I was at a Santana show in Minneapolis at Northrup Auditorium in 1999 and Prince showed up to exchange licks on a couple of songs. I was in 9th grade at the time and not quite appreciating the stupefying spectacle before me, but now, with reflection I don’t think I will ever top it… it will probably be the best forever.
His favorite was Carlos Santana. As a longtime Prince friend (his term for his "fans" since fan is short for FANATIC), I am 80% sure. And of course, Sonny T. You can tell he liked Jimi Hendrix but that wasn't his favorite. He was really into James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone moreso than Hendrix.
Not always, man, not always... We were a lot to aknowledge his genius when he was still with us, and we were millions to witness it live 'til the end of the story.
My inspirations are Sly Stone, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis Muhammad Ali and Dr Martin Luther King Jr Prince at 1994 AMAs
yep, the is a 51 minute video on UA-cam name >>> Prince Unauthorized ...it showed from his youth he was inspire by sly stone, which is why he wanted a mixed culture band like Sly had.
With a statement like yours, I can only surmise you're either ignorant to true musicianship or haven't paid deep attention to the virtuosity of Prince.
@@duane8829I never liked their sound. Sounded cheap messy and noisy The Lovesexy band and NPG sounded so clean and professional I remember back in the 80s I saw kid Creole live and I thought wth this band is better than Prince 😂
I was happy to see Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad mentioned. I read an article in the past that Prince was a huge GFR fan. I didn’t realize the extent of it until recently. He was evidently somewhat addicted to GFR music. So much so that his first band Grand Central was partially named after them and he also considered the name Phoenix as a band name after the 1972 Grand Funk album. He also had an instrumental song called E Pluribus Funk. There are no known recordings of it, but some say it was performed live.
Same here! Farner has never been the world's greatest guitarist, but his energy and songwriting (plus he's always been a fantastic singer) has always been top notch. And he is STILL killing it!
To me, no better front man than Mark Farner. Here's the boys barely out of their teens (thanks to whomever recorded this classic): ua-cam.com/video/NxcOxvEsE_Y/v-deo.html
@@babyjessicascheekbones5463 Absolutely great video right there. Have you ever seen the version of that in Cincy? They had those fans just about to jump out of the stadium! I wish those 3 could get past their differences enough to give us a last few shows. I know it probably won't happen, but they really should...
The saddest thing for me was…. Finding out too late about his guitar genius and his unmatched work ethic. It was all due to his Schtick I could’t get into how he dressed, and acted on stage. I finally woke up during the halftime show. Pure badassness!!!
For me it’s the cheesy keyboard sound he has in the ‘80s. I hate that sound. I would love to hear his original guitar songs, but I don’t know much other than what people play, and it’s always those keyboard heavy songs I dislike.
One of the best reviews of a major rock guitarist that I have seen on this channel. This is really an outstanding, insightful, and facts-grounded review. A+
I have seen it, and it appears to be the only video people cite for how great a guitarist he is supposed to be. I have Googled a bunch of times over the decades, thinking maybe new footage will crop up, but so far nothing else has.
He was good at everything having to do with music but really transcendant on guitar. Did you see his solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on George Harrison's induction to the RROH? One of the best solos EVER.
If you haven’t heard Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, you should. His solos are also full of feel and emotion, especially on the song “Comfortably Numb”. He has quite a few like this.
As an African American guitarist in the same age range as Prince and from the Midwest, I hear many of the same influences that inspired me: definitely Santana, but also Terry Kath, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eddie Hazel and even George Benson. Appreciate that you also mentioned great funk guitarists like Freddie Stone and Tony Maiden. Certainly James Brown's guitar players were a big influence too. Ironically I don't hear much of a Hendrix influence from his playing. Really well done video though and happy to see Prince get the respect he deserves as a guitarist 🎸 ❤
@elmorevandodewaard544 I'm not saying that Prince wasn't influenced by Hendrix, EVERY modern guitarist was. But when he's playing, I hear more influence from some of the other guitarists I mentioned. I think one of the things that kind of bugs me is that whenever you hear a great Black guitarist, people automatically compare them to Hendrix. It's stereotypical, in my opinion.
