Jimi Hendrix‘s legacy lives on despite his untimely passing at the age of 27. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists in rock ‘n’ roll history, inspiring a generation of stars from Gary Clark Jr. to Lenny Kravitz. Known for his trailblazing style and electrifying performances, Hendrix left behind many hit songs, including “All Along the Watchtower” and “The Wind Cries Mary.” But it was Hendrix’s skill with the electric guitar that truly cemented him as an innovator in music. And while the star was known to praise many musicians’ work, he was also not afraid to criticize others. For example, the legendary rock ‘n’ roll group Pink Floyd, whose music Hendrix once essentially described as ‘terrible’.
Jimi Hendrix Criticized Pink Floyd’s Early Work
Jimi Hendrix was born Johnny Hendrix(aka James Marshall Hendrix) on November 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington. The child of impoverished parents, he began playing the guitar at 15. After an honorable discharge from the military, Hendrix started touring around the country as a guitarist for established artists and acts such as Little Richard and The Isley Brothers. He eventually branched away from supporting roles and started his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and later Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. While Hendrix achieved success with both groups, he later pursued a solo career, producing several hit albums and songs. On stage, Hendrix wowed fans worldwide with his captivating stage presence, and soon, the word guitar became synonymous with his name. Although his career was short-lived (he died from complications of drugs in 1970), he was regarded as one of the most revered guitarists of all time. Given his musical genius, it made him one of the few artists in history who were qualified enough to critique other artists. And during several interviews, Hendrix did exactly that.
“Here’s one thing I hate, man. When these cats say, ‘Look at the band. They’re playing psychedelic music!’ All they’re doing is flashing lights on them and playing “Johnny B. Goode” with the wrong chords. It’s terrible.” Hendrix was, of course, referring to the British rock ‘n’ roll group Pink Floyd, of whom the former felt cared more about presenting unique visuals than delivering impactful music. As ardent music fans will know, the legendary rock group, which was formed in 1965, achieved worldwide fame with iconic hit songs such as “Any Colour You Like“, “Money“, and “Have A Cigar“. The band has also won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, achieved seven number-one hit albums, and toured the globe in numerous sold-out shows. However, their fame and recognition would come later in their career. It was the work that they put out at the beginning of their career that Hendrix had an issue with. The latter would also later say about them, “I’ve heard they have beautiful lights, but they don’t sound like anything.” However, years later, Hendrix toned down his negative rhetoric about the rock group and began to appreciate their work. “They’re doing like a different type of music. They’re doing more kind of a space thing,” he stated in an interview with The Narrative Art. “Technically, they are getting electronics and all this. They do like a space kind of thing, like an inner space. Sometimes you have to lay back by yourself and appreciate them.”
Jimi Hendrix Gave Rory Gallagher Credit as the Best Guitarist
While Jimi Hendrix certainly wasn’t afraid to speak negatively about another artist’s work, he also gave credit to those he felt deserved it. Case in point, during one particular appearance on The Mike Douglas Show, in which Hendrix was asked by the host “What’s it like to be the best rock guitarist in the world?” Instead of answering himself, Hendrix gave praise to another musician, “I don’t know, you’ll have to ask Rory Gallagher.” Like Hendrix, Gallagher was born to humble beginnings and began playing guitar at an early age. His breakthrough came with the blues rock band Taste, and following their break-up in 1970, he became a solo artist and gained worldwide recognition as a guitarist. Gallagher would later be named the best contemporary guitarist by Melody Maker magazine (a prominent British music publication) in 1972, while Hendrix was named the best guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine in 2023. Hendrix would also later refer to Billy Gibbon as his favorite guitarist.
