When Eric Clapton met Jimi Hendrix

An excerpt from the bbc documentary 'the seven ages of rock - Episode 1 the birth of rock'.

[@celt67]

Think of being in London in the mid to late 60's ... You could walk along to your local clubs and see stuff like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Animals, The Kinks....all at the top of their game. Must have been a cool time to be in your early 20's.

[@caseymather1957]

celt67 but then u would be old enough to be drafted in Vietnam

[@celt67]

Not many British people were 'drafted' for Vietnam. Stop assuming everyone in the world is American.

[@comanchio1976]

+Shibo Almighty You do know where London is, don't you?

[@caseymather1957]

Remember, british people had suffered during that time. Britain was almost becoming a third world country, before they discovered oil in the north sea. They had lost all of their men.

[@danijel-ch2gk]

And Barrett's Pink Floyd ^^

[@mehdiSupp]

"The first time I saw Eric, I thought : Oh ! He's a master guitar player. But Eric was a guitar player, Jimi was some sort of force of nature"

[@jonahwizard1]

Mehdi Armachi "He killed God man, you know?"

[@MrWompusscat]

he s black

[@bodbn]

He chopped a mountain down using just the edge of his hand. Definitely something only a god could do.

[@shottotheface75]

jeff miller okay?

[@CHlEFFIN]

jeff miller Thank you very much for providing us with your brilliance. Is there an actual valid point you are attempting to accomplish...?

[@davidrpriest]

People shouldn't have started calling Clapton God. The real God has a sense of humor and Hendrix was sent down as the punchline.

[@hendrixdali1005]

yup

[@jennyjenny8662]

That's the coolest comment! You win!

[@Bulletguy07]

@Dave Priest....I have a recording of a tv interview with Clapton and he explains how he didn't like the "Clapton is God" thing at all. He said he thought they've gone too far and this is ridiculous.....but then said, "what was i supposed to do about it? I could hardly run round rubbing the slogans out so just had to live with it".

[@onlyjoetee]

That’s a great way to put it 👍🏿

[@macewbee]

Yep

[@MrMoggyman]

I was there! It was tough on Clapton. Jimi really nailed Killing Floor. Everyones mouth was open. Nobody had ever seen anything like it, and I was hooked. Clapton and Beck both realised that Jimi was awesome. But then they realised that Jimi was not selfish. These two were Jimi's idols, and he was prepared to share. They all became good friends. They were all borrowing bits from one another to make music that would change a generation. It was a truly wonderful and magical time.

[@steelysam7189]

Would love to hear more🙌

[@Phoenix-md8sh]

Awesome you got to see this live. My mom introduced me to all kinds of music and educated me on many guitarists because I always loved how the guitar sounds. I remember listening to so many 70s rock bands and artists growing up although I came up during the Hip Hop era. I'll always cherish music from the 7o's. It has that special charm to it that can't be matched in my opinion.

[@MrMoggyman]

@@steelysam7189 What would you like to know about Jimi Hendrix?

[@anonymous-zv1jh]

@@MrMoggyman Hi I’m just getting into 60s and 70s music, I have listened to Electric Ladyland. Who else that similar to Jimi from that era should I listen to.

[@elainekerslake6865]

​​@@anonymous-zv1jh robin Trower. Disciple of Jimi. Bridge of Sighs.LP 1974

[@thebp9999]

Eric was buying blues records and mimicking the blues guys in America. Jimi was a blues guy in America.

[@pelumaad331]

eddrum100 ...LOL...good point

[@scottmatheson2390]

thebp9999 an astute observation.It must have been hard for EC to be basically humiliated in front of that crowd because he worked so hard at being a great player and Jimi himself dug EC and Beck etc. but I'm sure it was little consolation for poor Eric for a long time.

[@yochill1]

he was shaking.... is he really that good.... pretty much sums up clapton... an amazing guitarist who opened many doors... hendrix ripped the hinges off nd broke tha walls... a force of nature

[@pelumaad331]

Eric came to it....Jimi came from it....

[@snidelywhiplash8399]

concise and insightful Pelu Maad

[@YouriCarma]

"Eric (Clapton) was a guitar player but Jimmy was some force of nature" LOlz

[@Songs2ShareVideos]

YEP+

[@robbinbanx7439]

Youri Carma Jimi Hendrix was a SuperNatural musician!!

[@totaltwit]

yeh that made me titter too, I will use that one myself

[@dannygjk]

@@robbinbanx7439 JH's most important contribution was his creativity and innovation.

[@ayushmanbhalla8737]

stop copying comments of others

[@plumberman5369]

I've seen Eric Clapton play many times and he always seems to stay within certain boundaries whereas with Jimi it was raw and no limits, extraordinarily mixed with feedback and emotion, just simply an incredible guitar player. I'm a guitar player also, the technical stuff that's played in the eighties and nineties it's easy to learn but the raw emotion that Jimi puts into his music takes you to another place

[@IgnorancEnArrogance]

Clapton is amazing, but he stopped progressing in the mid 70's and veered toward the pop charts more. Now he just recycles the same blues riffs over and over. Stevie Ray Vaughn had already passed him in the 80's I think too.

[@neilus]

Also a player of 30+ years, I think Clapton is highly regarded by people who dont play the guitar. Cos when you do, you realise ECs box of tricks is incredibly limited. He always plays what seems obvious, and it never really surprises you and therefore its rather dull. He changed the role of the guitarist forever, he was the first young white man to make the guitar player a superstar (ironically by regurgitating old black mans music) and he deserves credit for that but as a player rather dull and predictable imho.

[@heishephaestion4178]

Electronic Adventures smh..you people kill me..he's revered by TRUE guitar players..you have to understand the time period in which he became enormous..The modern Eric clapton licks you hear today are not a true image of what he used to be during the electric guitar pioneering era. personally I'm a Peter Green fan through and through but to hear the same old "clapton is boring" is moronic. had you been in the front row at a bluesbreakers or cream concert in the 60s you would have a much different tune.