I think you @@ansonjackson6254 have a better understanding of the styles of those players, eg. Tony Maiden & Freddie Stone, so you can see more of that in Prince's playing. I think James Brown was as big an influence on Prince , if not more so that Jimi Hendrix, because not only was Prince influenced by his "moves" and stage presence (live performances and video work, eg Sign of the Times - whole concert video; BatDance - music video) but also his band, their style , individual competence on their instruments and presence and the way James interacted with his band. I personally think Prince was also influenced by Eric Clapton and David Gilmore.
Very good analysis of Prince's guitar influences. But I felt that the discussion of Santana was missing a clip of Prince's solo in "The Question of U". I feel that Prince was influenced by "Europa" when he did that one. Also, I think that Prince's "Purple Rain" solo was greatly influenced by David Gilmour's "Comfortable Numb" one.
I also heard that Prince was listening to alot-of-music from: "Missing Persons" shortly before he passed. (it makes sense) Terry Bozzio is an absolute Beast on the Drums and that band had incredible musicianship = Jazz musicians who played with Zappa doing New Wave !!!
He was a Missing Persons fan. He signed Dale Bozzio to his Paisley Park label. She released one album in 1988. She recorded a followup but it was shelved
I enjoy some of Santana - but his tone is always the same and his songs sound so much alike. Prince was amazing - he pulled from so many people: Page, Hendrix, Benson, Santana, Montgomery to name a few.
Santana’s sound and tone is unmistakable. That’s what separates him from other guitarist. It’s not about who’s better it’s about feeling the notes . Santana can get standing ovations and encores in Indonesia , Vicksburg Mississippi and Detroit Michigan. His music is felt and known all over the world. Perhaps not the greatest band in rock but arguably the best world band in rock.
Prince is the best all round musician in my lifetime, as he was world class on so many instruments AND a crazily talented singer AND a songwriter AND a dancer AND a fashion icon
I witnessed Prince live 8 times. 3 of those were in little clubs in Copenhagen. He was so Phenomenal that I honestly regret I did not attend a few more concerts with him. I Miss him so much in today's music!
The neatest part about this video has to do with its inclusion of Chicago. In actuality, I was an admirer of Prince before I became a big Chicago fan. The acknowledgment that their original guitar player, Terry Kath, could have impacted him definitely counts for something.
He spent an entire life having a battle with only 1 musician: Frank Zappa. He built his Vault, trying to leave it bigger than Frank's Vault. He officially stops with 39 releases, 4 NPG albums & a couple Lps after his death. I do believe that the number is bigger. Frank 's Vault is officially built with 63 Albums. In 1994 he wrote The Crystal Ball exactly few days after Frank left us. The Crystal Ball is the most Zappalist album from Prince. Frank mentioned The Crystal Ball in the song The Evil Prince. Officially, they never talked about their Rivality. But they have something in Common: the Hate & the battle against Warner Br. I wrote a Book about theirs Vaults & the unwritten connection between them.
I hear Neal Schon more so than Santana. And I think, in my view, that Prince channeled that influence from Neal played with Santana and then formed Journey. I think Prince also referenced many of his favorite guitar players when songs he wrote performed came from referencing or finding inspiration in a certain artist. Sometimes he went Joni, sometimes he went Jimi. But I think Prince loved many other guitarists like George Benson, heck I even hear and see a bit of Stevie Ray Vaughn. Including Jimi at different stages of his career, you can see Prince reference them throughout his career. And right! Chicago Terry Kath's solo on 24 or 4 to 4! Big influence, and early one Prince learned if I'm not mistaken. Very well done this, yes, I've always felt he channeled rather than copied and eventually his own style uniquely his own became what it was.
I find your last statement interesting because SRV probably played more blues than Jimi. Jimi was a great blues player but he said h did not want to play it all the time. Jimi remains my fav musician for over 55 years. That said I'm crazy about guitar players in general.
neither of them would be mentioned by most guitarists of the highest calibre.There are literally hundreds of well known and less well known guitarists who could outplay any guitarist mentioned here.Its just 'on trend' to drone on about Terry Kath at the moment.Ive heard nothing to impress me at all.
@@littlegiantproductionsandr3091 Well unfortunately for you i've felt that way about Bill Evans for 4 decades so hardly a ''slave to fashion''....He was best at writing.His compositions are great even if they are derivative of Debussy and Ravel.I don't like the endless triplet passages either.But no blues is never a good thing in Jazz.Thats where it all comes from.Just listen to Charlie Parker.
@@DANCEDISCODANCE-n3c Not true, eben Hendrix said how good Terry was. Hendrix invited him to play on his tour. Jeff Lynne, Steve Lukather, Mike Campbell, Dean DeLeo and Joe Walsh also heavily praised him.
