In 1970, Jimi Hendrix delivered a performance Steve Vai says nobody could truly copy
Steve Vai says Jimi Hendrix’s playing remains impossible to truly reproduce, even when guitarists can learn his songs note for note. Vai points to Hendrix’s distinctive touch, groove and note choices, arguing that his performances carried a personal quality inseparable from the musician himself.
Vai singles out Hendrix’s live performance of “Machine Gun” with the Band of Gypsys at the Fillmore on New Year’s Eve as one of rock’s most inspired guitar performances. He says every note reflected Hendrix’s unique musical character, while John Frusciante similarly described Hendrix and his guitar as seeming completely united on stage.
In short
- Steve Vai says Hendrix’s playing cannot be authentically copied.
- He singles out the live “Machine Gun” performance.
- Hendrix’s touch and musical character set him apart.
Explained simply
Jimi Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer who became one of the most influential musicians in rock. In 1969, he formed Band of Gypsys with bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles; the trio performed a series of concerts at the Fillmore East in New York around New Year.
“Machine Gun” was a long, live piece that Hendrix used to evoke the sounds and turmoil of the Vietnam War. The Fillmore performances are remembered for his expressive guitar playing, which combined sound, rhythm and improvisation in ways that shaped later generations of guitarists.
Steve Vai is an American guitarist known for his technical playing, while John Frusciante is best known as a guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their comments reflect a broader question in music: how much of a performance can be learnt from its notes, and how much depends on the individual musician’s touch and choices.