i read some prince interview
where prince said that he doesn't know
why people compere him to hendrix.
he said that he always liked santana more,
because santana plays prettier.
but as i listen to "killing floor" by jimi
i hear where prince picked his guitar playing.

More Santana than Hendrix, but definately some of both

bananacologne said:

wacky religious ideas...
wildly eccentric...
usually makes crap when goes for the pop charts...
wacky name change...
clean tone...


Sounds like Santana to me.

As a latin person who grew up (& lives) in the bay area Santana is a soundtrack to my life, like a member of my family...I love Santana, & when u really take a look at Prince-theres Santana.

Nero

I think he's closer to Hendrix personally. He obviously loves Carlos, but lets be honest, Prince's guitar highlights are straight up Jimi. Besides, Carlos is weak.

The clothes, the hair,the guitar playing.. JIMI

santana,george benson,steve vai and curtis mayfield.

garnis said:

tsk, tsk...

Prince was definitely more influenced by Santana.

By his own words, Santana...

But it's obvious that when he puts a guitar in his hands he's emulating the style of Hendrix. Prince has borrowed so much from so many folks...

garnis said:

First time we agree.

Hands down Santana 4 along time now. But let's not forget why people/ie music critics were comparing him 2 Hendrix...that wild man aspect of the Dirty Mind/Controversy eras...more so the classic Dirty Mind shows. His jacking off of his guitar neck and his pumping grindind of the guitar speaker & stage, the feedback & distorion from guitar 2 speaker, sticking his tongue...were more Hendrix like at that time then Santana.

The Live show perspective.

Young Prince was also looked at as, and potentially by many as the first true Black crossover artist 2 come up back in the days, in the shadow of the almighty Jimi. 2 merge blacks & whites all under the name of "MUSIC" this rock funk, some even desrcibing Prince's music as punk??.(Sly 2 his credit had a mixed utopia doing it his way 2 etc..) There have been traits of Jimi since then, but he went on 2 play much more in the wayz of Santana... and lets not leave out injecting his own flava into his playing.

He's got love & respect 4 both easy 2 see...but always felt closer 2 Santana...in Prince's words: "He plays prettier".

garnis said:

Obviously you know nothing about Santana or guitarists in general. Go listen to I'm Yours, and then Santana's Open Invitation album and think a little more next time. And what highlights of Prince's guitar playing are "straight up Hendrix"? Their both black and other than that, Prince is the best of all 3 anyway.

Santana

I think the "first Prince" was clearly very much influenced by Jimi Hendrix (playing and attitude), but last years Prince seems to be more and more interested in Santana's guitar work.

it always surprises me this has come up several times. in the 1985 interview with rolling stone prince said he is surprise people go on about jimi and he reckoned it was cos he is black. he said its always been santana. yeah some of it sounds like jimi but its always been santana to me!

Yeah, now that I've been paying more attention to Santana's guitar work, I'd say that P has been more or less influenced by him. As you know, Carlos puts fire and pssion into the notes and riffs he plays. And I see Prine trying to do the same thing. You could also hear some John McLaughlin stuff going on in P's work if you listen closely. Hendrix (who is a better player) and his style is little more complex, yet still soulful, but you'd see less of that in Prince's work. Plus Prince has more respect for his guitars and unfortunaltely doesn't set them or fire.

Anyways, it doesn't really matter which one influences Prince more, my man still fucking rocks anyways.

Had it been Carlos that Prince was always compared to during those early years Prince would probably have tried to downplay that too. I think it's only because he wanted his work to stand on its own merits, and not under the shadow of someone else's influence (that happened anyway).

Jimi changed the vocabulary of electric guitar, so much that most guitarists are influenced by him in ways they don't even realize. Neither Prince, nor Carlos can escape Jimi's legacy.

Listenin to the burkely concert of jimi, or any jimi for that fact is a definant Influence to prince.. I think Santana also, but to me, his style reflects a lot of what jimi did live. and I have like 15 live shows, and they all remind me of his style.

garnis said:

Check the the Berkeley concert.. I wish prince would do a cover of the Rising Sun song, that is bliss on the guitar.. A fine moment in the life of Jimi.. I LOVE IT.