Sigh.. I’ve been dreading this day since the moment I
began “Deep In The Grooves.” This is the end… my only friends the end…(did any
of you catch that reference to the Doors?). But seriously guys, I never wanted
this blog to come to an end; it’s been a wicked ride, and I can’t thank you
enough for all the wonderful and motivating feedback. It means the world to me,
I never could have successfully completed this blog without any of you.
But let’s end it on a
positive note with one last post on “Albums That Changed Rock n’ Roll.” This is
my last chance to influence you guys to check out some of the classic music
that has changed the lives of many, including myself, so I better do one hell
of a job. The album I will be talking about today is Are You Experienced? By The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
I already know that you guys
have all heard of Jimi Hendrix. He has influenced our world’s pop culture to
the point where even people who can’t stand the sound of rock music love the
guy. Yeah, he was just that cool.
Before I get into depth
about Jimi and Are You Experienced?, I
want to share my own personal story about the first time I discovered Jimi’s
music. It seems that everyone who loves
rock n’ roll has their own unique story about how they stumbled upon Jimi’s
phenomenal music, because almost all rock fans are bound to stumble upon
Hendrix at one time or another. I remember the day as if it was yesterday. I
was in the fifth grade and I was driving around with my Dad, most likely on one
of regular trips to pick up a delicious Slurpee from 7/11. I remember “All
Along the Watchtower” coming on the radio, and my young mind was in a powerful but
incredible state of shock. I wondered “how the hell is he doing that? How does
he make his guitar sound like that?” I was even more surprised when I found out
that he sang too. I literally thought that Hendrix was some kind of extra-terrestrial
sent down to Earth to blow the minds of thousands. I got right into Hendrix,
and I’ve loved him ever since. I currently own every one of his studio albums
on record, plus many of his live and post hummus albums.
Enough of my personal story,
time for some Hendrix History 1.0.1
“On the night I was born. I
swear the moon turned a fire red,” sings Hendrix on his song “Voodoo Chile.”
The year was 1942, in Seattle, Washington, when the aliens brought… I mean, when Jimi Allan Hendrix was brought into this world. Music became one of Jimi’s biggest interests in the early years of his adolescence when he started discovering wonderful blues music by artists such as Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. By age 13, Jimi had become so obsessed with the guitar -- and I mean obsessed – that he used to carry a broom around when he was school, pretending that he was one of his idols strumming a few notes. It wasn’t until the age of 15 that Jimi received his first ever acoustic guitar for the ridiculously expensive price of $5. (I’m only kidding of course).
The year was 1942, in Seattle, Washington, when the aliens brought… I mean, when Jimi Allan Hendrix was brought into this world. Music became one of Jimi’s biggest interests in the early years of his adolescence when he started discovering wonderful blues music by artists such as Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. By age 13, Jimi had become so obsessed with the guitar -- and I mean obsessed – that he used to carry a broom around when he was school, pretending that he was one of his idols strumming a few notes. It wasn’t until the age of 15 that Jimi received his first ever acoustic guitar for the ridiculously expensive price of $5. (I’m only kidding of course).
(Jimi as a child with his father, Al)
It’s easy to assume that
Jimi was taught music at a very young age by a very professional music teacher,
but that is not the case. The young Hendrix taught himself to play simply by
the power of commitment as well as his ability to easily pick up notes. By the
time he was 17, Jimi formed his own band called The Velvetones. It wasn’t until
after the group was formed that Jimi Hendrix received his first-ever electric
guitar.
(The teenage Jimi Hendrix during his time in the United States Army)
But bad luck was around the
corner. At the age of 19, Jimi was forced to join the army after the police caught
him taking a stolen car for a joyride. Jimi was the kind of person that made
the best out of a terrible situation, but he only had one significant problem
during his time in the army; he needed his guitar in order to keep himself
sane. Luckily, Al Hendrix, Jimi’s dad, paid to have his son’s electric guitar
shipped to his army base. Within two months of Jimi’s service in the army, he
met a young named Billy Cox who loved jamming on the bass guitar and the two of
them formed a radical jam group that provided a wonderful source of
entertainment for their fellow soldiers. The cool thing is that Billy Cox and
Hendrix formed a group many years later called “The Band of Gypsys” after his
band “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” broke up.
(Hendrix and Cox)
(Jimmy James and The Blue Flames)
Being a musician has always
been a tremendously difficult career. Hendrix, like many other artists, just barely
made enough to survive. The guy could play the guitar like a mad man, but he
had no damn money whatsoever; he struggled to pay his bills every month, which
is just heart breaking. But one night, one woman recognized Jimi’s true
potential, and she knew that Hendrix had the skill to become a musical
sensation. The women’s name was Linda Keith, Rolling Stones’ guitarist Keith Richards’s
girlfriend at the time.
(Jimi and Linda)
Linda said that she was
mesmerized by Hendrix’s playing. Get this guys; Linda suggested to Jimi to play
for the Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham, and their producer, Seymour
Stein. The two claimed that they did not see Jimi’s musical potential whatsoever.
