agree, chops/technique are a completely different skill set from songwriting, too many players focus only on chops. Those tools are really just there to help articulate the music you hear in your head.

[@tomtom3420]

In the age of Aquarius, art is blache

[@bluesenthused7244]

@@TheSteve1037 songwriting is so so so so so important. I cannot stress it enough. Thankfully good songwriting still exists. Maybe not in the immediate mainstream but it’s there

[@davidannderson9796]

I know one. This is classical, not rock, but there's a young lady who has composed a set of variations on 'Happy Birthday' on piano in the style of 10 great classical composers- starting with Bach and Beethoven and including Chopin and other legends- that will blow your mind. It will still be talked about a thousand years from now. Her channel is 'Nahre Sol', and it is an amazing composition. A great modern-day classical piano composition, not just piecing together modified bits from famous Bach or Beethoven pieces but composing real, original pieces, worthy of a great classical composer, unmistakably in the style of the composers indicated. With real, deep emotion. I know that people on the internet are much more likely to play cover songs, but if someone has original material they will put it up on KZbin. Anna Graceman did, and KZbin is still her main vehicle for most of her original compositions I believe. You probably have to look for it, but it's out there!

[@jaychip1]

@@davidannderson9796 I just went and checked out Nahre, hoping to come back here and scoff at you for falling for an easy trick... I am almost speechless. The women is a genius. And I had to experience more of her music before coming back. She got a subscriber, and you get a hearty thank you!

[@d_xllyles6499]

I just ran across this video. I don't know how I missed it but wow it struck a cord with me. Your expression of a muscian's impact in the previous century 70, 80, early 90's is an excellent and thought provoking video. I listen to and procure a lot of music and I'm always on the hunt for new talent the strikes or stimulates that felling that this person is a virtuoso of his or her craft. The performance by a muscian being great may be just my opinion of what is good but that's what I find that is all about. Yes times have changed but I still look for that superstar who grinds everywhere not just in a band or his or her genre. Keep producing these execellent videos and hopefull I won't miss the next one as I have no excuse for being so late on this one because I have be a subscriber for more than a minute. I just want to say that was a powerful list you read and it only scratched the surface of what took place in the past. Must of all this one made me smile!!!! great job and thank you.

[@hpoonis2010]

Consider this also: more and more concert-goers are more interested in recording the gig, and posting it online, than truly enjoying the experience. One could conclude (obviously), that people are more interested and invested in their own celebrity than that of any musician, band or artist.

[@ramonmoreno8014]

It's actually weird watching old concerts (15 years and more) and everybody is just standing there seeing the show. All the memories people have now will be of a four inch screen

[@johnnygoodman2003]

To add to your theory. Young people record and post shows of artists, nit because of the music, but in case they capture some kind of reality TV moment. Rapper Little Yacht is more famous for fighting before and or after his show than for his music. His squables make him famous when they captured by fans and posted on tictok.

[@bfish89ryuhayabusa]

I mean, there's also the angle of wanting to have it for posterity. I'm really glad people recorded, say, the Jeff Beck performances at Jazz Fest I attended, because now I can go relive some of those moments.

[@_andrii_u]

I guess music, and playing music was more fun back then, because of less distructions from social media drug

[@Thorsten_Kueppers]

THAT is so true and SO annoying! You go to a LIVE concert and half of the audience is watching the LIVE concert through a display 🤦🏼‍♂️ It‘s ridiculous!

[@paulsimmons5987]

I think all those great musicians have left a tremendous legacy. I've been playing guitar for 56 years and when I go on You Tube and see these amazing young and very young players belt out a solo from my era and later that I can never hope to compete with I'm truly blown away by their talent. The problem today is modern music for the most part just doesn't feature great guitar work. When I see these kids I'm very hopeful that this youngest generation will somehow prevail and that guitar will return to it's former glory.

[@yupihaveone4070]

And what’s extra cool is how many of them are female. Hal Ca forever!

[@kimberlyharshfield8629]

let's all hope!

[@InstantKaarma]

One thing is replicate the Mona Lisa another thing is painting it when it doesn't exist

[@UnchainedEruption]

@@InstantKaarma ^ Exactly this. And not to discredit the hours and dedication it takes to learn a difficult piece, but it is a lot easier and costs almost nothing to learn today in a world where so many videos exist online teaching how to do it just "right," all the tabs people put up, etc. Certainly easier than trying to do it all by ear (though I think that's still important).

[@bluestringmusic]

Hendrix wasn’t just a guitar player. He came in and did something that wasn’t done before. If he was in present time, he would certainly come up with something innovative that would bubble him to the top of Instagram.

[@7Boots]

True, but isn‘t somebody like Tim Henson with his „glitch“ guitar parts, or Tosin Abasi with his amazing technique doing this as well - coming up with something that has not been done before? Up to now, they are only known to guitarists, I guess. It does not reach the public attention somehow. Jesus, I want my MTV back and share records and CD‘s with friends.

[@TempleGuitars]

If he was alive today, John Mayer would still be playing acoustic!

[@MrSteviethegreat]

@@7Boots those guess are great guitarist however Jimi had all that plus the showmanship theatrics and style that few artists have. Can you imagine him on the festival Circuit right now? Nobody would want to go on after him! Plus he was a master at the recording studio. He would be able to be able to do so much more now because he wouldn’t have worry about spending money at expensive recording studios. He would shine because he would be big on Instagram, touring, and on the radio.

[@eddieruddock7014]

@@TempleGuitars He is still alive...

[@herrsebastiankoenig]

@@7Boots The Problem I think with this type of players is, that they don't play Pop music. They play very "artsy" technical complex songs, that don't cater to a brighter audience. Alle the amazing bands and players that Rick mentioned, play or played in popular bands that made popular music.

[@mikemaiocco2538]

Most of today's music is producer driven with a lot of studio magic

[@theodoreconstantini2548]

True, So musicians aren't as important as they used to be.

[@marvinwilson3207]

I think it's important that we take into consideration his style of playing and that as long as you put your name on the band you're making, people would recognize you better. Hendrix has a very unique style of playing and he goes between rhythm and lead a lot. Making songs like Little Wing , Bold as Love, Voodoo child, he made so many songs and sounds with just a handful of pedals, it's crazy to think about it. I think Hendrix in this era would stand his ground and be famous still, not to mention you don't see many people with his style or even performing so greatly, heck he burned a guitar and entertained people not only in music but in sight, imagine someone playing with their teeth too? Who wouldn't want to see that? Like John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King you can tell who plays based on their signature sound too and style of playing, Hendrix has that too and his ability to write music was unique too. That's my take on why Hendrix would be big in today's era.

[@persephone1062]

@neal cassady If indeed that would be the case, I think it would speak more to the lack of true musical depth and appreciation on the part of the listening public, than to the artistic offerings of the musicians in question...

[@snorks1175]

You've got to remember that if Hendrix came up during this time he wouldn't make the same music he made back in the 60s. He took what people were doing before him and pushed in a way where his influence is still being felt today. He was one of the most creative minds music has ever witnessed and I'm sure he would find ways to innovate today as he did in the 60's. To say that nobody would know who Hendrix was if he came up nowadays is a statement made without factoring in his personality.

[@dust-dog]

Exactly, the cream always finds a way to rise to the top.

[@manueldi928]

Really true! I strongly disagree that Jimmy wouldn't be famous today. He was was way ahead of his time! And to think that sadly he passed away at a tender 27. Imaging what he would have done if he did go on for many years after that!!!!

[@saytr4]

That he wouldn't be great or innovative or a "top" musician isn't the point guys. Would he be famous? How many guitar players in their 20s are famous today? Almost none. How many were in 1969? Quite a bit more. That's the point of the video.

[@corneliusrawness]

@@saytr4 you missed the point of his comment a bit

[@saytr4]

@@corneliusrawness ..but not the video.

[@billtribble2904]

Hendrix was/is a force of nature. Zappa a genius. Ya can't stop those trains. 🎸🎼

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Yeah you can, it's called an entire generation that neither cares nor wants to care about jimi.

[@AbstractM0use]

Two of my top guitarists/musicians/composers of all time. 😎

[@MrMick50]

@@TheRoadhammer379 or good music today's generation short attention span

[@JoshAintSoCool]

@@TheRoadhammer379people today also pay to go to 3 day festivals to see an “artist” hit play on a laptop and call themselves a DJ.

[@TimMikol]

The reason I say that musicians of the past that were great, wouldn’t be popular today, is that the young musicians today that are great at what they do are not popular (mainstream). Back when I was young, the big festivals like Woodstock, Atlanta pop festival, Isle of Wight, were headlined by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and so forth. I asked my son if these festivals were held today, who would headline? Answer, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish. Music has changed! This is where we are. I like the old stuff, and any new stuff where musicianship rules.

[@JimmyScooter]

Spot on Rick. 1982 MTV had a devastating effect on the music industry, effectively shifting focus from talent to Bikini dancing and nudity, and in the process can’t but blame also musicians citing Carlos Santana who degenerated into a mediocre guitar player once thought would influence the music industry. Great piece Rick.