[@CharlieMcowan]

"Electronic Adventures smh..you people kill me..he's revered by TRUE guitar players" Quite right, and I wouldn't include myself even in TRUE guitarrists. But it's simply gobsmacking that people can use words like "dull", "obvious", "limited" to refer to EC. The only explanation is ignorance. I spent the better part of the 60s, early 70s learning, practicing Clapton's solos (and not only, there was a hell of a lot of players to learn from) and by the end I could probably deliver a pretty convincing version of at least half of them. But so what? I'd never have come up with any of them in the first pleace and could never play them with the same taste. Hendrix? A fucking genius. Jeff Beck was another one who was left speechless by JH. So why argue when you can just listen? Otherwise, whole thing sounds like Beyoncé fans against Rihanna ;-)

[@jeffblydenburgh5938]

Just listen to Machine Gun. No more words needed.

[@ABLYamimash3]

"Eric was a guitar player; Hendrix was a force of nature."

[@jamesk2113]

Alex Lockley Slight misquotation leads to significant misquotation dpmo pls.

[@gregorydavis4742]

And Jimi taught himself

[@stevewilliams3609]

Yeah for 7 years Clapton is still jamming

[@psychedelicsoul3260]

@@stevewilliams3609 Clapton who?

[@yearginclarke]

@@gregorydavis4742 Yes he did teach himself...he was a left handed guy playing on a right handed guitar with the strings inverted. Now tell me that's not the mark of a determined genius!

[@petemartin295]

Jimi was a veteran of the "Chitlin' Cicuit" in the American south while he was with the Isley Brothers in the early 60's. In those days, for you to survive, it wasn't enough to play well, you had to be a good showman (which Jimi obviously was). This is also true of anyone playing at the Apollo Theater in New York. The audience there expects a show and expects to be entertained and heaven help you if you just stand up there playing guitar because you'll get quickly yanked off the stage. As a result, Jimi learned to be more than a guitar player. He learned how to put on a show.

[@uaala]

So people basically prefer clowns than musicians...Guess that's why most popular music in America sucks nowadays and everybody is a fan of Justin Bieber and company...

[@markgigiel2722]

@@uaala You are correct about our culture and today's music. But, Jimmy was no clown. The notes and sounds he made can't be duplicated by most. He was an expert guitarist as well as a showman.

[@teleguy5699]

@@uaala He was a showman. Black audiences have different views of what's entertaining. Most every artist copies black music and style. Jimi was no clown,

[@Mossb3rg206]

@@teleguy5699 "black audiences have dif views of whats entertaining" ?? Apparently not. They were segregated then and when their culture got out it became universal

[@teleguy5699]

@@Mossb3rg206 I was replying to the person inferring that Jimi was a 'clown" "So people basically prefer clowns than musicians.." Jimi was far from a clown.

[@john2478]

I was at this gig. I was at the Regent St Polytechnic and they held regular concerts at Little Tichfield Street with many of the great musicians of the day. As I recall it it cost 50P to go and we were not in a very large room. We went to see Cream as they were favourites of ours but on came this black guy with them and was amazing, we had no idea who he was and we kept asking who was this guy. A few years later I saw a much more polished Hendrix at the Albert Hall which was what turned out to be his last ever performance. Amazing guitar player. In the year above us among the architect students was a group called Pink Floyd. They were very experimental at the time and we couldn't have imagined that they would become so huge. I was at college on the day that the Beatles played on the roof of the Apple building and remember it well as word went out that they were playing. I missed seeing the Stones at the Poly as they performed the year before I went there. We did see many of the top groups of the day The Who, The Animals, The Kinks etc and it was all affordable to us even though were were students. It truly was a great time to be in London and be a student. John

[@Death-Fab]

John Deacon?

[@john2478]

No not him.

[@Backfromthestorm]

Wasn't his last performance though, not even in England, isle of wight was, followed by a jam at Ronny Scotts

[@SteveMontuno]

@@Backfromthestorm His last gig was at a Festival in Fehmarn in Germany .

[@Backfromthestorm]

@@SteveMontuno I meant in England (isle of wight was the last gig here). His last performance was a jam at Ronny Scotts in London

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

“Eric was a guitar player... Jimi was some kind of force of nature...” I think Jack Bruce pretty much nails it there!

[@rievans57]

"Eric was a master guitar player but Jimi was a force of nature" - That pretty much sums it up!

[@loungejay8555]

For the most part, Jimi's live playing was a noisy mess.

[@floydzepplin1218]

Jimi was no disciple of anyone, he was an original. Music is subjective, and I like both, but I do have my favorite. Jimi

[@abidababida7096]

eric was a master guitar player...but jimi was a force of nature ... Best description I ever heard of Jimi Hendrix

[@TheNightmare75II]

What an awesome speaking and singing voice Jack Bruce has.

[@johnallen2771]

I was a teenager through these years and I saw a lot of these groups play live. I have total respect for Eric but he ran into a whirlwind. I had seen Cream in SoCal in '66 I think it was. I saw Jimi later on. I love Cream but when Hendrix started playing it was like he was from another planet. Remember that Marshall's were relatively new at that time. Hendrix sure knew how to exploit them. He made sounds that none of us had ever heard before. I still like to listen to both of them, Cream and Hendrix.

[@haroldlertora9930]

Just a heads up: Eric And Jimi were friends.

[@NJtoTX]

Later, right? Not before this.

[@ernieadams1184]

@LionsAllday DETROIT Did Eric cry after he was discovered to be a racist?

[@freakbennett2263]

Just wanted to make sure everyone understands that Jimi got all that from Buddy Guy, playin behind his head, wif his teeth, and between his legs, they jammed together,, Hendrix was blown away by his showmanship, somewhere, there's a tape of the jam session, it's Phenomenal, jus sàyin ¡😎¡

[@harringtonbenton334]

Hey JIMI, thanks for HUMILIATING ME!!! I LOVE U MAN!