Can you honestly believe that? Hendrix is considered to be the greatest
guitarist of all time today, so it’s clear that these two assholes made
possibly the stupidest mistake next to Decca records refusing to sign The
Beatles.
But the two suggested that
Hendrix to go to Chas Chandler, a former member of the British invasion band
“The Animals” that was interested in producing and managing independent
artists. Chandler really wanted a group that could recreate Billy Roberts’ song
"Hey Joe". Ironically, Hendrix had already began working on his own
unique version of the song; it’s seems as if fate played a part in the meeting
of these two very talented individuals. Chandler instantly agreed to manage
Hendrix, so the two flew to England to form The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Chandler introduced Hendrix to a bass player
named Noel Reeding, and the two hit it off almost instantly; Jimi had found his
future band mate. Reeding suggested that they recruit his longtime friend,
Mitch Mitchell who was a highly respected R&B drummer. Hendrix saw the
potential in Mitchell as well, and the Jimi Hendrix Experienced was formed.
(The original "Jimi Hendrix Experience" Line up. I dig the hair cuts)
The band released their first single, which
consisted of “Hey Joe” as well as the group’s anthem “Purple Haze.” The two
songs skyrocketed up the Top 40 in the UK. Hendrix was starting to become a
true sensation in the UK. That very single was the launch of something greater;
A full-blown LP. In May of 1967, the group’s first album “Are You Experienced?”
was released to the public in the UK.
(The original UK release of "Are You Experienced?")
So what makes this album so special? How
exactly did it change rock n’ roll music?
Unlike The
Velvet Underground And Nico,” which had a variety of reasons to why it is
such an essential album, Are You
Experienced? changed rock and roll because of one crucial factor: Jimi’s
guitar work. I actually cannot think of a single guitarist, famous or amateur,
who is not influenced in some way by Jimi’s skills. I’m not kidding, look up
one of your favorite guitarists and then type in “Jimi Hendrix” after their
name, and I can guarantee you’ll find their opinion of Hendrix. I mean, there’s
a reason why people consider Jimi to be the single greatest guitarist who ever
lived. Hendrix took the electric guitar to levels beyond imagination, to the
point that people were known to remark that they didn’t know a guitar could make
the sounds that seemed to flow naturally from Jimi’s fingers.
This has remained true. To this day, even some of the greatest musicians alive cannot even come close to imitating the signature tone and sound that Jimi presented on Are You Experienced? In addition, Hendrix is often given credit for inventing some of the earliest forms of heavy metal music through songs such as “Purple Haze.” I mean, just listen to that piece; the sound of the guitar is so damn beautiful.
The album Are
You Experienced? is also jam-packed with some of the most influential
guitar riffs of all time. Songs such as “Foxey Lady” “Purple Haze” “Manic
Depression” and “Fire” all have become some the most iconic guitar riffs ever.
Just walk into a place where guitar lessons are offered, and you are bound to
here a few young guys trying to nail the riff to “Foxey Lady”. These riffs
alone would have been enough to make the album a masterpiece, but add to them Jimi’s
iconic sound, and you have one of the greatest rock records of all time.
Like I said, Jimi has influenced just about
every guitarist that walks the face of the Earth. Slash, John Mayer, Stevie Ray
Vaughan, Eric Gales…the list never seems to end. But I think you guys get the
point.
In 2011, Rolling Stone ranked Are You Experienced? the 15th
greatest album of all time. You have to admit, that is an exceptional honor for
an album to receive. This particular recording has been influencing musicians
for decades, and will continue to do so for years to come. It is the definition
of an essential rock and roll album.
So, that is my riff about Jimi Hendrix and why
he, and his album, Are You Experienced,
changed rock and roll. I believe it’s the perfect album to mark the end of this
blog. Again guys, I just cannot express my gratitude towards your supporting
comments on my posts. They kept me motivated to keep writing my posts. Also, I
owe a huge thanks to you Mrs. Ambos, for giving me such an incredible
opportunity to write about the beauty of music. I’ve never enjoyed a project in
school as much as this one. You are all amazing people, and I’m going to miss
reading everyones blogs as much as ill miss writing this one. But, hey, who knows what the future will
bring? Keep an eye out guys; maybe deep in the Groves will spin again.
Thanks for tuning in.
Sincerely,
- Aidan Hunt.
Images found at the following sites:
http://slyvinyl.com/rock/jimi-hendrix-experienced-limited-1500-purple-haze-200g-lps
http://www.praguerevue.com/ViewArticle?articleId=2516
http://www.retronaut.com/2012/06/jimi-hendrix-in-the-army-1961-1962/
http://lifeinthestocks.com/excuse-me-while-pay-respect/
http://emilyaylward12.wix.com/jimihendrix#!aspirations
http://www.polyvore.com/linda_keith_jimi_hendrix/thing?id=8443034
http://www.legacyrecordings.com/a/#/artist/the-jimi-hendrix-experience/477/
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/11/jimi-hendrixs-70th-birthday-experience/
http://www.amplifiedclothing.com/tag/peter-andre/
Information found at the following websites:
http://www.biography.com/people/jimi-hendrix-9334756
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_Hendrix
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/jimi-hendrix/biography
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Are_You_Experienced