[@psych4003]

MTV didn't do this. That kind of sexual appeal was in music ever since the female popstar became a thing, it was just more subdued when compared to how sexual expression has evolved over the decades. It is a shame though how great players are not respected as they should be.

[@1allstarman]

The videos kind of told everyone what to think the song was about , when in fact a good song will have different associations to different people

[@DarthDJJD]

Being a former computer programmer, I would have to say that technology (especially smart phones, social media, and video games) along with a total lack of appreciation of history, music, etc., has damaged or has abused our culture. My sister constantly has to tell her two daughters to get off the phone or playing video games. I recall that John Lennon song "You Don't Know What You Got, Until You Lose It." rings loudly in head regarding this subject. Not having everything at your fingertips makes people not appreciate those good aspects of our culture. Being a 1970s kid, I remember actually being bored. Only having four channels of TV; no VCR's or DVDs; having to wait for several months for that good movie to be released in the theaters; had to use my allowance to buy the latest magazine to find out about the next great movie; having radio, vinyl, or 8 track to hear music; only having PONG or the arcades, which you needed quarters to play. Being bored, I actually had to GO OUTSIDE or START A HOBBY or WORK ON A CRAFT. Now I can't down KZbinrs too much. Just to be popular with significant subscribers takes hard work. However for one of content creator like yourself, Rick, there is a thousand plus who make garbage KZbin videos and get much more subscribers: Playing and recording video games, unboxing videos, girls putting on makeup only, guys doing JACKASS stunts, etc. It's just too easy to have people with this flood of technology to revert to their base and lazy desires. Instead to trying to perfect the art (music, movies, etc.) people go to the bottom of the barrel. And then there is TikTok.

[@kingsouther]

Yep. Boredom leads to creativity. Nowadays, even though ppl are bored, they are never truly bored as they are consuming something or other 247.

[@rgssaurus930]

@@kingsouther they are bored, but apparently busy consuming mindlessly whatever is on the phone

[@kingsouther]

@@rgssaurus930 yeah, they cant create when they constantly consume

[@stephankrain]

Wow I'm so glad I did read this long comment!! 😅👍🏻 It's also something that most people don't do anymore I guess...

[@johnf.r6658]

I don't think the technology is the problem, older people has been saying "radio shows are going to ruin the youth" "cinema is bad, censor movies " "tv is going to make stupid kids " videogames... I made my point, the problem is now these days everyone is offended, everyone is special, not because you do something better than others or you worked hard to create something, you're special just because you're there ... Breathing and taking selfies making stupid dances on tik tok ... So kids these days they believe they're awesome, great, SPECIALS !well they aren't, mediocrity is the problem, not even trying to do better, not at least take the time to truly master and learn something, again, technology this day could be very helpful, you could learn how to play an instrument just watching KZbin but ... I don't see that happening at least not in a significant amount

[@kodyschmidt3306]

Have to agree with Rick. I've been saying this for at least a decade now. Modern musicians are known, but only to other musicians. If you ask the people to name someone who is currently making music, most couldn't name very many unless they've been around for a couple decades. People only know performers and singers. Everyone wants to sing, no one wants to write a song.

[@Tom-Yum-Gai]

the Brill is gone

[@frqv]

Worse, alot of the popular artist have the same songwriters. Which in turn make the music kinda the same style from a composing standpoint. While this may or may not the same to some extend in the past, today the faces of the songs are merely performers, not musicians in the traditional sense.

[@nicholashylton6857]

@@EbonyPope You took the words right out of my mouth.

[@jan_777]

@@EbonyPope Yes, and you can't survive just being a good musician if the money doesn't flow in.

[@artemisXsidecross]

I have spent the pandemic listening to the complete catalog of Barbara Keith who has recorded with The Stone Coyotes for the last thirty years and is in a top tier of song writers that few know about. In time her work should follow Robert Johnson’s and will then be appreciated as well.

[@12kvisions]

Yes … it was a completely different musical era back in the 60s-70’s-80’s. Vinyl with radio-plays and big-event touring reigned - underpinning musical sensation that travelled by word-of-mouth. The players you mentioned were charismatic too, brimming with confidence and musicianship, live shows unmediated theatre - they sure had style in the best way possible. What a blast!

[@joanneblack7697]

I like your videos, Rick Beato. There's a lot of good insights here! Music and entertainment definitely changes every few decades. The musicians you've listed are definitely great, and I'm glad I can hear them all.

[@jerrymorey581]

A thought I've shared with many of my guitar students, when we're learning Jimi Hendrix songs, is that, if Jimi would have stayed in the U.S., and not gone to England with Chas Chandler, he probably would have had limited notoriety as a star in the US. What I point out is that Jimi cut his teeth on the chitlin circuit, he played with Little Richard as a sideman for two years. When he was in New York, trying to work ,and was mostly playing blues and chitlin circuit gigs, his trying to add the folk/rock/and pop sounds into what he did was met with disdain from the scene he was playing in. If he'd have stayed here, and stayed alive, I believe he would've still been a great player, but wouldn't have made the impact he did because of the environment that black musicians called reality in the 1960's U.S. Jimi's moving to England altered the perception of music buying public. To the public, Jimi was an English black musician. To the English, and English musicians in particular, Jimi was an American Blues musician. Jimi had played with the musicians that the English rock stars idolized. Musicians Like Albert, and BB King, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, the Isley Brothers, Little Richard, and many more.

[@pt5820]

Totally agree with you. I also believe that was the reason Hendrix went to the UK - to get noticed and make money, it didn't work for him in the US before that! My opinion

[@tonybates7870]

Chandler said that when he first saw him he couldn't believe Hendrix was an unsigned act, "loose", as he put it. Imagine stumbling onto *that* in 1966!

[@misticformula1485]

Very well stated!

[@axandio]

Jimi *KNEW* he had to follow Chandler. Jimi was a Voodoo Chile.

[@DrunkenRhinoceros]

Chaz Chandler took Jimi's raw talent, put him in the company of elite bands from England, set him in the studio, and jimi started to pen his own compositions. That sparked Jimi's creativity and he rode that rocket to historic heights. The stars that played with laughing sams dice helped too.

[@elainemackie1431]

We were totally immersed in music in the 70s. We learned all the lyrics, read music mags cover to cover and everyone was in a band.

[@CGMiller]

Very true. That was the "it" thing back then. Music and albums coming out. Now it's the latest Netflix show or whatever TV show is out. People are really not all that publically interested in music anymore. Not on the grand scheme that everyone would be anticipating a certain album to come out. No one talks about music like that anymore. Everyone keeps to themselves about it and it doesn't feel like much of a shared experience anymore.

[@sv3931]

@@CGMiller Beato recently did a great vid on just that aspect, check it out.

[@j.d.o5709]

Frank Zappa often said the same about the industry in the 80’s!! Theres an interview where he talks about how even though executives in the 60s and 70s were out of touch with youth and new music, they still *took the risks* and signed artists who were new and experimental. But once the *generation* of the 60s and 70s were in power in the industry, their tastes reflected the “music = a commercial product” model, and had they favored sterile and monochromatic, easily marketable pop music over better music.

[@shteebo]

It's the same corporate trend we see in movies. They dream of a formula that repeats and prints money. It's why they keep making the same super hero movies over and over, and mindlessly remake successful films from the previous generation. Many of the truly great films would never be made today.

[@leebarbier5257]

Zappa was kind of correct (the execs of the 60s and 70s were mostly older jazz or r&b fans who didn't understand younger acts but realized it and took risks) and incorrect (marketable pop music WAS ALWAYS the priority... $ALE$ are always what matters at the end of the fiscal year). In his own case, Tom Wilson, a black jazz producer who Bob Dylan had picked to produce his records, signed The Mothers to Verve (as he did with The Velvet Underground) by telling the label they were "a white blues rock band... like Butterfield) based on seeing a gig... then when Zappa had free reign in the studio Wilson was on the phone with the label telling them "uh... well... it's more than white blues... just trust me on this one, though... it's important." Wilson had enough cred and clout that the label just trusted him... and enough of an audience bought the records that the bottom line worked out for the bean counters. Zappa was actually a good businessman. We do have to look at the fact that a major label released Sonic Youth records for 15 years... Shudder To Think put out a couple of brilliant records on a major label that most people might be able to appreciate by the year 2040... At this point, though, record execs are not people from music backgrounds, they are business school types just using marketing research and business principles to make sure they keep their jobs.

[@leebarbier5257]

@@shteebo yes, and "premium TV" has become where people who would've made imaginative movies in the past do their work... but that is being taken over by the same forces, becau$e becau$e becau$e...

[@kentwestmoreland419]

@@leebarbier5257 Yes,

[@jrshields683]

Agreed. Read some of Andrew Loog Oldham's books to find out how hard it was for the Stones to break into the biz in their day. The Beatles had to cut their own demo record in a record shop. We would consider it impossible today, but we can record a KZbin video.