[@joshualessore7652]

incredibly close friends

[@trickydick6152]

"Is he really that good?". No, actually much more, but nobody, including Hendrix himself, knew it at the time. And, unfortunately, nobody knew what he could have achieved had he been living longer.

[@tomsmith9479]

Maybe, but I believe he had peaked before he died. Cry of Love was good but average for Hendrix

[@tomsmith9479]

@showlogicprod ??. Yours is an opinion just like mine, OK. Axis was his peak IMHO even tho it was his first release, he never topped it. Cry of love WAS average for a Hendrix album regardless of who produced it and Hendrix had completed several tracks for it.

[@tomsmith9479]

@showlogicprod So I got the release dates turned around, big deal. To ME, it was his best album. I do know how Cry of Love actually DID turn out and it was average for ME, regardless of who produced it. Of course nobody knows how a Hendrix produced version would have differed. You take away his wah, his fuzz and feedback then he was just a good rock guitar player. Steve Howe, Jimmy Page, Johnny Winter and Clapton were as good or better to my ears. In your above post you are just pissing into the wind, blowing hot air.

[@tomsmith9479]

@showlogicprod Just your feelings on how it would have turned out, that's cool, everyone has their own opinion. Lots of good artists produced good work after peaking. In my opinion he was NOWHERE NEAR the level of those two guys and would have never made it. No, you started it , my first comment here was not even to you .

[@true.2652]

Ok everyone just calm down and listen to Hendrix

[@jimw.4161]

My God... I would love to have seen Jimi jam with Eric. They are the two greatest guitar players in the history of rock-and-roll. Two rock GODS!

[@JessieSnoopp]

One of the coolest stories. I watch videos on this story all the time cause it's that cool!

[@markconnors7310]

Amen to that!

[@ShackInc.]

I idolized Jimi when I was in my teens. I was blessed to see him live 2 months before he died. Atlanta Second Annual Pop Festival. And yes the performance was filmed and there’s a DVD available of the performance. July 4th, 1970 ! At midnight he played the Star Spangled Banner to a gigantic fireworks display behind the stage. True story !

[@lauranceemory4448]

When you get to the skill level technically of Beck, Clapton & Hendrix, then it is more "who's personality/essence do you prefer?". Didn't hurt that Hendrix was also a pipeline to the awesome infinity of the universe, with a good sense of humor.

[@roadwarrior4080]

Man Jimi upset all of their apple carts just listen to all the greats talk about him not modern interviews either listen the ones that they did not long after his death then you hear the truth about their feelings and what he did to and for the music scene

[@loucifer4205]

Hate to break the news Hendrix is not even close to Clapton or Beck he just played slop that's why he couldn't any songs like they were supposed to sound

[@lauranceemory4448]

@@loucifer4205 You're entitled to your opinion, no matter how wrong it is. "Like they were supposed to sound"... what does that even mean? Love Beck. Clapton is too formula

[@gyrofoam1]

Jimi was a player that comes along maybe every other generation and sets a standard like no-one else. He had his big heroes too, sitting at the feet of Buddy Guy when he was jamming with HIM. He did for the electric guitar, blues-wise, what Robert Johnson did for the acoustic. Harmonica; Little Walter. Sax; Charlie Parker. Trumpet; Miles Davis..etc etc. Having great imagination develops the technique to express it with.

[@roadwarrior4080]

Buddy Guy Lmfao !!!!! I would rather hear Muddy Waters by himself

[@eargasm1072]

Spot on observation....all these great artists and players pushed the envelope and were a revolution on their respective instruments

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

​@@roadwarrior4080 Jimi Hendrix attended a Buddy Guy show and was mindblown by the fact that a man 6 years older than him played a guitar behind his back and did long jam solo's he's the same level as Jimi

[@roadwarrior4080]

@@eivindgjengstjohansen9625 hardly! It’s not even close Jimi was the juggernaut.

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

@@roadwarrior4080 it's the drugs that made him play as he did he was never drug free on stage

[@n0isyturtle]

"He killt Gud man, ye know."

[@stevetomich728]

There is only one Jimi. There is only one Eric. Both brilliant. Let it be.

[@roadwarrior4080]

Thats the Beatles ha Ha !!!!

[@alecsanderharrison2691]

@403 Forbidden this is what you think

[@andyallan2202]

Like trying to compare an apple with an orange for best fruit. You can't compare. Both great but in different ways.

[@jasonkileen406]

clapton is not good...at all....scumbag

[@johnkurtz7705]

Brilliance × two

[@tapangasoul6928]

Jimi hendrix really was a force of nature. One with his instrument and the universe.

[@dirtywater5336]

There will never EVER be another guitarist that can play even close to the level that Hendrix did. I'm convinced he wasn't even human

[@dirtywater5336]

WIL SUPER calm down. I know he was human. it was a joke

[@pelumaad331]

Sam Buca ...he was a "voodoo chile".....Hendrix had that old black magic.

[@shamuswinston]

Sam Buca Hendrix was an extraordinary player for his time, however guitar playing has evolved dramatically since then. There's a million players out there who can play like Hendrix or better. EVH and SRV are two examples of guitarists who surpassed Hendrix's ability big time.

[@pelumaad331]

Shamus O'Kane ....LOL.......Eddie and Stevie would laugh at you too. Hendrix was one-of-a-kind. No imitator will ever surpass him. Stevie Ray is a legitimate Texas blues player whose playing stands on it's own despite being heavily influenced by Hendrix. Eddie Van Halen?.......give me a break!

[@shamuswinston]

Pelu Maad You a guitar player?

[@johnnycarlton4420]

There never was and never will be a "Greatest Guitarist Alive"!

