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The 1970 guitar solo that proves Terry Kath was better than Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix, despite his legendary four-year mainstream career and immense influence on guitar playing, was known to credit other musicians as superior to himself. One guitarist frequently mentioned by Hendrix was Terry Kath of Chicago, whose multifaceted abilities—including simultaneous rhythm playing, lead parts, and singing—impressed even the guitar legend. According to the article, Hendrix allegedly told saxophonist Walt Parazaider after a Chicago performance that Kath surpassed him as a guitarist.
Terry Kath remains largely overlooked in discussions of the greatest guitarists, despite his exceptional technical abilities and the endorsement of his peers and Hendrix himself. The article highlights Kath's 1970 solo performance at Tanglewood as evidence of his virtuosity, describing it as seven minutes demonstrating his seamless transitions between rhythm and lead playing. This performance is presented as an example of why Kath deserves greater recognition among the pantheon of guitar greats.
In short
- Jimi Hendrix reportedly believed Terry Kath of Chicago was a better guitarist than himself
- Kath's unique ability to play rhythm, lead, and sing simultaneously impressed peers and Hendrix alike
- The article argues Kath deserves greater recognition, citing his exceptional 1970 Tanglewood solo as evidence
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Kath's technical versatility—playing rhythm, lead, and vocals simultaneously—was exceptionally rare and deserving of far greater recognition. Hendrix's own acknowledgement of Kath's superiority, combined with the 1970 Tanglewood performance demonstrating seamless musicianship, suggests that assessments of guitar greatness have significantly undervalued a musician whose abilities and peer recognition clearly warranted more prominent status among rock's greatest instrumentalists.
The case against
Whilst Kath possessed considerable technical skill, measuring greatness primarily through technical proficiency overlooks what truly distinguished Hendrix: his revolutionary transformation of the electric guitar's possibilities. Hendrix introduced entirely new techniques and sounds that fundamentally altered music and influenced generations, with his harmonic innovation and conceptual vision establishing incomparably greater cultural and musical impact than more technically versatile but less transformative musicians achieved.
Explained simply
Terry Kath was a guitarist and vocalist for the rock band Chicago. He was known for technical abilities including the skill to play rhythm and lead parts simultaneously whilst singing. Jimi Hendrix, one of rock music's most celebrated guitarists, is reported to have told others that Kath surpassed him as a musician.
A seven-minute solo recorded at Tanglewood in 1970 is being presented as evidence of Kath's musical capabilities. The performance demonstrates his smooth transitions between rhythm and lead guitar work, exemplifying the technical proficiency that apparently impressed Hendrix. This was one of many performances Kath made during his lengthy career with Chicago.
Despite the recognition he received from Hendrix and fellow musicians, Kath remains far less famous than many of his contemporary guitarists. The article uses his 1970 Tanglewood performance to illustrate why his relative obscurity may not reflect his actual musical abilities.