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.
Indeed. It kicks off “the Kids are Alrught” documentary.
the who is #1
Boom!!
Everybody in music is influenced by someone before them
Meet Bach
In some way he influenced everyone especially in “rock”
Daltrey didn’t compare himself to Hendrix
He said Jimi aped some of Pete’s antics
Both he and Pete have made a lifetime lauding Hendrix skills
That wasn’t the point’....
Agree…. Hendrix is imprinted in my historical music memory as a teen…. Still loved The Who…..
Another favorite was Moody Blues….Days of Future Past and Knights in White Satin. Love the raw talent of those musicians who performed so passionately LIVE… also much appreciation for groups that created awesome albums in studio. Another favorite was Steely Dan, but when I was working on my art projects back in the day… it was Indianola Mississippi Seeds…BB King and Songs in the Key of Life…Stevie Wonder…
All this before woke culture colored my appreciation for some of my fav artists…. 😢
I am listening to Dire Straights and Steely Dan right now.
My favs: Jimi Hendrix, Moody Blues, CRN@Y,Yes, Jethro Tull, Led Zeplin, Carly Simon and James Taylor and that entire crew.
My fav concert may be Jethro Tull, with the ballerina as an opening. Blew me away. Seeing Yes in some small venue I don’t remember was awesome.
I saw Neil Diamond from the third row. That was special.
👍🏻
You can only imitate.
We saw Neil Diamond many moons ago at The Greek
Same with Paul Newman at Road Atlanta. Up close and personal.’
Same with Paul Newman at Road Atlanta. Up close and personal.’
My hubbie was a song writer musician in late 1960’s early 1970’s. He use to see a lot of his favorite artists at small club venues in LA and OC… like Prison of Socrates….Hoyt Axton let him tape his set, also Jose Feliciano.
When I met him we use to go see artists like Linda Ronstadt, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Martin, Carpenters, BB King and many others at the Golden Bear. Too bad these clubs are gone…. They were great!
How cool. Good times. I saw Linda Ronstadt, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Steve Martin here in Atlanta at the old Southeast Music Hall. Very good memories. Weren’t we great? Harry Chapin, I would have gone with him anywhere. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band were at a family styled restaurant in the backwoods of the Georgia mountains when my mother and I were there. I enjoyed seeing the singers sitting in the rocking chairs on the wooden front porch. Good stuff.
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