[@kurthenze2900]

After reading some of the comments, there seems to be two different views as to who was the best guitar player. And there are very strong opinions on the topic. This is my point of view and I am a guitarist myself. In my early years I preferred Clapton's style, then later as I progressed, I learned to appreciate Hendrix. Now comparing the two is a bit like apples to oranges. Clapton is more structured and precise, and plays within the box (I don't mean the fretboard box for lead solo's). And Hendrix was the unstructured creative, outside the box player. It's like saying what is more beautiful. Well, it's in the eye of the beholder. They both have their niche. It's a no win argument. It's just personal taste. I love them both, and am thankful for their gifts to the world. There are so many unbelievable guitarists living and dead. That are technically as good as either one of them, so that argument seems rediculus to me. They both had a huge impact.

[@pakONEoh]

Well, according to Clapton, Jimi was IT.

[@kennethmilam2894]

I think it's a shame Jimi never played with David on some Pink Floyd. That would have reached another universe...

[@adambishop5739]

I agree. I think Jimi was wild on a guitar. There seemed to be no rigid form or structure really, he was a consumate improvisor and an incredible showman! He was also uber cool! The likes of this had not been seen before, so it had a massive impact on audiences and Jimi opened the floodgates for new styles of guitar playing. Without Jimi's influence, rock would not have taken the turn that it did and would have subsequently sounded alot tamer as a result. Eric Clapton is a wonderfully gifted and clean playing, textbook guitar player! He is the epitome of guitar playing perfection. Never puts a foot wrong, or a note out of place (the same cannot be said of Jimi by the way) and never ventures into the realms of the darkside, so to speak. Just a very brilliant, safe, guitar player! Eric was like a Jedi Master on the guitar, true to the art..but Jimi was like a Sith Lord and pushed boundaries that were not considered appropriate at the the time. I think he was something akin to the naughty schoolboy of guitar playing and he opened a new doorway for us future musicians to experiment with. Jimi made it ok for us to experiment and be what you want to be; the rule book was now torn to pieces and it was ok to do whatever you liked with that instrument, which is the way it should be. I think Eric was the more technically proficient player but Jimmy was the flamboyant whirlwind that could not be contained. I think its probably right to say that you should not compare them, because they are both better and worse than each other, depending on what catagories we are judging them on. I just think we are blessed to have have enjoyed their wonderful music, they both deserve the utmost respect and praise!

[@buttievandermerwe8986]

@@pakONEoh according to Hendrix Rory Gallagher and Billy Gibbons were the best

[@pakONEoh]

@@buttievandermerwe8986 , what do you think about Jimi's comment? Do you agree?

[@caiobandeira5173]

Jimi Hendrix playing with Eric Clapton, that's like having Newton and Einstein solving a physics problem together

[@tannerthornburg4977]

I watch this every now and then to get inspired to achieve a fraction of his greatness - and to answer Erik Clapton’s question at the end …. A resounding YES, and there hasn’t been another like him. He might not be your favorite guitarist, but he is your favorite guitarist’s favorite guitarist. I hope to one day see his level of musicianship and creativity again.

[@nicksundby]

Clapton never did bring me out in goosebumps, Jimi always did

[@alexisrosalesruiz7334]

Clapton about the only good solo he ever did was the Crossroads. Everything is boring imo

[@ndon85]

@@alexisrosalesruiz7334 omg man stfu

[@guitarlover1370]

Sleepy Time and the tone on Sitting On Top of the World at Madison Square Garden always give me goosebumps

[@alexsicko]

for you maybe. not everyone likes hectic solos only, some like how the whole band performs. guitarists always be egocentric, they think world spins around them xD

[@stamatisarvanitidis2430]

Like music is a competition and we can rank guitarists. Why cant you psychopaths just appreciate these legends and the masterpieces they gave us?

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

Yes, he was that good. I can't even imagine what he would have done by today if he had lived. Even by 1969 and 70 he was already expanding musically. Just compare Are You Experienced to Electric Lady Land, only two years later!

[@davidwile6]

And Cry of Love as well.

[@mundicox8951]

Are You Experience and Electric Ladyland are actually just one year and a four months apart. Amazing how much he grew in such a short time

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

+Mundi Cox Exactly.

[@MizQue]

I found your posts both informative and very interesting. It's great to read comments from someone who was actually there. I was a couple of years too young to see Hendrix live, but by '73 I was going to see all the huge acts of the day. Hendrix was and remains my all time favorite guitar player. You were so fortunate to be there to see him LIVE. All I have are KZbin videos and records, and memories of exactly where I was when I got the call that Jimi was dead. I cried for 6 months.

[@TboneI989]

No Brits, Hendrix is not the disciple of Clapton as much as you want to tell yourself that.

[@ghetuyi]

+Rusty hahahaha Exactly!

[@Two_Seat_Pete_FatA55]

+Rusty Maybe not a disciple but he did ask Chas Chandler if he would be able to meet Clapton and also Jeff Beck when he got to England. So he certainly admired him.

[@TboneI989]

Lazarus Solomon Sure, like all great musicians admired each other back in the day. I hate how the brits try to put an elitish spin on everything that stinks of their arseholes.

[@stalkek]

Dead right Rusty. The Brits and the Yanks - hard to know who are the bigger arseholes. You got my vote.

[@kezothehappylurker787]

Ironic though, as most Brits based their music on American Blues _(Which not many Americans appreciated at the time!)_...But thank god for that, as I consider Britain my most _favoured_ kin!

[@byrdz2313]

Clapton’s no slouch either. I’m right into The Experience and Cream; two completely different beasts,

[@stefanthorpenberg887]

I saw Clapton with Cream 2 times in 1967 and Hendrix 3 times. Hendrix was seroulsly good and just over the top, but Clapton was very very good too. One thing with Cream was that it was collective improvisations, but Jimi improvised himself, with Noel just repeating a theme for 10 minutes.

[@BeingPollock]

Thank you for sharing. Excellent cut. (Speechless)

[@sebastiansebastiani8532]

This is one of the best documentary i ever enjoy and never get tire to listen over and over again. The man who kill guitar god. Thanks o lot for sharing this.

[@mcnowski]

Hendrix achieved a level of playing that contained so much soul that even to this day I can't think of another as high.

