Settle an argument - Prince v Hendrix

[Macaroni Pony]

Despite the (slightly silly) thread title, i wasn't really trying to compare the two - that would be pointless.

Essentially, i guess the point i was trying to make was that Prince is underrated as an artist/songwriter and especially as i guitar player.

I chose Hendrix as a "comparison" to ram my point home and was slightly surprised at vitriolic laugher and abuse i got from everyone for daring to suggest so.....

You could say that you wouldn't have Prince if Hendrix hadn't been such a true pioneer?

 

[jay1978]

prince is the tits.
it's a shame the majority of people only know the classic tunes (kiss, purple rain, 1999 etc). all of his albums are extremely diverse, with the Come album having an ok techno/dance track on it, Loose, which although not outstanding, is quite unique especially with his voice snarling lyrics over it. i think it's really cool when an artist isnt scared to try new styles out.
like someone else said, it's worth remembering that he has produced under other names, such as Camille for other artists and his work ranges all genres.
dont forget he was in a battle with his record company for years because they wouldnt give him artistic freedom. so i think we''re gonna be seeing a lot more stuff comign out now. i thought 3121 out recently was awesome. sleazy, sexy, raw. thats what he does best!
i am biased though.

 

[tarannau]

You could say that you wouldn't have Prince if Hendrix hadn't been such a true pioneer?

I doubt that's true. Prince was far more of a child of Sly Stone that ever he was of Hendrix, right to the extent of taking on The Family Stone's legendary bass player as a mentor (and fellow Jehovah's god-bothering enthusiast).

And let's put it this way - at the peak of his popularity Hendrix was always commenting on how he listened to and was influenced by Sly and The Family Stone, who he reckoned were the stand out act at Woodstock and before for him. There's a long-standing rumour that on the night of Hendrix's death, his band had actually gone to collect Sly from Heathrow to play a jam which, unsurprisingly, never happened. That would have been something...