http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Tue, 1 Jul 2008 14:24:23 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/04/26/082000.php#comment-730181 When I read comments coming from most of your viewers, it puzzles me that no one really "listens" to the way contemporary players play today. I mean really "listen"... because if you really "listen" to rock, blues, and some jazz guitarist today, the greatest influences you hear are coming from Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, and Jimi Hendrix. Worldwide ! Every guitarist has a Christian, Hendrix, or Montgomery riff that he or she has stolen. Even Eddie Van Halen would never reject the influence of Hendrix. Slash... and anyone of these contemporary players you can name... I don't understand why these guys get so much notoriety... no, I take that back... I do. If by chance you do not listen, then you're in denial. Everyone plays Texas Blues to emulate Charlie Christian. Everyone plays octaves to emulate Wes Montgomery, and everyone bends the hell of the notes and uses sound effects to emulate Jimi Hendrix. Maybe all the critics are listening to the sound of their own interpretation. 730181@blogcritics.org Tue, 1 Jul 2008 14:24:23 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/04/26/082000.php#comment-722829 Too many blues artists in here unless this IS just a blues poll and I know blues was the beginning of rock n roll n what not but wheres Tony Iommi, he was one of the first to completely remove the blues aspect and created a little genre known as Heavy Metal! 722829@blogcritics.org Mon, 2 Jun 2008 08:22:52 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/04/26/082000.php#comment-707339 Has anyone ever heard of a great guitar player named Billy Muir, when I was a kid (the 60's) my ol'man had an "LP" by this guy that was way ahead of it's time, it was titled "Supersonics in flight"...anyone?! Thanks 707339@blogcritics.org Fri, 4 Apr 2008 11:37:54 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/04/26/082000.php#comment-608520 "I doubt anyone tried to emulate Chuck Berry after Hendrix came along. " Oh, come on now, every garage band in the world tries "Johnny B. Goode" on for size. It's easy to figure out who the most influential guitarist were; simply trace EVH's or Slash's or any living guitarists influences back, and they will generally trace back to the guys listed in the article. No slam on Eddie, he could be credited with reviving rock guitar in the late '70's and paving the way for the metal '80's. Still, where would he be without those who went before? Personally, I think Ace Frehley is underappreciated. 608520@blogcritics.org Fri, 6 Jul 2007 17:45:48 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/04/26/082000.php#comment-608504 It's been three years since this was posted when I run across it, but I have to comment, because I believe my favorite musician again is denied the recognition he deserves, and I want it known in a year when another person runs across this blog. But before going there, I ask, influential to who? How many guitarists in the last 30 years have actually been influenced by those guys? They each had a time when they were the most influential, but while their pioneering accomplishments were stepping stones to where we are now, once the new guy came along, they were no longer influential as guitarists. I doubt anyone tried to emulate Chuck Berry after Hendrix came along. And that brings me to my guy. It seems that nowadays people try to forget that the years 1978 through 1991 didn't exist. Those were the years that every single rock guitarist tried his best (with varying degrees of success) to emulate the great Edward Van Halen. For 14 years, he was the main one, and that reign of influence is really longer than almost everyone on there. No one tried to copy Hendrix once Van Halen came along (about 9 years later). Plus, half the guys on your lists are purely blues guitarists, and for years have only influenced blues players, which isn't exactly the most popular style, even if it does have a hand in everything. But in the world of rock guitar, no other guitarist had a reign of influence as long, as Van Halen, or had a style that was as difficult to truely emulate (even though some guys came close). Yes, sometimes he's more style that substance, but his influence can't be denied. Even now, after the era that was a gas chamber to great guitar playing which we called "grunge," rock players are still influenced by him. Look, you don't have to have Van Halen #1, but his influence can't be denied, even when everyone is trying to. Other than that, your list is pretty accurate. 608504@blogcritics.org Fri, 6 Jul 2007 16:45:07 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/04/26/082000.php#comment-510144 Dearest Mimi, I listed these artists chronologically. I'd hoped to convey the ongoing cross influences that these artists(and many others not listed here)have had on the evolution of modern guitar playing in the 20th century. Jimi H. is just aces in my book and this list is only meant to link his respective style with the aforementioned musicians here who have served to varying degrees as influences,mentors,friends and more. I have only really just begun to scratch at the surface here. Each and every one of these gents listed is more than worthy of his own write up. In trying to narrow down about 75 years worth of music into a couple of paragraphs meant that many omissions and a degree of ambiguity on my behalf was not an unlikely possibility. I'd like to offer you a belated "Thank You!" for your perusal of this piece and do sincerely hope you have enjoyed it. Even more so than all that,I hope that you have increased your knowledge and appreciation of what helped to inspire Mr Hendrix onto the pure Voodoo Funk that we all know,love & remember him for. 510144@blogcritics.org Fri, 12 Jan 2007 21:52:40 EST