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

Buddy Guy was 6 years older and played a guitar behind his back

[@eddiesan2187]

Jimmy Hendrix was and is the wizard of OZ, master of the 6 string guitar..... thank you jimmy...

[@roadwarrior4080]

I love youre comment but please spell his name correctly JIMI so that people wont think youre talking about JP

[@dmitrymaslov7779]

He also was a master of the 12 string guitar...

[@TarantuLandoCalcuLingus]

And bass!

[@kengibbens5059]

I always had a respect for Claptons early work, and have always been a Jimi fan, lately have been watching the Cream reunion alot and other Clapton videos, he's growing on me finally after 3 decades of ignoring him... Let's be happy Eric, Beck, Page, Gilmour are still around and playing!

[@heentlasaa9974]

Jimi jammed "Killing floor," by Howling Wolf. Brits were doing covers of Basic American Blues and selling. Elvis Presley used Little Walters "My babe," chords for "My baby left me, and "Trouble," which is Muddy waters "Hoochie Coochie Man," written for him by Mr Willie Dixon. Hendrix went to England when Chas Chandler promised him a chance to jam with Clapton, Eric & Jimi became friends.

[@terraceyouth2961]

Mike Bloomfield from an interview with Guitar Player magazine: “I was performing with Paul Butterfield, and I was the hot-shot guitarist on the block. I thought I was _it_ . I went right across the street and saw him. Hendrix knew who I was, and on that day, in front of my eyes, he burned me to death. I didn’t even get my guitar out. H-bombs were going off. Guided missiles were flying - I can’t tell you the sounds he was getting out of his instrument. He was getting every sound that I was ever to hear him get right there in that room with a Stratocaster, a Twin (amp) and a Maestro fuzz tone, and that was all - he was doing it mainly though extreme volume. How he did this, I wish I understood. He just got right up in my face with that axe, and I didn’t even want to pick up a guitar for the next year”

[@neilphelan145]

Hey Mike, at least you had the God given sense to not bring a knife to a gun fight! 🤯 But seriously, you are one hell of a guitar player!! I was always mesmerized when I listened to you when I was a teen 8n the 60s. Thank you for the joy you brought to the world with your music.👍

[@bernhardnizynski4403]

How soul destroying for Clapton! I guess the lesson is - no matter how good you are, there is always someone better out there!

[@scottrussell2281]

I'm 60, so I was too young to be a part of any of the happenings back then, but after idolizing Jimi for most of my youth, I can't image what it would have been like to be there when Eric and Jimi met on stage. It makes the hair stand up on my arms thinking about it. Jimi always made what he was doing looks SO effortless, like he was channeling it from somewhere else. Like I'm sure we all have, I've often wondered his impact had he not died in 1970.

[@mtadams2009]

I love them both, it has nothing to do with who is better, its simply art, simply listen and enjoy, we are lucky to have had both of these great artist in our lives.

[@MrMoggyman]

It is the innovative things that Jimi did for electric guitar which guaranteed his place in guitar history. By the way I was at this! Jimi's rendition of Killing Floor blew everyones ears off. We had never heard anything like it. I was hooked and followed Jimi all over the UK! Jimi was always very modest about his capabilities, and as you noted cited Rory as being the best guitar player. But it has to be said, this guy was truly gifted. He was the real deal. I know, I was there!!

[@guydelusignan4272]

Lets appreciate Clapton while we still have him, hes one of the few from those times still alive and the last member of Cream.

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

Both guys are legends . Clapton was/is the master craftsman but Hendrix was an incredible artist in the truest sense of the word . So bold, adventurous , inventive, creative an unlimited !

[@lgwappo]

There are technicians (shredders) & there are musicians (artists). Hendrix was one of the most musical guitar players I ever heard.

[@jkryanspark]

As long as we're back in the day, throw a little love Duane Allman's way. He's becoming way too forgotten.

[@calrichey9285]

Haha, never forgotten, ever. Duane was the happy guitar player who got along with everyone and played extremely well with others. He and Dickey played very very well together.. Wish they could have put more music out together.

[@telephonic]

Yes, another great Guitar icon.

[@monstergod888]

Wow,it's hard to believe that Jimi Hendrix walked on Earth,he seems to be like a extraterrestrial who came to this planet to show humans how to rock,i mean,he is the definition of LEGEND!

[@lorilorlor928]

Yes, I saw them both, separately. What a GIFT! They were a dream, a true Life Moment you could never forget. I am so grateful 💕. Can't wait to run into them down the road...

[@susanm9703]

Thank you for posting this!

[@Cefdfsacq]

This story is part of the Hendrix legend......he is still rocks greatest improviser........but during Jimi’s lifetime, the most memorable, eloquent solos on vinyl were developed and executed by Clapton. So well done you can sing or hum them like a pop lyric. Beautiful timing and Fluidity was Eric s game.......even when he dug in deep or was blazing with the Amp at 11 he was always musical.

[@royfablooo2810]

Clapton was friend with literally Guitar God's, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison and SRV. Man's living a good life.

[@lievliberant6019]

You know you've made it when you're mates with Hendrix and one of the Beatles, and Eddie Van Halen is your biggest fan.

[@sgshumblecrumb6046]

Clapton himself is one of the guitar gods lol.

[@MrMoggyman]

You are right. I remember seeing a film clip where Jimi was playing on stage, and some tune just jumped off the guitar strings. It was so unexpected, and Jimi at first looked so surprised, but then he was laughing and laughing. This is just how Jimi was. He loved his guitar, and he loved the music. They were his entire world, and he was totally inseparable from them. To behold Jimi live on stage.......wow......just incredible. I am so lucky to have seen that.

[@bacchusnominus5251]

The think about Hendrix is not the notes he played. Its the way he plays them. This wild and pure energy. He truly was a force of nature.

[@TZKeyz]

At the time Hendrix was like a hurricane blowing on to a stage. I can imagine it effecting Clapton. But, after the storm, they really played differently from each other. I hear Eric and Jimi's influences on the early Jeff Beck stuff. 3 monster musicians, each distinctive.