[@mikec2582]

Who plays lead guitar for Taylor Swift? That's right, nobody knows. Who ever he/she is isn't part of the marketing plan. There are no more Rock and Roll bands, only Rock and Roll Corporations.

[@jamesallison9662]

Taylor York plays guitar in the band Hayley Williams fronts, Paramore. He's an incredible guitarist. Zac Farro is a great drummer too.

[@rruizproductions]

Jimi is still famous among musicians. All guitar players aspire to play like Jimi. His music and playing was pure style. What keeps all past musicians famous is media such as ads, movies, etc. I can listen to Hendrix all day and night and needless to say I grew up listening to all the greats. They will never die in my book.

[@alanmiller2250]

Right that is the other side of it. All the other musicians would have helped make him famous( like they already did in real life) so he still would've been known and famous. Do the formula backwards, other people already said they liked him the best, his performances too would be a big part of that. Get real he would still be known. By word of mouth

[@rruizproductions]

@@alanmiller2250 His compositions and how he played them is what made him great. Just as any other composer. Many other musicians of his era were blown away by his form of playing.

[@scottashe984]

If the music wasn't great there wouldn't be ads, movies etc featuring it. Bach and Mozart have been dead for hundreds of years but thier names are known around the globe. They didn't have electricity, radio, light bulbs or horseless carriages when they died. The music was good enough that when they composed it and wrote it on paper it could be performed and recorded by people born hundreds of years later. That is the power of music.

[@robertlebacs3196]

I agree👍🏼👍🏼

[@DrumWild]

But if he showed up tomorrow on AGT, Hendrix would be overlooked. Dylan would be sent home for being nasally and being "not camera friendly." Hendrix is phenomenal, and part of it is due to WHEN he hit. If he had all of the same songs, but they were released as new songs today, nobody would notice, and that is mind-blowing to consider, because Jimi will always be a king to me.

[@jgweems]

Jimi Hendrix wasn't just a guitar player though. If you'll forgive my pun, he was an experience. He was a songwriter, and a performer with attitude and flare. I can see him being huge on social media if he came along today and people would want to go to his shows to see him live.

[@tusharjamwal]

you both gentleman seem like English might be your mother tongue, did you mean to say 'flair' instead of 'flare' or am I missing something?

[@brunoactis1104]

@@tusharjamwal Not native speaker, but they mean it as like "the spark", "the brightness".

[@jaychip1]

@@brunoactis1104 no, they both misspelled "flair". They meant showmanship, not brightness.

[@Infinitegrowth-zt1mh]

I get what Rick is saying but using jimi as the example is a bad choice to get your point across. 100% jimi Hendrix would be massive if he came out in 2022

[@swagedelic]

Jimi Hendrix invented a certain style of playing that changed guitar playing and the music industry. Without him, I wonder if music would be where it is today. If he came out in 2022, I believe he would still be a star since his style of music may not have yet been invented. If I am speaking out of my back-side, listen to what Clapton and McCartney said about Hendrix when he came out.

[@Ken-yg4um]

The amount of talent that goes unnoticed in today's society is enormous the music industry is a lottery in my opinion..

[@CyberChrist]

I'd say it's a reverse talent show, selecting the worse.

[@whitedog510]

I think the “problem” is there are just many more great players. Random search on KZbin and you can find 13 year olds playing Mr. Crowley note for note.

[@TallicaMan1986]

@@whitedog510 yeah, but the vast majority of those kids won't ever make a solo that will stand the test of time like Mr.Crowely and that's the problem. Too many great players that play other people's music instead of busting their ass off learning and sculpting their very own sound that isn't just technical wankery and a part of finding your own sound is being in a band. Bedroom Guitarists basically exist in their own echo chambers and they all end up sounding like Vai clones or Patrucci clones.

[@ronniestanley75]

@@whitedog510 . Yes. But, copying music and creating original music are two totally different things.

[@CyberChrist]

@@TallicaMan1986 As Rick (and others) said, the disappearance of music venues is to blame for a large part of that aspect.

[@michaelhealy9191]

I love Rick and his enthusiasm for music these videos are goldust

[@CauseWiredVideo]

To me, the big difference is rhythm sections. You mention the many virtuousi, but the loss of human rhythm sections is what guts the music and strips the importance of musicians.

[@agriff4795]

I would have to agree with you on that, a great bassist and drummer can't be replaced with algorithms, without their interplay with the rest of the band, the music is flat and lifeless.

[@danlaxer514]

Yeah, I agree that rhythm section is a great indicator of musicianship. I grew up playing guitar, but I regret not playing drums. So these days when I listen to music the rhythm section - both drums AND bass - stand out. That said, as long as those parts are supplied, even on a computer, by a human musician working on something like Garage Band, they can work.

[@chinor3999]

The Black Keys and Tame Impala are the only "huge" modern bands at the top of my head that use unquantized dynamic drums.

[@danlaxer514]

@@chinor3999 Oh, my. My friend, you have a lot of listening to do if you think you can narrow down dynamic drums to two bands. Good luck with that.

[@chinor3999]

@@danlaxer514 can you recommend recommend some bands

[@K707OR30]

I think it’s a few things. I think you’re right about almost everyone took lessons, and that fostered an audience who could appreciate the musicianship they were witnessing because they had a frame of reference for how accomplished one had to be in order to play that way. Not so prevalent anymore. There’s also just the sheer volume of music that’s so readily available, it spreads the audience a little thin. But a big thing I notice is a lot of the technically proficient musicians don’t always write songs or melodies that grab me, and phrasing seems to be a dying art somewhat in favor of showing off technical ability. Lastly, there’s a lot of parody and it seems to maybe stifle originality. Nearly everyone in your list had a really distinct sound even within the same genre. you wouldn’t mistake Zappa for Carlton even though they both played jazz influenced rock guitar. I think back then people played to their strengths a little more rather than trying to strengthen their weak points, which maybe puts too much emphasis on honing technique rather than actually playing music. I’m a proponent of getting better and strengthening your weak points but I think if you get too lost in that it can come at the sacrifice of spending time on your strengths and in your wheelhouse. I feel that’s where you don’t focus on technique as much, and you end up actually just playing music for the sake of playing music and letting the originality materialize.

[@persephone1062]

@Kellan707: Jimi was totally self taught, never had any music lessons...

[@persephone1062]

@@kennethcrowther2277 My point exactly!!! The genius that was Jimi didn't need lessons from anyone. I made the above statement to say that music lessons aren't always a requirement for a musician to be really good. Of course music lessons are a good thing to have under your belt -- especially for those who aren't so naturally talented, as Jimi so obviously was...

[@persephone1062]

@@kennethcrowther2277 Right on!!!

[@maxmaier6525]

Hendrix was not only a very good player, he belonged to the kind of musicians who break new ground. He tried outstanding new things on the guitar ( techniques, sounds and songwriting). Many of his songs sound very fresh and modern even after many decades and thats why he was ahead of his time. If a guy like Hendrix started today I am pretty sure he would be as innovative and style-defining as he was back then. Maybe he would use modern multi- effects, electronic sounds, loopers in a novel way on his guitar and usher a new era with an unique style. Who knows? Never underestimate the creativity of such exceptional talents.

[@AntonXul]

The problem is that today’s players aren’t advertised or played on the radio today. I believe if classic rock stations would mix in their playlists with some of the modern day players, we can bring them to the surface. I believe if we change what classic rock means from music of a certain era to just great rock music regardless of era, we can bring this music back. I haven’t listened to modern music for quite some time. Today I’m trying to discover the greats of the past because that’s where the great music is. I know all the classic acts like like The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Queen, etc., but since COVID happened, I’ve been exploring long forgotten bands of the past that are great that should still be playing on the radio such as Uriah Heep, Rainbow, The Sweet, UFO, The Left Banke, Vanilla Fudge, 70s era Scorpions, etc. these are bands I’ve not heard on the radio and discovered on my own. These are groups that were playing long before I was born. I wish today’s music was this good, but I must go to the past to get my musical fix, because today’s music is lost on me. I am grateful I am alive today, because I can go back to the past and examine yesterday’s music at the drop of a hat. The only downside is I can’t see many of these bands live as most of them have members who have long passed away.

[@mikeloper100]

Its what Ive said all along. Modern rock music cannot stand on its own two feet. forcing people to listen to it is where they are.

[@PF92079]

When I look at Hendrix, it's his unique sound, inventiveness and creative ability. While I'm optimistic by nature, I'd have to believe someone one with THAT much talent and energy would herald success over the walls of the corporate music industry no matter what they said. Some people are THAT GOOD that they just can't be ignored. He was one of them.

[@richarddelgado2723]

But?!!.. if you really examine it according to Linda Keith some of those ignorant record producers turned Jimmie down She astonished 😯 had to ask herself “Are they watching the same thing I am”? She just couldn’t believe these big record executives weren’t hearing the same thing she heard So much so she finally took her case over to Chase Chandler who in turn along lastly with Paull McCartney were instrumental in making Hendrix famous

[@dionysianapollomarx]

That's too optimistic.