In an interview of guitar player magazine Prince named his main influence on guitar and music in general - it's Sonny T.! The magazine wanted to hear famous names like Santana or Hendrix, but it was Sonny first and foremost. Sonny was Prince's mentor, he was the mark to aim for!
have to say I'm impressed that Prince was aware of the raw intensity of Mark Farner's guitar playing and singing. I wish he'd heard Robin Trower, Robert Fripp or Bill Nelson of the British band Be Bop Deluxe, whose album "Sunburst Finish" has some of the best guitar playing I've ever heard.
It always amazes me when a certain type of people will spin things to make things look like what they want it to be. All Prince had to say is he liked someone's style then all of a sudden, this person has a big influence on him and becomes his musical mentor and is part of the reason why he is what he is today. For every artist mentioned in this video that knew him, I'll guarantee they all liked and admired his musical style just as much as he liked theirs, and to go a step further I will also so say some of the ones named in this video as influencers to Prince were in fact influenced by him. Prince Roger Nelson was a self-taught musical genius. He may have liked and appreciated other people's styles and music but his style and music is strictly his own, created by him for him.
Well everyone that plays is a product of those who came before them, there's no way around it.😉 Always liked Prince as a guitarist, though. There used to be a lot of people that didn't realize that though, as strange as that seems.
Never knew how talented Prince was, what a great musician. I mean, he can play any instrument amaazinly, he can dance, he can sing.He' s got it all. Other famous musicians can only and/or dance, ( like michael j) but Princez he does all. Amaaaazing Prince. No 1 guitarist..
great solo he played but i always preferred framptons sound better..... even with humbuckers the teles never quite get the les paul sound unless you're jimmy page with a tele and a cranked up supro amp doing stairway to heaven
He missed the cerebral sense of Harrison. Artistically, Prince "wanked" all over it like a slob ... and don't get me wrong, I love fusiionary Prince ... he did wrong solo, wrong place .. he should be thankful Dylan wasn't there .. he might have hit Prince
terry kath should not be a surprise. anyone who lived through that era knows that kath's solos on early chicago stuff were unmatched. to me he's the finest soloist of the rock era, and that includes hendrix, clapton, beck, page, etc.
Sorry for being difficult but your wording is ambiguous. No one can argue that he was, or no one can argue that he wasn't? It's incontestable that he was, or it's impossible to assert that he was?
@@michaelmurray5439 How is “one of” clarifying? If the sentence is not ambiguous to you, please explain to me how. (And no need for the anti-intellectual insecurities display; no one’s ego is on the line here.)
Prince is a great pop fusionary player, but Holdswoth is Coltrane on guitar, literally inventing it "in the new"... but the masses .. let them dance to their bobbing beep ....
Watch Prince do “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. Not just the playing, but the original interpretation. He schooled Clapton and took it to the next level. Harrison would be proud.
Van Halen was changing music at that time & David Lee Roth dated Apollonia & Edward had just recorded with Michael Jackson & introduced more rocker riffs to R&B...therefore i would say that Edward was one of Prince's Top-5 guitar players....All facts and no A.I. bs👍👍
I don't know why youtube channels say "Prince was a perfectionist in the studio". The opposite was actually the truth. Susan Rogers who worked with Prince for a decade said he was the opposite to a perfectionist. She said he sold lay down an entire album in a week on "feel" and go many times with the first or second take even though it had a rough feel to it.
Kinda true... But perfectionist in a sense that he made sure he had the exact sound and every nod in the mixer just where he wanted .. he'd spend hours fine tuning... Then he'll play live and allow anything to happen
He recorded the Purple Rain album fro May 1983 to March 1984 and it was released 25 June 1984, that's ten months for nine songs, so if he wasnt a perfectionist he was very slow combied to many other musicians of that time. Perhaps the lengthy delay was his 1999 five month tour from 11 November 1982 to 10 April 1983, but dozens of other bands toured for much longer yet still released albums much faster.
Good collection of people to admire! You are fairly wrong though when you say Hendrix did not often praise other guitar players - he was a booster of many and was not shy about saying who he liked. Read or listen to any of his interviews and he is praising others.
