I cannot actually believe I'm reading this.
Hendrix (upon whom I really am something of an authority) had some weaknesses - he found it hard to say no to people and was easily pushed around, but I challenge you to find a single account of a contemporary of his saying anything other than that he was a really, really nice, shy, pleasant man.

He also had more talent in his little toe than pretty much any other musician that I'm aware of. Maybe Miles Davis was as able, but I know nothing of him or his work, I confess.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 11:47, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

But Monty
it's personal opinion. What I've read (obviously I'm too young to have seen him) and what I've heard simply strikes no chords.
I think that was a bad pun, but anyhow the point stands. My grounds for rejecting Hendrix as a personal icon (though obviously musically brilliant) are personal ones.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 11:52, Reply)

It's a personal opinion, but it's one
I share with every single person who has ever had anything to say about the man.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 11:59, Reply)

I'm thinking about it
and I can't recall ever hearing anyone say anything about his personality (other than you of course)

this may shock you Monty, but while I obviously have an appreciation of how awesome he was, aside from a select few, I don't really care to listen to his stuff.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 12:00, Reply)

^
Pretty much this. Sorry Monty but being in complete agreement with everyone else simply isn't cool remember ;)
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 12:02, Reply)

That's a daft remark.
I've based my opinions on years of researching contemporary accounts, you've classed him as a 'twat' based on, it seems, nothing at all.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 12:13, Reply)

I don't
like him enough to do research into him. I don't think anything about him seemed especially likable or decent or warranting further enquiry into someone whose music while as I said brilliant, leaves me emotionally cold and un-connected with it
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 12:16, Reply)

As a guitarist I'm really surprised to hear you say that.
I could watch him perform or listen to his records all day long. To my ears his work creates almost a year 0 for rock, like years BC or AD. The studio innovation and stylistic variety in his output, not to mention the technical ability simply amazes me.

Each to their own, of course. When my father played me Hendrix when I was about 7 or 8 I was floored. No-one since has affected me anywhere near as much.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 12:12, Reply)

it's not that I don't like it, or appreciate how good it is
and there are a number of his songs that I really really love.

I think it is probably the case that I don't know enough of his stuff, and the ones I do know are the obvious ones which get overplayed.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 12:14, Reply)

I regard 'Driving South'
on the BBC sessions LP to be the best guitar playing, by anyone, ever.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 12:16, Reply)

I will check it out then
I assume you've heard the recent album. I've heard a few bits, and have to say that the version of Sunshine of your love is fucking awful.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 12:20, Reply)

I'd like to proffer
'St Pancras' by Quintessence as a strong contender for that title. For all the daft mystic chanting, Alan Mostert did play some superb lead guitar. But that recording of 'Driving South' is excellent - is that BBC session worth having on the whole?
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 12:27, Reply)