[@almaguapa-sailboatliveaboa440]

Michael Hedges, Andy Mckee, Antoine Dufour, Erik Mongrain, Stanley Jordan, etc are all phenomenal players beyond Hendrix’s style. They staid low profile as music industry was shifting and dispersing to other trends. 😕🥲

[@JohnLnyc]

@@almaguapa-sailboatliveaboa440 None of those guys had a hit song. All had wonderful careers making records and playing live. “Corporate music” (as screwed up as it is) also supported them all.

[@bamacopeland4372]

@@almaguapa-sailboatliveaboa440 they are nowhere near Hendrix level.

[@robm3569]

[Pre-top 40] Radio played a huge role during the time you're talking about Rick. You could tune in to a radio station and hear ALL kinds of music from multiple genres and DJ's introduced new bands/music all the time. College radio stations sometimes took it to even greater levels, playing obscure music one wouldn't otherwise ever get to hear. And people bought music, albums mostly, and shared them with friends ~ "You have to hear this new album by...". This was common place. I now stream radio stations looking for something interesting to listen to and occasionaly find a gem or two. There's still great music being made, I'm just not sure if we will ever see the same kind of response we once did on a grand scale. The solo artists you describe might be a thing of the past and only musicians and music lovers who appreciate the new artist with his or her own twist-on-a theme will carry the torch. A friend of mine who taught guitar in Manhattan for many years recently said ~ "Guitar is the new accordion". I laughed. But I also cringed.

[@JamesJones-zt2yx]

Exactly. I did most of my growing up in Moore, Oklahoma, then home of the 50 kW clear channel (not Clear Channel) station KOMA. (We lived a couple of miles from the transmitter, so we didn't pick it up on the water pipes.) Even before we moved there we heard it a lot when traveling at night on the way to visit family. Things were far less specialized then. On KOMA we could hear a wide variety of rock and Motown... but also Henson Cargill's socially conscious country hit "Skip a Rope", Ray Charles's country-flavored "I Can't Stop Loving You", David Houston's "Almost Persuaded"" (*and* Sheb Wooley's parody, "Almost Persuaded #2" recorded under his "Ben Colder" persona)..and even novelty songs like "I Love Onions", "Loving You Has Made Me Bananas", and "Cinderella Rockefeller". A huge variety that you'd never hear on a single station today.

[@LcdDrmr]

"Playing the hits" goes back to the 30's, but Top 40 really took off as a format in the mid-50's and by the 60's was well-established. Of course, this wasn't rock alone, but whatever tunes were successful. So, you had country, R&B/Motown, jazz, novelties, rock, folk, balladeers and crooners, all vying for listeners and singles sales. But late in the decade it became as you're describing, with college FM stations playing album cuts and most people's attention turning to albums ahead of singles. Radio became divided into AM pop and "serious" FM, and it resulted in a flourishing of artists (even on AM) that didn't tail off until the eighties, when the record companies slowly began to regain the kind of control they'd had in the 50's, the era of "teen idols" (most of whom still had to have talent). Now, music and media platforms are combined, much like other social media, as a place to suck information out of you, and artistry simply doesn't matter as long as the $ rolls in. "Popular" music has become background, and at best a soundtrack, to whatever else people are doing (usually social media). It used to be a part of life, something special, inspirational and engaging, and now it's just a drug to make time pass and chase away the sound of silence.

[@strategery101]

This is EVERY new song today: *tic tic tic tic tic tic tic tic fake drum with some incoherent mumbling*

[@cooldebt]

Agree that radio really had a lot to do with it. We listened to what was on the radio because we couldn't go out and buy every album (I would only buy albums on which I liked at least 70% of the songs) - there was a lot of reliance on a good radio DJ to play some good music. Unfortinatley, my kids and I cannot listen to the stuff on the radio now so we're on KZbin and Spotify a lot. Interestingly, our favourite local jazz band The Consouls (we are in the musical backwater of Australia - hardly anyone tours out here) gained a large global audience solely from online presence - especially the last two years. They couldn't have done it by touring - too expensive and they wouldn't have the funds so the only way they get heard is also word of mouth/the share button but they also don't really make physical albums so I think they have to re-define what 'making it' really means in this digital age. Lucky for us we get to see them live but accessibility (not talking about ramps and stuff) of live performance space in the city is another topic for another day!

[@cooldebt]

@@strategery101 💯😂

[@losferwords10]

Do not think for a minute that Jimi would not be the revolutionary force of nature he was! Jimi was amazing, he singlehandedly made every other guitarist of his time re-evaluate their craft and up their game to a new level (Jeff Beck's words). I have not heard that compliment given to any other musician. Jimi would be a force of nature in any era of music. This same phenomenon happened again in the 80s with Stevie. His playing reinvigorated the Blues community and got the roots growing, producing and thriving through many genres of music, he brought Clapton back to the blues. There are certain people who just cannot be ignored and demand our attention. I can't wait for the next music renaissance; may we all be here to welcome it.

[@johndunn3492]

I could not agree more. It doesn’t matter the style of music, because everything changes, but it’s really fun to hear superb musicianship. You don’t get so much of that these days unless you’re into jazz. I took music lessons at school and played in the band from grade 7 through grade 12. It gave me a really good appreciation of songs and music and how things are put together. And it’s a beautifully non-digital experience. You blow into the instrument, move your fingers, and these amazing rich tones come out. Unless you’re learning, and horrible squawks and squeaks come out. It also teaches you to work together for a common cause, a common sound.

[@Julian05215]

Jimi was writing for the human, for the soul and that’s the music that really timeless and stays forever. The rest of the filling from every decade will eventually fade out and only the greats continue to stand.

[@arfboucher3855]

​@@andoletube so, what is the point ? are you sure you know the point ?

[@songfulmusicofsongs]

I agree. It's not guaranteed he'd be very successful mainstream, but I'm sure his talent would be appreciated.

[@artvandelay3840]

@@arfboucher3855 The point is, today's music scene is very different from the music scene that Jimi emerged from. His scene allowed him to blossom because it appreciated musicianship. Today's music scene doesn't, at least, not in the extant where a virtuoso can become a star.

[@LukeLendrum]

I thought you did this video already but either way it's accurate. Frank Zappa was completely correct about why the industry was better when people who didn't see themselves as "curators" or "tastemakers" were in charge of the recording studios. I'm butchering his words but you know what I mean. Also can we get an hour of you talking about Zappa and Captain Beefheart?

[@RichardHandal301]

Today, music execs don’t even recognize good bands. Then, the GROUPIES even knew what a good band was.

[@barkingpumpkin5693]

Yes! i also would like to hear you talk about Frank.

[@Tom-Yum-Gai]

yeah, he said the old guys chomping green cigars would just go...ummmm, OK, do that. Then the business suits came in, the sons of the guys that MADE something. Business majors. And now we have crap. crap that sells, but crap. It's modern day elevator music. Oddly they no longer plan muzak in supermarkets...you'll hear Led Zeppelin, etc.

[@frqv]

@@GizzyDillespee More like, his shitty offspring who never did anything execpt claiming copyrights. Still alot to talk about, and music can be analyzed without playing the whole song (or any original material). David Bennett recently recreated 'I am the walrus' from the beatles and analyzed it on his channel. Alot of work, of course, but fun to watch and a bit of 'I make my own song, with coke and hookers!' :-)

[@jeff4310]

Something to consider Rick, Jimi came along at just the right time in history. Music was changing and he was at the forefront of the guitar revolution. You could say the same of Eddie Van Halen. To be honest, I don't think he would be famous, or as famous, as he was if he emerged today. Like you, I'm glad I grew up in the 60s and 70s. There will never be another time like it!

[@danielwoods2531]

They Rock n Roll would never die. Well its definately on life support if not dead already. Rock music will always be around but in popular culture it 's time has passed.

[@andari7467]

Nah....can't say that.... everybody has their time in history.....the 2000s are the best if you ask me

[@mrchihuahuaboy4306]

Why are the 2000s the best? I’m just curious

[@mrchihuahuaboy4306]

Why are the 2000s the best? I’m just curious

[@jeff4310]

@@andari7467 They're not. I think it has a lot to do with when you were growing up and what was happening in the culture at the time. I think Daniel Woods is right, although people today still enjoy Jimi's music, they can never appreciate it like those who were alive and immersed in it at the time.

[@SlimyLotusKing]

I had to laugh when you mentioned Chuck Mangione, I still remember hearing a smooth jazz/pop/disco chuck hit playing on the radio all the time as a kid. Just totally different times.