[@williamharris803]

I'm African American and Jimmy Hendrix gives me a great sense of pride knowing that he is considered one of the greatest of all time but personally I like the cleaner sound of Eric Clapton. I guess I can contribute that to growing up in Mississippi were a lot of blues artist are from....BB King and so on..... I can here a lot of that influence coming through in Eric's style of play. I also love a lot of rythm and feed back play on Jimmy's behalf. I just find my self perffering to listening and jamming to songs like "in the white room", "cocain" and" Layla" more than I do Jimmy's music. I just like Eric's sound better.

[@suzie9874]

Hey William, There is not 1 thing at all wrong with that. Me and im white as casper the freakin ghost. I will take Hendrix all day any day. (Shares a b-day with both him and Bruce Lee as well) But I can and do listen to both Clapton and Hendrix.

[@jk17913]

i agree with this, Hendrix did things no other guitarist could do but Clapton is more enjoyable to listen to

[@Dzo826]

I enjoy Clapton's smoothness more, at times, however, when it comes time to 'get down' it's Jimi all the way!!..Sadly, a majority of BOTH's music, isn't what floats MY boat, of course there are several tunes from both that are amazing, IMO.. There is, to me, NO comparison between the two of them, because they both do what they do, exceptionally well, and is hard as hell to immitate, replicate or originate in the fashion they did what they did... Again, I don't compare, I just enjoy!!!...

[@yvonnewalrond5014]

And the name is Jimi not Jimmy. You spelled Eric Clapton's name right.

[@yvonnewalrond5014]

@@suzie9874 if THEY want clean sounding music then go listen to the group bread or Fleetwood Mac. That should be soft and clean enough for them.

[@tj2001thirty]

Hendrix and Clapton are both influential for fairly similar reasons. When Clapton played with the Bluesbreakers and Cream, he turned up the volume and the aggression.. This was when 'Clapton Is God' was sprayed in London.Hendrix took these amped up blues and went to a new level. A big difference now between them is, since Clapton is still alive, we've seen him mellow from early on until now. We never got to see that with Hendrix. We saw his aggressive period, and that was it.. RIP JJ Cale...

[@revolver33]

If anyone is wondering the Cream song playing in the background is crossroads live at the Royal Albert hall 1968 (farewell concert) The Jimi hendrix song is Killing Floor (BBC Sessions)

[@kiljoy5223]

Clapton was Chuck Norris to Hendrix' Bruce Lee

[@stephenboyes5189]

THATS A PERFECT COMPARISON..

[@imdr911]

Too Funny! I just said that Hendrix was the Bruce Lee of guitarists

[@angelserna8147]

Crazy you say that did you know bruce lee and jimi hendrix share birthdays that shit is dope

[@gtsteele6219]

But Chuck Norris could play behind someone else's head, and still sound like Hendrix.

[@hyzercreek]

@@gtsteele6219 Chuck Norris could play piano with his feet and make it sound like Hendrix on guitar.

[@goonerdotcom]

This was the era when mere mortals had access to musicians and their trade, they might have put up graffiti that proclaimed they were gods but they were the peoples gods and didn't behave as if they were. NOW we worship them to such a degree they believe they are godly and untouchable.

[@allenmcdaniel1470]

Love Jack & Ginger's takes here- two of MY idols, and still ARE. And Jack says it quite succinctly- Jimi was like a force of Nature. And Ginger says something similar. But we'll never know where he COULDA & WOULDA went, cuz some heavenly band wanted a badass guitarist and they took HIM from us.

[@jackkent7090]

These are both amazing guitarists love em both I'm sure they respected each other a lot

[@kathyvandusen9601]

Jimi will always be around, greatest guitarist ever played.

[@JohnJohnJeep]

I'll never understand why some people think Clapton is over rated. Much of what he created with Cream and the Dominos was stunning. Whether he was blazing away with Cream,or hanging back a bit during his pop career, he's never tried to over power his band mates. Some people interpret this to mean others on stage are better than he is. It's not true. He's played everywhere with everyone. There's no larger living legend. If you only know him by what you have seen in the past several years, remember he's approaching 70. Discover what he did in the 1960s.

[@gyrofoam1]

Because it's fashionable. This is the 21st century - time to re-write the 20th, in case anyone e.g. teens, get the idea that they missed something.

[@roadwarrior4080]

He didnt try to over power Clapton had the biggest EGO of anyone and personally didnt have the goods to back it up, he was on top until they through a true pioneer of his instrument at him and then he folded worse than a cheap suit on a hot sunday he didnt even want be on the same planet as Hendrix because his act couldnt compare he had NO show and played redundent mediocre blues licks he learned from listening to african american blues guitarist and guess what Jjmi was an african american/cherokee blues guitarist Phenom force of nature, he was also ambidextrous and he is the Master

[@greenbrightly]

Yes I agree, my perspective is Hendrix live was a bit of a mess but a master in the studio, and gifted songwriter. Clapton was better live, and to do what he did with the blues breakers at 20 was ridiculous, with Cream he’s incredible plus he played on the white album and was in a band with John Lennon so case rested!

[@roadwarrior4080]

BORING AS HELL !!!

[@roadwarrior4080]

@@greenbrightly Clapton has NO fire and is a boring blues player so very predictable many others better than him in the genre of blues, its just a fact he was no pioneer of anything except getting drugged out accolades, he really ripped off the african american blues men and guess what jimi was an african american r&b blues man that learned directly from the source because he lived it, not from a watered down source of musical mis representation and EGO driven BS, Clapton is NOT a nice person at all

[@MichaelLantz]

Did you know it was Mike Bloomfield, who was of Paul Butterfields Blues Band, who introduced Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton's music?Mike Bloomfield said "That the only guitar player that Jimi was familiar with at the time was Jeff Beck who was with The Yardbirds at the time.Mike played The Beano album for Jimi and he said that Jimi was in a daze when he heard Eric's playing".

