Hero Workshop

Besides having the great privilege of playing Gary Moore’s battered but beautiful ’61 Strat this month, I was given further cause to think about what you stand to gain by getting closer to your heroes. Next March, Nev Marten and Denny Ilett of these shores, plus Mick Taylor of That Pedal Show and myself, will embark on the thrilling (and possibly foolhardy) endeavour of performing Hendrix’s debut album Are You Experienced in its entirety at the Bristol Jazz & Blues Festival, to mark the 50th anniversary of its release. Naturally, paying homage to Jimi is something that any guitarist wants to do right – or, at least, to the very best of their ability – so I decided to hit the woodshed early and I’ve got to say it’s been a revelation.

Firstly, it’s impossible to play Jimi tentatively – everywhere there are lunging, impulsive runs: he takes so many things on the volley that you can’t even try to play it half-heartedly. You’re instantly shown, by the music, just how much reckless energy the 24-year-old Hendrix channelled through the guitar like a lightning rod. And the act of following the lead, literally, of a legendary player in his prime, blasts apart the comfortable habits of your own playing – where they go, you have to follow, and the explosive boldness of a genius like Hendrix can’t help but open your mind to new fretboard horizons.

So if you’ve been putting off learning a track you love, I heartily recommend doing it today – it’s almost certain you’ll come away seeing further by standing on the shoulders of giants for a few hours. Enjoy the issue and see you next month.