[@JodiMusicOfficial]

Love the channel Rick. In my humble opinion and as young person & musician living in 2022 but who grew up on rock, blues and soul music, I do not necessarily think that musicianship has been lost entirely. I do however, think that the appeal of the guitar as an instrument has fell slightly to the wayside. When Hendrix came along, NOONE had ever heard anything like it..his use of feedback, the whammy bar, fuzz, wah wah, even bending a string was not exactly common place in guitar music that came before (think jazz players). Thats partly why he was so famous and appealing to people because noone had ever heard anything like it before. Now 50 years later, people have heard almost every style of guitar playing and its no longer new. People like NEW. Thats why genres like hyperpop are becoming extremely popular, because it sounds like nothing else (check out 100 gecs, or SOPHIE). Nowadays, it almost seems like producers and beatmakers are the new stars, other than singers, and making beats and producing has kind of become the new "guitar", whereas every kid nowadays wants to learn how to make beats as opposed to taking guitar lessons. And we cant forget about guys like Thundercat, Anderson Paak, John Mayer, Charlie Puth, Jacob Colier. I would think everyone would agree that these guys are all "stars" and are all killer musicians too.

[@MRL8770]

SOPHIE is one of my all-time favourite musicians. Yet, I feel that even if she was still alive, she would never get the fame akin to the one of Jimi Hendrix, despite the fact that I don't think she was less talented. I've heard big producers praising her, yet in the radio - silence. It's just that the industry has changed. No one would play SOPHIE on radio, because new and inventive is not what the people who run the biggest labels in the industry see as profitable. Recycled, safe and bland is working damn well, brings a lot of money, so why risk changing anything? Sure you can put a note about a talented musician on a popular blog for music geeks, but you aren't reaching the most general public this way, only those who were already interested. I see (or hear) it over and over, so many extremely talented artists living in complete obscurity. The best they can hope for is a relatively small, yet dedicated fanbase that will keep them from financial struggles and hopefully keep their legacy alive when they are gone. It's the change in the industry, and even in the broader aspect, change in the way information is being propagated these days - reaching only those who are deemed by algorithms to have enough interest to bring instant returns. We improved reaching the masses to the point where there's no room for anything beyond what masses are already used to.

[@joshcalvo]

Nailed it! Tbh, I think that had Hendrix been born in this generation, he would have probably made beats or something he would consider "fresh".

[@johnyrevenge6356]

All the millenia of musicianship has been distilled down to an ability to make "beats"? That is sad.

[@jaydubya3698]

I think you're absolutely correct. Genres are created, they come and they go. Classical, jazz, blues, rock and roll, hard rock, punk, grunge, rap..... Once a genre is created, people still play the music, but very are innovative, few break new ground. Those that stick to playing in the genre are fundamentally seen as being derivative of the original creators of the genre and just sort of "second rate." There may be talented jazz musicians out there today, but we still set Davis and Coltrane and Mingus on a pedastal. Dirty Honey may get some airplay, but they will never match Led Zeppelin or the Rolling Stones. Everyone knows JS Bach, but can the Average Joe name one classical composer working today? Nobody today says, "Man, that guy can really wail on that oboe." We may soon be saying the same thing about electric guitar.

[@etoineschrdlu9382]

As an old timer I must say that, if anything, musicianship has steadily improved since the seventies. The reason those "Rock Gods" of the 70's that Rick mentioned were stars is because they were head and shoulders above the typical musicians of their day. I hear many good musicians today but I also see their musicianship buried under the production tools that crank product out of the studios. Autotune and Auto-snapping everything to a "perfect" click track does white wash imperfections away but it also can kill the vibrancy of a performance. For example, listen to Ian Curtis of Joy Division and tell me that autotune wouldn't have destroyed that which made his performances so special.

[@duniagiana]

This topic really has and always been in my head all this time, part of it I think it's got to do with the way the music industry works then, and how the industry works now. Nowadays the people has the ability to choose what they're watching and what they're listening to, they have the ability to filter at individual levels and sometimes that is started from very little knowledge of what music is present out there, compare it to the past when television and radio station are throwing the music that the music industry choose in front of people faces, and most people (sometimes including the one that originally doesn't have interest in consuming music.) accepted it, if the music is good to them. I mean the media in those era and the media at current time is very very different. Back than we're all in the same media bubble and filtering the music that we like inside those really big bubble where the music industry has great power upon it, but now we are all in, to say it at extreme level, in our own little individual bubble, we filter media that can go inside our bubble, then we filtered our music that we like from what inside our own bubble. Actually I'm planning to make video about this in my music channel. I'm Sorry if my english is bad, it's not my daily language.

[@andyzar1177]

True, it’s another form of confirmation bias.

[@JohnPrepuce]

There were also thousands of talented guys back then who we know nothing about. It wasn't just talent then and it's the same way now. Jimi Hendrix, as good as he was, still needed marketing and management.

[@orlock20]

I believe Jimi was more famous when he was dead. The teens that liked his music put his music into movies, TV shows and on oldies rock stations.

[@metaltildeth6783]

If Jimi was alive today he would be a KZbin star. The music industry would not know what to do with him... sadly to say.

[@L4JP]

@@metaltildeth6783 Hendrix was most powerful when he was able to connect with his audience two-way - he exchanged something with his audience that affected his music. You can't do that on KZbin.

[@Prometheus4096]

That doesn't make any sense. As a younger person, Jimi Hendrix doesn't seem particularly talented to me. Some guy up there says 'one in a million' I feel both of you didn't watch the full video. There was space for famous instrumentalists. Right now, there is not. Whether Jimi Hendrix was the best of his generation or not is meaningless, and besides the point. It has to do with the many ways in which music changed. I think Rich covered basically all of them. Be it normal people playing musical instruments themselves, the band being the center of the pop music world,. and the way the music industry operated. To be honest, I think music is dead. It is not worth anything. The only thing keeping up the pretext is that there is an even greater need for famous people who are seen as both talented and attractive. And the need for a shared pop culture, be it music or movies or anything. But music is the exception where the music itself has no inherent value at all. It is cheap to make and free to copy.

[@thomasburke_]

@@Prometheus4096 bro shut up. jimi hendrix is good and your to musically illiterate to understand that

[@ronhilton4294]

Bob Erlendson just passed away at 93. He played with Lenny Breau. Lenny of course, taught Randy Bachman. I was so lucky to have studied under Bob.

[@terrymockler]

I met Lenny Breau twice when I was 15.

[@gardenoftwitty]

Most people are famous due to what Jimi Hendrix did in his day. There still isn't a talent or virtuoso as advanced as Jimi. Had hr been alive today he still would take music into far out cosmic distances and deep into one's own soul. People don't even realize the extent of craftsmanship of this legend

[@craigstevens9351]

he didnt invent the blues or rock music. theres a bunch of guys hendrix was influenced by. theres a bunch of guys you probably never heard. point is its hyperbole to give him so much praise

[@counterconformity]

Ya i will add to this and say, there are definitely people farther along in terms of virtuosity and mastery of the guitar. Hendrix only lived to 27…

[@kalebnelson4569]

I think I should preface this with saying Jimi is my #1. I disagree with you on the talent/virtuosity part. As far as Jimi Hendrix goes yes of course was extremely talented but what makes him so great for me was that he was so original at the time, using the blues to essentially create a new genre with his peers at the time, his influence on music in my opinion rivals that of any given artist you could mention. However that doesn’t mean to me that someone couldn’t be technically be a better player. Like a good example for my music tastes I think SRV was better and I liked his style more, but I’ll admit a lot of what he did is bring a raw power and skill vs pure creativity which is why I have Jimi above him. I just simply believe that there’s a lot of guitarists that have had the luxury of learning from Jimi which is why I think there are guitarists who have surpassed him in skill, but they don’t have the mind that he had.

[@unabomber_00]

For me it's not much as being virtuoso but more his groove (one of my favourite is when he's just muting his guitar and streaming in All along watchtower's brige - incredible) . Today you might find much bettertechnical skills who can almost completely imitate Hendrix play but it's appealing much. He was great vocalist and songwriter too. In many iconical psychodelic songs you can hardly hear the guitar

[@unabomber_00]

@@atta1798 Well ok. It looks like I missed your point

[@mr.goodenough3796]

Jimi has so much charisma and swagger in stage. Most young people I've seen react to his live performances on KZbin are blown away. He also had a unique style of dressing that nobody else really had and a swagger. Jimi would get noticed plenty I believe. ✌

[@fogrecordsusa7169]

Agreed. My son's School of Rock is doing a Hendrix show in a few weeks. The kids are stoked. Hendrix transcends the ages and has become timeless. Rick - I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. Great video tho as always. You are such a gem to us all. Thank you!

[@rogersdrums]

Rick You should do a deep dive on ‘Third Stone from the Sun’ It was years ahead of its time and still sounds incredible today A jazz rock masterpiece !! Jimi’s brilliant use of feedback and beautiful octave melody line ala Wes Montgomery The psychedelic lyrics as if from an Alien in Space ! Wow Mitch’s amazing jazz drumming !!!!

[@thomasgottweis8597]

I have seen many of your videos - thank you so much for them! This one is pretty sad. I‘m so glad that we have the music of these real virtuosos!

[@Pikachu-o2j]

we have to acknowledge that Hendrix had great charisma. It was his playing + his energy that made him unique. A lot of young folks nowadays lack that! People nowadays just wanna "blend in" !

[@fernandes5986]

I agree. Back then and talking just about guitar players, each guy had its own sound. You could always tell who was who. Further still songs were memorable. I wonder if kids nowdays, stiil listen to same songs after a year or two, like we did in the 70s or 80s?