[@talister106]

In the early seventies I was inspired by a lot of great guitarist . Hendrix stood out because he did things and had a sound unlike anyone else. My biggest regret is not being able to see what he could of done in the future.

[@michaell8722]

Clapton played the guitar Hendrix was the guitar

[@7MazzaMia7]

Yep!!!!

[@macboogieland2897]

jimi was the boss of the bosses!! such an inspiration

[@SmahTime]

Well, except Springsteen :)

[@mainstreetband622]

Springsteen sucks

[@johnharris7353]

So in '65 I was 13 and was beginning to notice girls n music. This was in Midwest U.S.. all our music was dogpoop, then came the Beatles!!! Blew everyone away, nothing like it ever before! I still luv it today!

[@Gexxon]

YES!!!! Jimi was really THAT GOOD! I'm lucky to have been able to see him, "LIVE", as a kid.

[@guthyranker1724]

I still haven't seen as good as a performance as JH , playing at Monteray pop festival........Playing with his teeth and behind his back and bringing his guitar foreword with out missing a note......Truly incredible....Hey Joe Monteray Pop fest.

[@caseD5150]

It's people like you that over rate Hendrix. Yea, he was Phenomenal. Yea, he inspired COUNTLESS. But playing guitar behind his head and his fucking teeth doesnt make him great.

[@scottiehippie]

+Cassidy Sambeekles He was the first.

[@caseD5150]

scottiehippie No, he wasn't. The blues has been ripped off by COUNTLESS since it's inception. He was just following the cycle, and ripping off his heros.

[@TYLERKEITHROWLAND]

Only have to hear him- no visual needed

[@xavierboxone3937]

This will make me unpopular here, but Steve Vai. He had to stand on Jimi's Shoulder's to do it, though. The players he inspired, that's his legacy.

[@pault1964]

The invention of the Marshall amp changed everything

[@jimivibes609]

Brilliant video. Love this. Such a cool story

[@houstonswisha143]

Imagine being in the crowd that night… would of been a great memory

[@delmanglar]

Clapton imitated blues masterfully, Jimi made blues. People that tought Clapton was guitar god hadn't heard the great blues guitarist of the time

[@Jon-wm3wp]

"Clapton imitated" ignorant...

[@theycallmejpj]

if you think hendrix is "blues" then you aren't listening to at least half his material

[@ochaze1]

Jimi was a Clapton disciple??? I dont think so lol

[@DaisyChain62]

How I see things is that Hendrix and Clapton had immense respect for each other....full stop.

[@gk411]

jimi as I always say was a brilliant one off shooting star, l always loved Jimis fantastic voice, E.C is a very underrated singer also...Knopfler is simply divine on Guitar.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

The balls on Jimi hendrix...Arrives in London, plugs into Jack Bruce's bass amp, destroys Eric Clapton, screws a couple of hundred birds, leaves London!

[@harpnant]

Heard Jimmy play at the Marquee club, my young brain could not process the sound. Took a year to of listening to EP's to understand the genius.

[@RebelThoughts82]

I like Clapton but I never understood the hype he gets from some people. I never got the hype and still don't. He's good but he's also boring. All he does is rehash what the past blues players did. Jimi Hendrix was much more inventive, bold, and forward thinking as a musician than Clapton ever was.

[@sondreschirmer-mikalsen3217]

True, Hendrix was bold. Bold as love.

[@steelekiller8540]

RebelThoughts82 the deal with Clapton is he’s still alive. If Hendrix had lived there is NO doubt in my mind he would take Clapton’s place as the number one guitarist. There is no doubt that even when he was alive he was an AMAZING guitarist. But because Clapton lived he had time to go with the changes. And remember all forms of music is a descendant from the blues. Heavy metal blues with a lot of distortion. Listen to a heavy metal song without that distortion it’s just the blues.

[@uaala]

Maybe this should enlighten you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYm1iqelZ9eApNU He is not just copying the blues artists, as seen for example, on Groaning the Blues. He made it better.

[@andzwe]

Looking back on it now, the British artists profited very much from the fact that the black artists they more of less copied were largely ignored in the States. That changed when they also started to get the credits. Hendrix still had to come to the UK first to get his breakthrough though. Just like Jazz musicians like Miles Davis had to come to Paris to become really respected and wellknown. Hendrix revolutonized the blues music the European artists loved when they started off and added the pop, rock and soul elements to it, just like his contemporaries did.

[@MrMoggyman]

With Jimi, there was never any big headedness. The Cream jam was phenomenal, but it was just his normal US act, and no more. Ok, he played the guitar over his head, behind his back, between his legs, and with his teeth, and that was unusual. He was very modest and even humble about his capabilities, a very quiet and shy person off stage. When asked who was the best guitar player he cited Rory as being the best. But whenever he had a guitar in his hands he was in his element..fun came naturally.

[@msfoto3541]

I watch videos like this and half way through I realize I forgot to breathe. Just imagine being there and taking it all in.

[@jimmy5634]

Comparing these two guys is a fruitless endeavor. Clapton put his own mark on Blues soloing and that was his originality. Many others have followed and put their marks on Blues Soloing as well. Hendrix didn't "play" guitar, he owned it.

[@nitramyellek442011]

+jimmy5634 Amen!

[@realtalk4617]

Accidently on Purpose force of nature is an understatement for Hendrix

[@architecture.w]

jimmy5634 Clapton stole his blues from old Black Americans. Nothing original about it.

[@Dagger_323]

Architecture Whisperer ignorance at its finest. All blues is emulated from those of the past. It has to be otherwise it is not blues. You can’t incorporate modes in place of pentatonics if you aim to play that style of guitar... it simply does not work. Either way, listen to his playing in Cream and then come back and tell me that Clapton was merely “ripping off black blues guys” and there wasn’t anything original about him. Quite the contrary. At the time of the late 60’s Clapton and Hendrix were the top of their class. And if Hendrix was indeed “better”, it was by a smaller margin than most seem to claim, because Clapton was phenomenal.

