I'm reading the liner notes of Jesse Johnson's "Ultimate Collection." Here's what he said about meeting Prince:

"Being more into the rock thing I had never heard of Prince," remembers Johnson. "But I checked out his show and I thought this dude has got his own thing." After the show, Day introduced Jesse to Prince. As Johnson recalls, "Prince was dressed in what we called the uptown look [see Dirty Mind album cover]. I told him I liked his show and asked him if he had watched Hendrix. He said he never did and I told him he was lying because he did nearly every Hendrix move! That was always how our relationship went--very straight forward."

Forget the Hendrix thing. The "Uptown look!?" I thought Prince was the only freak running around cold MPLS in nothing but his underwear and legwarmers!

Its been said before, Hendrix was a huge inspiration to Prince, its self evident through his style.. but Prince was a developing artists.. some things are gonna be hazy at first glance. Doest mean he jacked anyone style.. its pretty clear prince formed his own style.

Sdldawn said:

Okay, that was SO the wrong title for a thread!!! I didn't want to start a debate. I should've just called it the "Uptown look." That's what originally grabbed me. But, I liked that someone less jaded, like Jesse Johnson, noticed the similarity.

UptownDeb said:

Oh, believe me, this'll be a popular thread.

Supernova said:

Oh, believe me, this'll be a popular thread. [/quote]

Can someone lock it now? :goodgrief:

If you're apprehensive about it, you could change the title by editing. Or orgnote Dansa to lock it if you want.

Prince has always downplayed his Hendrix influence...for understandable reasons.

well, after all they are playing the same instrument...How else can U trully play guitar?!?

there are only 2 ppl that have ever been in one with their music, mind body and soul. In fact U don't have to hear the music, They evoke so much emotion just by their natural bodylanguage/manurisms.

Oh I can't wait for the next Jimi DVD release.

I'd bet if Jesse who I dig, at that time had been that "cut & dry" as he put it 2 Prince...we might not have known who the brotha was...matter of fact Umm, Jesse where U B Bro?

lovebizzare said:

yeah like he did Purple Rain and the hippy drag and rufles etc and geetar strike poses

Prince did once say that he thought his style was more like Santana than Hendrix.

Prince draws heavily from Sly Stone and Hendrix especially in his appearance doing the mid 80's.

In Dove Crys he dresses just like Sly. I know many of you are young and may not be familiar or have missed these artist all together except for hearing about them.

His moves in Purple Rain etc. are straight up Hendrix and some of the stuff is practically note for note.

James Brown and George Clinton are drawn heavily in his funk style and concepts. Prince is a man of many faces and influences.

I once read a concert review that described him like this:

"Imagine, if you will, that Jimi Hendrix had been gay and hooked up with Little Richard. Through the Magic of Music, they have a child. That child child grew up to be Prince."


Scary mental image aside...what do you think?
[This message was edited Sat Jan 17 2:05:04 PST 2004 by meow85]

Abrazo said:

Maybe his style of guitar-solo's
but Prince stole at least Hendrix' pose and image