[@Chrissurfs]

You are 100% right !

[@bwebb90]

Hendrix would not be as famous now for this reason. Jimi thrived as a guitar playing songwriter, in a guitar centric music industry, but it is not a guitar centric music industry now therefore reducing the potencey of his ability. More complicated ideas could be that if Jimi would not be famous now, that would suggest that he did not exist in the 1960s, because he is actually still very famous now. Therefore, all the brilliant music that was inspired by Hendrix would not have the essential flavourings of Hendrix and he would simply be a fresh take on 50s and early 60s blues... in the 2020s... 60 years too late.

[@maximusindicusoblivious180]

Megan the Stallion has great charisma, high energy and quite the unique stage show. Young people today use what they have today, which is far more diverse than what Jimi had in the 60s. There's too much to unpack here.

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

That's more or less what I was going to post. He was an incredible player, but he was also capable of doing some pretty impressive stunts that would likely get him enough attention to get somewhere. I have no idea what sort of music it would sound like, because he would arguably be even further out there today than he was back then. But, I think with his combination of charisma, talent and showmanship that he'd likely make it. He just likely wouldn't be as well known just because of the way the music industry has fragmented over the interceding decades.

[@MrMusiclover333]

Hey Rick, Love your videos. Not only was Hendrix a great musician he was an equally great showman. He certainly knew the value of being seen as well as heard, so unlike many of his contemporaries you cited Hendrix would be famous if he came along today.

[@shoogagoogagunga]

With less drug abuse, I agree. And there has been a prince in the meantime.

[@fredericdouglas3574]

@@shoogagoogagunga well, your example of Prince counters your point about drug abuse.

[@serjsidey7348]

Not only was he a great musician and showman but also a great songwriter too.

[@UncleKennysPlace]

@@fredericdouglas3574 True, but Prince started out, like many OD victims, by treating his pain.

[@PachuauZ]

I beg to differ.. i am a guitarist and a huge Hendrix fan. However, looking at today's music scene, i think JH would not be as famous as he was if he came along today. I am deeply disappointed by the music topping on charts today...

[@grahampark7457]

I personally think that exposure to amazing musicianship has diluted its impact. It’s not that people don’t appreciate a great musicians ability because they don’t recognise that they are great, it’s that there are so many great musicians about that technical ability has stopped being a standout feature. People (some people) got bored of technical ability and so other things replace musicianship as the exciting difference in the music that becomes popular. It is now less likely you will stand out as a guitarist because there are so many less things that people haven’t heard before.

[@jonmemolo8482]

Preach on my brother! You could not be more right. More great players now than ever before, those of which the vast majority are capable of so much more than most of the great players from back in the day.

[@robertweaver9058]

Interesting viewpoint but incorrect..

[@Kramastrastus]

That's strange. So many great musicians nowadays, but their music sucks. Maybe their present focus is on playing technically, but creativity is a different thing, and music today totally lacks it.

[@HarmonyHomeInspectionServices]

@@jonmemolo8482 Can you give a few examples of those players (of 2022), and the songs they wrote, of which every serious music fan should know?

[@jonmemolo8482]

@@HarmonyHomeInspectionServices Lets start with Mac Demarco, Ode to Viceroy. Plini Roessler Holgate, Kind. Blake Mills, if I'm Unworthy. I could go on but you should discover for yourself what is quite literally under you nose. Trust that I have a great respect for those who paved the way, However it is heating up! Enjoy and Cheers.

[@michaelcraig9449]

Jimi would be famous, no matter when he showed up. Today yesterday and in the future.

[@Raymaster7482]

I want to believe that Jimi would make it today as well. He wasn't just an amazing guitarist; he was an innovantor, a pretty good lyricist and what's most important: a great songwriter! Also his music wasn't just instrumental like Tosin's or Henson's

[@jubnx2781]

He’d be rapping probably. His lyrics are so poetic.

[@strategery101]

Unfortunately he wouldn’t. All people want now is mumbling over that same horrible “tic tic tic tic tic tic tic” fake beat used in everything now

[@Nightmoore]

Right. I was thinking the same thing. One thing Rick didn't really get into was how many of these legends were amazing songwriters. I agree that being a monster technical guitarist today won't take you very far, but if you can combo that with great songwriting chops, you're chances of blowing up dramatically increase. Especially once you start working with other musicians or end up in a band situation. It's hard to imagine a world where Hendrix wouldn't blow up because electric guitar was never the same after what he did. It breaks my heart everytime I think of how he and SRV were snatched away too soon. God knows what guitar would have been like had they only lived a bit longer.

[@ratsneststudio6963]

It depends if he was good about posting on KZbin & instagram, I think he would have a following for sure. It is a dead question though, where would Mozart or Beethoven be? Scoring films perhaps? Who knows

[@123jkjk123]

@@jubnx2781 Jimi had already produced some of the earliest rap with the song, Doriella Du Fontaine. Said to influence hip-hop greatly and foreshadowed the rap-meets-metal crossover. Note it was Lightnin' Rod (Jalal from The Last Poets) who did the rapping over Jimi & Miles' funk groove. Worth a listen!

[@elmolewis9123]

I couldn't agree more. In those days, fans listened to albums of their favorite groups over and over and got to know them intimately. It seems now, that listeners barely get through a complete song by a group before moving on to another song by another artist. All of those groups you mentioned I remember well, but mainly for their albums rather than just a song.

[@PJBonoVox]

I grew up at the end of vinyl, and the beginning of the domination of cassettes. The kind of playback media we had totally dictated how we listened to music. At 42 I'm just as guilty as the new generation of going on Spotify and barely listening to 20 seconds of a song before deciding whether or not I like that artist. Back then you only had access to what you had access to, so you'd make the most of it. Is it better or worse now? Can't say, but the sea change in listening is real.

[@stephankrain]

That is so precise - and sad af! "listeners barely get through a complete song by a group before moving on to another artist".

[@johnbryant6610]

I agree. There was a call-in show a couple of weeks ago, and the topic was to name an album made in the last 20 years that you would suggest to someone that they had to hear. I had an extremely hard time trying to come up with one!

[@MaxSnowDude]

This has always been true

[@Kougeru]

On reddit today I literally saw someone say we're in the "golden age" of music because they can listen to "good music" all day and never even know who the artists are because Spotify algorithm knows their tastes so well that they don't have to pay attention to the artist or anything. It's really disrespectful to artists and very very sad

[@stevegreen5430]

This is so true - I have played Drums for a long time including the 70's and 80's - we really thought that being a good musician and working hard at our craft was a good way to 'make it' in the Music Industry in those days. Modern 'Pop' Music appears now to be produced and manufactured right down to who is in the Band and is solely designed to make money for the Promotors. It has also become close to impossible to earn a living as a Musician in the traditional sense, even the Bands playing in Major Theatre Pits have shrunk from 20-30 players or even more, down to 5, 6 or maybe 7 players. This trend is also greatly exacerbated by many solo singers using recorded backing, with the venues advertising 'Live Music' - what an insult! Rick, I would love to hear your comments on this latter point. Meanwhile, I love your video's - keep up the good work!

[@flame_half]

Late to the party. I heard you on Mike Rowe's podcast from a while ago and started through your videos. I love this content so much. I've been watching a bunch. I loved how you mentioned Joe Zawinul at the beginning, he played with my favorite saxophonist Cannonball Adderley and probably wrote his best songs. You also mentioned Wayne Shorter (RIP) who was a huge influence on me as well. I think I'm going to be a regular watcher here.

[@alanjanda696]

If Axis Bold as Love and Electric Lady Land came out today people would be blown away! It would be better then sliced bread! And they would be saying how this new Hendrix dude is ahead of his time and rock music would be reborn!! Most people today don’t know what it was like to grow up in the 1970s and buy all those great albums with much anticipation. You would put the album on and have the cover to stare at, often with lyrics and a poster.

[@dobieprime]

this is my jam. what I used to do all the time when I was a kid. I still get that thrill today when I go record shopping. absolutely kills me when someone buys a new record and never opens it and hangs it on their wall. I see reddit posts, "Should I open it?" I just scream.

[@earlpipe9713]

Record labels have entirely abandoned the signing and promotion of new rock bands and artists in this new, corporate profit dictates all day we now live in. Hendrix would be lucky to get 1 thousand subscribers on his KZbin channel if he debuted in these times, would be ignored and buried by the music steaming platforms, and would receive no promotion nor distribution throughout the cultural zeitgeist

[@kookamunga2458]

I have over sixty Hendrix albums and listene to a lot of different styles. People are into music that you can dance to . Jimi could play funky too but most of it can't be danced to so it wouldn't appeal to the hip-hop and dance crowd .

[@RossBoulter-g2w]

It hits hard when you're 14. I'm not as easily impressed at 62!

[@RossBoulter-g2w]

After studying real guitar(Spanish Classical) for years I became disappointed in my heroes' technique.

