Posted on 11/13/2021 6:18:20 PM PST by DoodleBob
The Who’s Roger Daltrey has accused Jimi Hendrix of “completely stealing” Pete Townshend’s stage act, and having enjoyed a ringside seat when two of the greatest players ever to pick up the electric guitar were making their bones, he would be in a position to know.
Daltrey was sitting down with The Coda Collection for a career-spanning interview, when he made the claim – in good humour, it has to be said – but he offered an almighty caveat: that neither invented firebrand guitar hero stagecraft. That honour goes to the blues great Buddy Guy, whom Daltrey not only considers the pioneer of guitar showmanship, but the greatest male blues singer of all time.
“I’ve always stuck up for Pete,” said Daltrey. “Jimi stole Pete's stage act completely, which incidentally, I think he did. But there again, I’m sure Jimi had seen Buddy Guy previously, as I am sure Pete had seen Buddy Guy, and embellished it.”
On Guy, Daltrey was fulsome in his praise. He is peerless. “You watch Buddy Guy in the early days,” he said. “You have to really look for the inventor of all that stuff. It was probably Buddy Guy… I take my hat off to Buddy Guy and he deserves the accolade and I just love him.”
Daltrey discussed a number of issues, proclaiming himself “the number one hater of the internet,” talking about how he often felt belittled as a singer, and opened up about the heated arguments he had with the band when their use of amphetamines affected their performance.
“For them to take it before a show was a complete no-no because here was this brilliant band of musicians,” said Daltrey. “Townshend was an absolute original on the guitar. Entwistle was an original on the bass. What can you say more about Moon [than] being totally original?
“When they got on the amphetamines, the music just turned to a load of crap. The songs were too fast. When rock gets too fast, it’s not rooted. The band thinks it’s good because they’re all, ‘Oh yeah, we'll speed it up.’ But when you listen back to it you go, ‘Yeah, but it’s come off the ground. It’s not slamming to the floor.’ That’s what was happening.”
Daltrey also admitted being envious of Robert Plant, whom he said had some “time to relax” during Led Zeppelin compositions, and weighing on Paul McCartney’s disparaging assessment of the Rolling Stones, he said “it’s like comparing cheese with apples.”
“They’re both very tasty, but the cheese does one thing and the apple does another,” said Daltrey. ‘I’ve always thought that you cannot take away the fact that Mick Jagger is still the number one rock and roll show. The only other people I'd put up against him would be perhaps James Brown, maybe Jerry Lee in his day, or Little Richard, but Mick Jagger, you’ve got to take your hat off to. He’s the number one rock and roll performer.”
Head over to The Coda Collection to watch Daltrey’s interview in full.
There are two concert videos on YouTube I recommend everyone should see.
The Who Isle of Wight 1970 and Chicago at Tanglewood 1970.
Pete stole “the windmill” from a guitarist warming up his arm.
Sheds light on the emotional state of the band circa October 1983 which is when yours truly saw them at Shea Stadium in NYC.
Roger was respectful of Pete’s prerogatives, as it was Pete’s band, but when interviewed that night before the show was clearly at his wit’s end dealing with Pete’s mood swings and previously announced determination to snuff out the Who.
are you sure?
Pete put his best songs on his solo albums.
I confess a lot of people don’t care for his “Chinese Eyes” record, but is for me a very personal record that got me through some difficult times.
Agree!
busy boy.
<< I’m partial to “Band of Gypsys” myself. >>
Especially “Machine Gun,” which would be my pick for Jimi’s greatest live performance of any song. Jan 1, 1970, at the Fillmore East. Ushered in the ‘70s.
I think had he lived, Jimi would have gone in a whole different direction in the 70s, probably more jazz fusion.
Yeah, word was he was recording casually with Miles Davis, right around the time Miles released Bitches Brew. Would love to hear those tapes, if they exist.
Buddy Guy is the only musician that, upon hearing him, I asked where he had been my whole life.
Jimi probably lifted the destruction act from Townsend but that’s about it. Townsend never played the guitar with his teeth or even played an incredible guitar solo for that matter.
Townsend is a writer and rhythm guitarist. Jimi created his own style and was another force of nature all together.
Mick Taylor has said that's why he left the band.
I think you’re on drugs.
The guitar antics were lifted from what saxaphone players used to do in the 50s.
Townsend had nothing to do w/ it.
Fail!
It was Keef Richards...it was just the arm motion, but it spawned something unworldly.
It was good, no doubt about it.
But, I’d put up the Fillmore East 69/70 shows against it.
Back in the early 90s there was a story about two surf-punk bands in CA. filing lawsuits against each other for stealing the others musical style. One commentator said they both should be forced to sign over their royalty checks to Dick Dale.
Great gifs.
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