Guitar Heroes: Jimi Guitar Heroes: Jimi Hendrix and Eric Hendrix and Eric

ClaptonClapton

Jimi Hendrix (1942–70) Jimi Hendrix (1942–70)

The most original, inventive, and The most original, inventive, and influential guitarist of the rock erainfluential guitarist of the rock era

The most prominent African The most prominent African American rock musician of the late American rock musician of the late 1960s 1960s – His early experience as a guitarist was His early experience as a guitarist was

gained through touring with R&B bands.gained through touring with R&B bands.

Jimi Hendrix (1942–70)Jimi Hendrix (1942–70)

In 1966, he moved to London, where at the In 1966, he moved to London, where at the suggestion of the producer Chas Chandler, suggestion of the producer Chas Chandler, he joined up with two English musicians, he joined up with two English musicians, the bassist Noel Redding and the drummer the bassist Noel Redding and the drummer Mitch Mitchell; they eventually formed a Mitch Mitchell; they eventually formed a band called the Jimi Hendrix Experience.band called the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

The Experience was first seen in America The Experience was first seen in America in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival, in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival, where Hendrix stunned the audience with where Hendrix stunned the audience with his flamboyant performance style.his flamboyant performance style.

Jimi Hendrix (1942–70)Jimi Hendrix (1942–70)

Hendrix added to the musical Hendrix added to the musical techniques and materials available techniques and materials available to guitarists.to guitarists.

The creative employment of feedbackThe creative employment of feedback DistortionDistortion Sound-manipulating devices like the Sound-manipulating devices like the

wah-wah pedal and fuzz boxwah-wah pedal and fuzz box Aggressive dissonance and incredibly Aggressive dissonance and incredibly

loud volumeloud volume

Jimi Hendrix (1942–70)Jimi Hendrix (1942–70)

Hendrix was a sound sculptor, exploring the Hendrix was a sound sculptor, exploring the borderline between music and noiseborderline between music and noise– Performance of the American national anthem at Performance of the American national anthem at

the Woodstock Festival in 1969the Woodstock Festival in 1969 The Experience’s first album, The Experience’s first album, Are You Are You

Experienced? Experienced? (1967) features these new (1967) features these new effects.effects.

The lyrics, with lines like “blowin’ my mind” The lyrics, with lines like “blowin’ my mind” and “‘scuse me while I kiss the sky,” made and “‘scuse me while I kiss the sky,” made Hendrix an iconic figure for the Hendrix an iconic figure for the counterculture, as well as a role model for counterculture, as well as a role model for rock musicians.rock musicians.

Eric Clapton (b. 1945) Eric Clapton (b. 1945)

The most influential of the young The most influential of the young British guitarists who emerged during British guitarists who emerged during the mid-1960sthe mid-1960s– Influenced by the blues recordings of Influenced by the blues recordings of

Robert Johnson and B. B. KingRobert Johnson and B. B. King– Member of the Yardbirds, a band that Member of the Yardbirds, a band that

had little pop success but served as a had little pop success but served as a training ground for young guitarists, training ground for young guitarists, including Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page including Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page

Eric Clapton (b. 1945)Eric Clapton (b. 1945)

From 1966 to 1968, Clapton played in From 1966 to 1968, Clapton played in the band Cream, featuring the drummer the band Cream, featuring the drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce. Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce.

– Cream, the first in a line of rock “power trios” Cream, the first in a line of rock “power trios” that formed during the late 1960s and early that formed during the late 1960s and early 1970s, exerted a major influence on early 1970s, exerted a major influence on early heavy metal music.heavy metal music.

Cream took the United States by storm in Cream took the United States by storm in the late 1960s, selling millions of LPs in the late 1960s, selling millions of LPs in the space of three years and placing two the space of three years and placing two singles in the Top 10.singles in the Top 10.

Listening: “Crossroads” Listening: “Crossroads” Written by Robert Johnson; performed by Cream; Written by Robert Johnson; performed by Cream;

recorded in 1968recorded in 1968 In stylistic terms, Cream’s performance is more In stylistic terms, Cream’s performance is more

indebted to postwar urban blues and R&B than to indebted to postwar urban blues and R&B than to the Delta style.the Delta style.

Clapton sings a few strophes of Johnson’s song Clapton sings a few strophes of Johnson’s song before launching into a series of improvised before launching into a series of improvised twelve-bar choruses. twelve-bar choruses.

Baker and Bruce play constantly throughout, Baker and Bruce play constantly throughout, driving Clapton along to higher and higher driving Clapton along to higher and higher emotional peaks.emotional peaks.

Clapton’s approach involves highly developed Clapton’s approach involves highly developed technical skills and the use of electronic feedback, technical skills and the use of electronic feedback, which enables him to sustain long notes and create which enables him to sustain long notes and create flowing streams of shorter notes.flowing streams of shorter notes.