[@nickcarter4006]

Hendrix would have been an Instagram star, he would be a more eclectic less distinct voice and his visual style would have evolved completely differently. We simply would not recognize him as the same Jimi, so it's hard to say whether he would be as hugely influential today - especially now that 'influence' is literally the name of the game. He wouldn't be known for his stage act, he'd be known for his off stage antics and courtroom drama. He would have said or done something by now that had half of Twitter saying "I literally can't with Jimi anymore, not after he said abc about xyz." "How dare he appropriate hippie culture" "Foxy Lady reinforces outdated sexual norms, and I hear he's friends with Eric Clapton"

[@bicycle697]

So true! The agents of political correctness would be dulling his voice, maybe.

[@mitchfindergeneral]

This is what I came to say. He would be an instagram/tiktok/whatever future website star. People would know him, but not to the same degree. He probably wouldn't even bother recording any great albums.

[@jonbongjovi1869]

DEPENDS. SOCIAL MEDIA BANS geniuses every day (but not REGULAR folk!) for ROCKING THE BOAT. (EX: i'm shadowbanned on ALL Social Media by BIg Tech, and everyone - - even all my enemies - - say I'm a musical genius!)

[@LYLEWOLD]

If Hendrix used the medium of today (social media) like artists like Tim Henson, then yes, he could have been. If not, then probably no. But that also begs the question, what great artists of the '60s and '70s did we never hear of because they weren't good at the media of their day? We all are products of our times.

[@Dogdrum]

It wasn't necessarily the musicians themselves who were good at the media. They had a management and a publicity team behind them. The musicians just showed up. They were told to say what to say - even controversial things, like how Andrew Oldham did with The Rolling Stones.

[@serjsidey7348]

The massive difference in the 60s and 70s was that you really only got noticed by playing live. If you were good enough and played live enough - like every single night - you would eventually get noticed.

[@GloogleGloigle]

Are you comparing how Jimi Hendrix absolutely _dominated_ popular culture in his day, with Tim Henson today? Tim Henson is a brilliant guitar player, and his music should be more _far_ more well known. But it isn’t. That seems like part of the point of the video.

[@GloogleGloigle]

I don’t want to understate it, Tim Henson is frigging epic!!!

[@mosesgarner2404]

Exactly. There will always be players around and good ones at that.

[@rmcellig]

You're not missing anything Rick! Growing up we were immersed in music and musicians. I was two years old when I first heard Doris Day. Growing up in the late 50s and 60s was exhilarating to say the least. It's so different now.

[@nigeltilbury276]

Bit late on this, but here goes. I DO think Hendrix would be famous today. It requires a small leap of logic, but here goes. In order to imagine him arriving on todays scene, one must first erase him from history. His shadow was one of the biggest cast by any singular musician/guitarist. He influenced virtually every player of his time including many you mentioned here & in turn every player that came after: Zappa, Clapton, Townsend, Page, Beck, May, Prince, Vai, Govan & many from the jazz world too. It's well known Miles Davis wanted to work with him before his untimely death. Therefore if he hadn't existed until now, would guitarists sound as they do now? It's possible but by no means certain. So I'd say he would make a huge impact today, not only in his playing but also his charisma, stage craft & songs. Imagine a Hendrix with all of todays toys/FX at his disposal, performing at the physical level he did - the mind boggles 😳 In todays sadly mostly insipid musical environment, for me his appearance would be a breath of fresh air & surely get noticed by all. That's my theory anyway....

[@jeromewagschal9485]

I totally agree...

[@danielleary9533]

I disagree - today the music industry is all about formula and profit. Creativity is risky, most labels just don't want to take the chance. It's hard to be influential when you get no exposure - he'd probably be successful enough to have a career, but I highly doubt he'd be in the billboard hot 100 like he was in the 60's. I would agree however that perhaps he'd be influential in the sense that some artists, authors, scientists, philosophers, they aren't well known until long after they die.

[@Jalae]

​@@danielleary9533 who cares about "the music industry"? it's a myopic view to think "the music industry" matters at all to being a successful musician today. today a musician can become a household name through soundcloud, bandcamp, tic toc, insta, youtube, twitch etc.

[@johnpauljonesgrouptv]

One thing is that also remember Jimi came out just post of DeSegregation. Even though legal/civil segregation was made illegal, social and economic segregation was real... so there was a bit of mysticism surrounding Jimi, which helped to break him. Our media overload now has taken that mysticism whatever it might be out of being a star... When 1950s thru 1990s music was one of the primary entertainment mediums... the wow factor was actually important. Now let's face it... songwriting also has a lot to do with it....where are the Johnny B. Goode, Bitches Brew, Salt Peanuts, Purple Haze, Eruption, Led Boots, Satch Boogie, Stairway To Heaven, All Along The Watchtower songs... Breaking new ground as a songwriter is extremely difficult Post 1990... Appreciation of a great song couple with great musicians has fallen away, because today great technical musicianship is NOT rare. And Great Songwriting to the album quality caliber of Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper, Bridge of Sighs, Back In Black, Dog and Butterfly, etc. Is NOT appreciated or nurtured by the industry so that, in turn, conditions the audience to accept what they are given... lowest common denominator songs. Rick Beato, you have gone over the top 10 songs multiple times. However, as an independent, I will say great music is being created. It's not being promoted, it's not being given access to the audience... which is strange because we have more access and outreach capability than ever before... The song has to be coupled with the musicianship. Jimi Hendrix is a force to be reckoned with. Technically, all of us rock guitarists grow from his branch... Also, Al Dimeola was famous among guitarist and jazz fusion enthusiasts, but much like Robin Trower, we all want to believe they are more popular than they are. Robin has alluded to it many times in interviews throughout the years. The key I believe is because of physical sales, organic radio programming, real people interaction in the composing, recording, production, promotion, performing, listening, viewing and consumption of music. That we all had a better understanding of how important it was because anything great got great by a lot of difficult steps and rare resources along the way. Now, a great many of those processes are relatively easy to do... so the end product (song, performance) Does not seem to have as much value. Which devalued the major part of its creation, musicianship. Just my humble opinion.

[@randykalish7558]

@johnp... Some great thoughts 👍. I was in a discussion where it was mentioned that a famous entertainer was paid 250 million for a few nights in Dubai, and before I thought, I said it devalues all of us. I always felt that Jimi snuck into the palace and occupied the throne and justified Art at the reluctance of the powers. And after that, the tiny island sagged on downstream cuz the life that lived us was dead.

[@RayMond777]

Jimi was a guitar virtuoso, but he was also a brilliant songwriter, I think he would have done great today

[@meself349]

According to Carlos Santana, besides his guitar playing, the thing that set him apart was that he was a visionary

[@alanmiller2250]

Of course he would have been known today. Other musicians would spread the word. We don't need rick to name drop, all about nothing

[@lukehunnable]

Noone cares about songs anymore. Besides, he actually didn't write many great "songs". The reason he wouldn't be famous today is very simple: he made it because he was an electric guitar innovator and had a fresh image. None of those things would be new today.

[@gregoryporch8395]

​@@lukehunnableHow many brilliant songwriters are doing great today?

[@japonaliya]

First, Jimi wasn't a 70s guitarist. He died in 1970. Second, " Jimi wouldn't be famous today..." If it wasn't for Hendrix (and others like the Beatles, Dylan) there wouldn't be rock music as well know it today.

[@troyjones2358]

You can’t take Hendrix out of the context of his times. He was unprecedented when he came along there was before and after. People in the last 40 years have codified the study of guitar and especially rock guitar, young players today are technically proficient beyond anything Jimi could have dreamed of. So, it stands that we should recognize the fact that Jimi was first and you get more credit for creating something than copying what came before. This was at a time when rock music was becoming the cultural zeitgeist and the Superstar guitarist was king. Those days are gone.

[@sounddoctorin]

mm yah now why don't some of these turbo jimmy's get on something they play at gyms i wind up at, instead of dumb and dumber?

[@JamieRossWilliams]

While i agree to some respect, these people with the ridiculous skills today could never command a crowd like the likes of jimi did, thats the difference in my opinion, stage presence, same as SRV, just different

[@tonybates7870]

I don't think Hendrix was *that* technically proficient, not compared to some players. What was special about him was something else - there's a fluid, nonchalant, renegade attack to his style that means more to most of us music enthusiasts, musicians or not, than technical prowess.

[@therevealing-studiesfromli4419]

AMEN!!! to That! 🐕‍🦺

[@Tigermaster1986]

True. Also - back then people had much fewer opportunities to discover new music. They only had access to what was on the radio or on the TV. Nowadays we have the almighty Internet - which means that more bands as a whole reach people, people's attention is scattered among much more musicians - which actually makes becoming a rock god harder. People's attention isn't focused on just the (relatively) few bands/musicians that Western music industry has chosen. Maybe Jimi Hendrix wouldn't be as famous nowadays, but would a band like The Hu reach ANYONE 50 years ago? (Not The Who. The Hu - the Mongolian folk metal band.) No, they wouldn't. And also - with all due respect, to a contemporary listener boomer rock is simply boring. Bands that try to make the same music Jimi used to make nowadays are dime a dozen. They don't reach any fame mostly because they're instantly forgettable. Jimi played the right music at the right time and made an impression to the right people. If you play what he did to youngsters who've grown up with contemporary rock and metal, they'll just brush you off.

