The guitarist Prince said “played prettier” than Jimi Hendrix
Prince was among the most innovative and unique musicians to hum a tune. The ability to write a song in 1982 called ‘1999’ that still sounds futuristic in 2024 tells you everything you need to know. He had a versatile singing voice and an exciting approach towards music, not to mention he knew his way around a guitar.
Prince’s guitar-playing ability is often overlooked, but he was one of the greats. When he took to the stage as a surprise guest to perform ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’, considering it was unrehearsed, Prince showed just how much mastery he had over the instrument. It’s a classic video that was shared repeatedly after his death and had people discussing whether he was the best guitarist out there. If you asked Prince, he probably wouldn’t say he was the best; instead, he was the most like himself.
Prince wanted to make sure he was utterly unique in how he approached music; that’s why he would never listen to anything when making an album, and he would encourage his band to do the same. “When I’m working, I’m working. I don’t have time to,” he said. However, when he wasn’t working, Prince loved nothing more than checking out some of his fellow artists. “You know what? It’s such a drag to have musicians claim they never listen to the competition,” he added. “They’re liars, man. I mean, I know bands who, in the press, badmouth artists they revere in rehearsal. I don’t wanna be like that.”
Though quite reluctant to talk about his influences, when he did, he gave a true insight into how much he adored the music in his life. “I crave great musicianship, and I don’t care who provides it. I’ve got no problems saying I dig D’Angelo. Or some of the things that Bjork does… the Cocteau Twins… Musicians, we’re family.”
He was often compared to Jimi Hendrix, which he appreciated but rejected. Once again, Prince was adamant about striving towards originality, and one of the things he respected the most about Hendrix was that he did the same thing. “Hendrix is very good. Fact. There will never be another one like him, and it would be a pity to try. I strive for originality in my work, and hopefully, I’ll be perceived that way.”
Prince also rejected the claims that he was like Hendrix because they dabbled in different genres. In his mind, those connections were made based more on race than anything else, and he believed he was more like Santana, who played prettier. “He plays different guitar than I do. If they really listened to my stuff, they’d hear more of a Santana influence than Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix played more blues; Santana played prettier. You can’t compare people, you really can’t, unless someone is blatantly trying to rip somebody off.”
The best thing about Prince was his originality, and his attitude towards other musicians perfectly reflects that. While he had influences and respected them and could pick out what music he thought was heavy, funky, and pretty, he kept his individual sound at the forefront of everything.