[@Ah_Yote]

Dagger 323 there’s a difference between inspiration, and just straight up stealing, Clapton was a bit of an odd mix of both much like Led Zeppelin,

[@MerkinMuffly]

I always liked Clapton's overall tone better than Jimi's, but Hendrix was a much better rhythm player than Clapton: "Meeting Clapton had been among the enticements Chandler had used to lure Hendrix to Britain: "Hendrix blew into a version of [Howlin' Wolf's] 'Killing Floor'," recalls Garland, "and plays it at breakneck tempo, just like that - it stopped you in your tracks." Altham recalls Chandler going backstage after Clapton left in the middle of the song "which he had yet to master himself"; Clapton was furiously puffing on a cigarette and telling Chas: "You never told me he was that fucking good." Clapton was more a disciple of BB King which explains his limited rhythm playing early in his career, but that fucking tone? I mean, there's Clapton's tone on Steppin' Out and then there's everything else.

[@williamreid2434]

MerkinMuffly

[@jeffblydenburgh5938]

I disagree. If you have just about everything Hendrix put out in his short lifetime ( and there is so much), Hendrix is the Electric Church of tone. I own so much stuff and I can honestly tell you no one can match Hendrix’s tone. Even Clapton. Irs all his own buddy.

[@martinadshead3298]

MerkinMuffly pussy strat? Get a real guitar

[@Hendrix67297]

Jeff Blydenburgh spot on. Can you imagine Eric's brown pants?

[@magicdaveable]

First of all it should be pointed out that while Hendrix certainly demonstrated musical genius he learned much of his stage theatrics from watching Buddy Guy. He also learned much technique from watching Buddy. Now it is also important to understand that the song Manic Depression was autobiographical. During some of his Manic Episodes he played his guitar nonstop for 2 or 3 days. It is really difficult to not develop mechanical excellence on a musical instrument spending that much time playing. Now addressing tone..... It is historical fact that Jimi used a White Les Paul Custom with 3 humbuckers on Are You Experienced? The arguments about tone are simply absurd. I am a guitarist of 48 years performing experience. I spent hours wearing out Jimi's albums in the late 60's. Learning from the masters is how we all learned. Suggesting that we didn't would be lying. I learned from Bach, Beethoven, and especially Mozart but many others including The Beatles, Zappa, Carlton, Lukather, Duane, Garcia, Gibbons, SRV, Page, et al. Arguing about tone is bullshit since it is purely subjective. My Music Man Silhouettes have unbelievable tone. Both are as good or even better than my Gold Top Les Paul or my '59 Strat. That's why I sold them. Why keep guitars that I don't play? The vintage argument is bullshit especially since amplifiers are involved. When I was trying out my first Silhouette I played it for a really long time without plugging it in just to hear the tone. Anyone that suggests humbucker or single coil pickups don't greatly affect tone is living in fantasyland. Get Real. Clapton for instance has used a huge variety of guitars but "Blackie" is his main axe according to him. That said I have often seen him using his Strat Signature model with Lace Sensor pickups. Do you really know about either of these musicians? My experience as a performer began when I was 11 years old. No I never achieved fame but made a good living playing rock'n'roll. Speaking of Hendrix, I learned much from his recordings but never attempted to copy his sound. I did emulate Clapton early in my career but was a really early fan of the Dead and Quicksilver. Hendrix dud not have the opportunity to fully realize his genius. Clapton has demonstrated his musical genius and even conquered his demons. Both are at the top of my best guitarist list but..... There ard many others.

[@ljs2000]

Jimi was Airborne thank you for your service, Rock Heaven Jimi....

[@alexblock2248]

This might be the most fascinating video on KZbin barnone.

[@jlynch7411]

As Mr Bruce said....Jimi was A FORCE OF NATURE!! So much so that even Eric had to bow his head. Every head must bow, every tongue must confess.

[@travelingaroundtheworld1367]

Yes he is that good !!!! Even after his death..

[@Mr.H0LLYW00D]

Clapton studied the blues. Jimi lived the blues❤

[@lrwiersum]

Jimi, Jimi, Jimi !!! What else can be done ? He Blessed us all.

[@Femalecommaman]

I had always wanted to see Eric Clapton. Finally, in 1974, he was going to be at Stanford University Amphitheatre - about 15 miles south of where we lived. I was 16, had my license and got tickets the next day. We went and Eric was *so wasted* he couldn't even stand! "I Shot The Sheriff" was big then. The crowd was yelling for it, but we only got a sloppy version of "Layla" as he staggered from one side of the stage to the other taking huge pulls from a bottle of Jack Daniels that he had sitting on one of the Marshalls! The opening band, who were, thankfully, pretty good, had to finish the show so Clapton could go pass out offstage. What a major disappointment for a kid who'd waited all her life to see him! I was glad to hear he finally sobered up. Too bad his son had to die for him to do it, though.

[@allenmcdaniel1470]

a sad story Suzette. bet you were deflated to see him like that. must've been a sad and confused time for EC. so glad he didn't become another victim of the times & taken too soon like JH.

[@Femalecommaman]

ALLEN McDANIEL Thanks, Allen for that great and totally accurate comment! It's exactly the way I feel!

[@andrea0650]

Jimi Hendrix is Jimi Hendrix …there are no chances for the other, before and after Jimi nothing !!

[@tommack9395]

That's a silly statement... James A Hendrix was who came before him and what who was in his present at the time.

[@heldersufiano2816]

andrea!!!!you are damn right!!!!

[@roadwarrior4080]

You are so correct my friend

[@patriciodasilva7902]

That's such a cool story. I love Jimi's raw energy, it's amazing. Remember, Brit rockers were emulating black American blues artists in the 60s, well, Jimi was a black American blues artist, the genuine article!

[@basketcase480]

It certainly seems they were. Clapton was devastated when Hendrix died (and had just gotten him a guitar). I can't imagine what a shock that performance must have been though. Being seen as the best around and then watching someone tear through a song you struggle with in the middle of your performance would be tough.