[@paulsaxo8754]

I rarely write long comments to YT videos, but I can't not comment on this. Jimi was uniquely innovative. At any time, he would have risen to the top - his musical and lyrical inventiveness would have assured that. I am a few years older than you Rick, and I remember the impact Jimi had on people around me, and eventually me, when he arrived. Sure, he borrowed heavily from Muddy Waters and T Bone Walker among others, but his uniqueness in playing style, his wonderfully complex use of pentatonic scales and augmented chords, a beautifully expressive and extraordinary technique and fearless experimentalism meant he took blues (with the incorporation of jazz, folk and just about everything else) and guitar music to a new level. He was influenced by, and successfully quilted such diverse influences as Dylan, Myles Davis, early British rock, the Isleys and Little Richard, into something unique. Rarely mentioned in critiques of Jimi is his gorgeous soulfulness and R'n’B core flavour that he drizzled across all his work - to say nothing of his stone dead timing and stunning and perfect sense of rhythm. Personally, no other guitarist I know (and I am open to correction) has ever innovated to that extent. In fact, no other guitarist - in covering his material - has ever been able to match his level of soulful bluesiness, or swing/groove. And I think that is probably something they would all admit to. That isn’t to say that Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eddie van Halen, Allan Holdsworth, Stevie Ray Vaughan or Joe Satriani aren’t in the same league - but Jimi got there first, and did it best. I hear young people say - on hearing Jimi play for the first time - that they have heard it all before. They have, but Jimi did it first. Jimi was, and is a one off, and he would stride this world as a musical prince no matter when he lived.

[@meself349]

He was a mystic. Musical mystic?

[@KrisVesel]

Jimi would have been famous today because he was great + black. If white, no. I mean John McLaughlin is a better all round musician than Hendrix (also, more inventive), but he wouldn't have a chance today if he wasn't already famous. Just does not belong to any group that needs to be promoted by the elites, such as blacks or homosexuals of both sexes.

[@siriosstar4789]

"That they have heard it all before " if they think that then they have no idea what they have heard. A person MAY be able to duplicate jimi's playing note for note but that's not what hendrix was about .,it was HOW he played the notes . there were multiple dimensions to many of his notes. Many times we would hear overtones and unusual sounds occurring during and after the note was played , like some eerie distortion from another dimension . No the young people today have NOT heard it all and cannot compare hendrix to anyone playing 'speed' leads and or repetitious scales .

[@earlpipe9713]

The problem is, there is no top to rise to these days. Rock music is dead, in an act of pre-meditated murder by corporate capital.

[@isopropyltoxicity]

​@@earlpipe9713you partly have motley crue and guns n roses to thank for that 😁 and Metallica. But we all know its the executives

[@ElrohirGuitar]

My question is: Is there an audience out there, presently, that would care enough about music to make any musician a star? It seems to be only singers who gain stardom now, and they almost never write their own songs. Stars in music now seem to be pretty stage props for the songs written by committee. Also, what ever happened to drum solos?

[@Quinceps]

Drum solos seem to have vanished after the Bonham era.

[@birdeater2848]

Drum solos are gone because drums are electronic now 😢

[@strategery101]

People don’t care about music anymore. Look what’s popular if you don’t believe me

[@doctorivan]

If you want to see that, look to the jam band community. Only the music matters. And they've been known to have drum solos in the parking lot.

[@waynecharles8130]

Yes. This.

[@cosmicguitartronics]

From the 40s through the 60s music had a great explosion of creativity, melodic exploration and technological innovation. Jazz influenced many of the greats mentioned and coupled with the technology of the day made for some very exciting concepts in sound and music. Jimi Hendrix was one of those musicians that experienced that cultural revolution and synthesized from it the amazing music we hold as so iconic today. His music was an amalgamation of so many things, Music Concrete, Impressionist music, cartoon music, industrial noise, sound painting as well Jazz and Blues. If a musician came along with an imagination like Hendrix today, and had the right team of folks helping with artist development they could be just as famous. The elements for a new cultural explosion exist today. Streaming royalties laws need to be updated and raw recordings more commonplace. Lastly an emphasis on the importance of having a listening room, a place to go simply absorb the music without other distractions through a killer sound system. No little earbuds or mini speakers on a cell phone. If all these elements were in place,a perfect storm could happen again.

[@luckeclips53]

I totally agree. Musicianship and talent are going unseen and unappreciated

[@gsmith207]

Nailed it RB. I’m 55 and know all the names you said. My 28yo son knows 3/4 of them. I’m pretty proud about that. As a drummer for 40 years I’m sad for the generations to come, but it’s up to us to keep it going. My 1st album at 10 years old was Boston listening to it with headphones from the record player in a wooden cabinet with the top that flipped up. All that intimate time with one album is gone now. Just pump out the same crap. And yes I’m yelling at the clouds! Haaaaa!

[@jeffreykamberos7524]

I'm 66 now and Boston was kid crap to me. The Beatles and Rolling Stones were called kid crap in my era. So it goes...

[@cooldebt]

It's great when your kids appreciate the same stuff. My kids all play an instrument so they find the banality of much of today's pop unbearable. They can't believe we had Steely Dan, Toto (they love Toto), EWF, Bill Withers, George Benson etc as pop music on the radio and what they get is mumble rap or nonsensical lyrics and repetitive note patterns. However, clever incorporation of retro styling makes Silk Sonic stand out today. There's some hope when the kids know what's good!

[@liamsams]

just because mainstream pop albums don't keep your interest that doesn't mean there's nothing to be seen, great albums have came out this year you've just got to look deeper, I highly recommend Ants from up there by Black Country, New Road and A light for attracting attention by The Smile, two utterly brilliant albums that came out this year that are solid proof that you just need to keep looking to find fantastic stuff

[@EB-bl6cc]

@@cooldebt that's just it, there's TONS of great stuff out there today (probably more than the old days by sheer volume just because there's many, many more people making music and it's readily available) being released all the time, you just won't find it on top charts, on the radio, or in any mainstream things (usually.. sometimes movies/shows will actually have a good song here or there). Have to actually seek it out. Which sucks a little that you have to go hunting for it, but at least it exists

[@ta4music459]

I knew all the names too.. which shocked me a bit because I didn't know I could remember that many names with my terrible memory! Haha!

[@cjonesufc]

Anyone can learn from lessons. Neil Peart was considered one of the greatest drummers of all time when he went to train with Freddie Gruber who asked why he played so hard. When Neil returned to the band Alex and Geddy said they didn’t see a difference. Neil was very happy with that because that was his intent. Even though he had learned easier and lighter ways to play (circles and ellipses!) it wasn’t apparent to the people who would have noticed. Now KZbin has become the teacher. I would’ve benefited greatly from such a resource.

[@soundssimple1]

Jimi was of his time, he hit London when London was the peak of developing music, fashion and the relatively new psychedelic drug scene. Jimi landed right in the epicentre just at the right time with the equally new and inspiring approach to the guitar and where music was heading. London was changing the world in the 60's and Jimi arrived there just in time to top it all off before it imploded. There will never be another London of the 60's and never another Jimi as the icing on the cake. Sadly the cultural and musical explosion was back then and now we are just experiencing the waves and the ripples. There are some great players and music around nowadays as you mentioned but much of the youth of today are more interested in MSM, online media, pronouns, politics and living their lives on mobile phones than exploring, absorbing or becoming creative artists themselves. Currently in the West there is no cultural phenomenon in existence for artists to latch on to. There is no artistic cultural 'movement' . Glad I was born in the 50's and witnessed and enjoyed the best of it........Nice Video Rick.

[@syndrillical]

So I am going to be 35 in July. Been playing guitar for 20.5 years. Other than about 5 months of lessons in 8th grade for guitar class I am self taught. Basic chords at first and then tab. I (as of now) do not know how to read music. You’re spot on. As sad as it makes me to say this, I don’t think Hendrix would be recognized today. Or at least to the degree he is. At 16 I started doing open mic nights. Love it. Also do poetry nights etc. I am amazed at how many legitimately good musicians/lyricists there are that are not recognized. And people who come up now have a gimmick etc but not a lot of skill/individuality. I personally write and compose songs, etc. At times, it is super frustrating that I write something that is many times better than what is on radio Or I go to an open mic night and hear someone else’s song that is amazing But then I will get one of my personal songs that I’ve written some random person on KZbin says it makes them want to play or write music, whatever it may be. That means the world to me Much more than views

[@billychalmers212]

Great video Rick I really think this applies to all genres. Like great classical guitarists who were around in 70's like Andreas Segovia, Julian Bream, John Williams, Christopher Parkening and Liona Boyd. All stars at the time. I think society has changed in the hating of people with talent and the everyone gets a participation trophy really ruined it.