I agree 100%! I have been reading music magazines since 1987 and have read hundreds of interviews featuring and articles about Hendrix and he was constantly asked about his influences and credited them. He heavily praised Terry Kath, and also cited Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, BB King, Eddie Cochran, Jimmy Reed, Albert King, Howlin' Wolfand Curtis Mayfield among others.
1. Sonny was and is every much a guitar player as a bass player 2. The Chicago guitar solo Prince's generation learned was from Make Me Smile, not 25 or 6 to 4
🤔 IDK I have never heard any guitarist mention by Prince or in the comments that could copy Hendrix. His style was a 1 of 1. Check the guitarist listed and see what they said bout Jimi. He was the MJ of electric guitar
Thanks, I have been sayiong the same thing since he died in 2016. When he died, most of the local bands played 'Purple Rain' everywhere you went. The fact that when he died, that album and a few other ones, from many years ago, were the only ones I ever saw or heard mentioned! For such a supposed guitar legend, I have never read or heard of anyone mention/recommend any song/solo that isn't 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', a cover that he doesn't even sing on!
@@MrChopsticktech "anyone" perhaps you weren't listening/reading/paying attention to the right people? No one in NYC was playing Purple Rain, unless it was a classic rock cover band. I saw lots of concerts that year and Fishbone, EWF, Al Dimeola, and Wynton Marsalis all played a few Prince songs in memorial, and none of them played purple rain...eh...maybe EWF did, but still...
@christopherj3121 Kate Bush, who has worked with Prince, once said, " Even if you're not completely happy, you have to settle for a level of satisfaction, or you'd go nuts".
Yeah, I wouldn’t say Prince is in the guitar legends list. He was one of the great showmen in music history. But technically, not at the apex. Prince was an all around phenomenal musician. None of guitar gods had that.
@@donmoyahjuda9669 other than the fact that they are in a different key, have different tempos, their arrangements have nothing similar about them, the instrumentation of the bands are completely different, the singing is totally different, as is the style of music.
@@chazmartin5725 Key doesn't matter. A I vi V VI has the same numeral chords in every key, tempos can vary and still the song/progression can sound the same as well.
Not for nothing, but I thought Prince was cooler than this. A musician (I forget who) was to jam and record with Prince. When he got to his house or the recording studio - a Goon told him that he was not to call Prince - Prince. He was only to write that stupid symbol down. And he was not to look at Prince in the eyes. - Well the guy took off. And I would have too. I don't know if this story is true, but if it is - this is F@#$%D !!!
I read that as well. Also, Alice Cooper said nearly the same thing happened at a Grammy show (the year isn't listed). Alice said he was standing with David Bowie, Elton John and someone else he doesn't remember. 'All of a sudden, these five big guys walk by and they said 'Don't look at Prince. Don't look him directly in the eye'.
it starts by saying 'he refused to compromise' as if someone was putting a gun to his head.'Prince, compromise or die!' Stupid lazy journalism...if that's what this is!
@@modifiedcontent right! It’s like these rock guys have little to no context of what a guy like Prince would have been influenced by. All of these mentions of people who he “could have been influenced” by, meanwhile you can tell the Curtis Mayfield, Eddie Hazel, and Mike Hampton influences. He himself even mentions that in his own interview. It’s also kind of strange seeing so many people mentioning that while my guitar gently weeps solo which is one of his best for many of these people, he has to be playing classic rock for them to even notice. that’s probably why Prince was pissed when he was up there playing
@@chazmartin5725Prince is excellent at rhythm guitar. Much better than soloing shredding But the general public only appreciates rock blues solos Prince was funk basically Everyone names Jimi and forgets Wes or Albert King just to name 2
there is one artist that Prince shares many traits with, both started off as drummers, both fronted their own bands for decades, both were overlooked as guitar virtuosos due to outlandish wardrobe and behavior (on and off stage) Both had public battles with Warner Bros. And both died too young and left behind vaults of completed records.........though I have never once heard their names mentioned in the same sentence.
I think Prince was a GOOD LIAR. The album Was called Purple Rain and all I could smell on him was Jimi Hendrix. I think he hated the connection because it was probably made because of race. But he knew 100% he a Hendrix fan. Everything about him is Hendrix-influenced. That doesn't mean Santana is not in there with a cleaner sound. But Hendrix culturally had a deeper influence on his music. So much comes from James Brown, Rick James, Sly, on and on. Endless influences.
Sonny T. was Prince's main musical influence, Sonny was the mark to aim for. Prince loved and adored him. Just watch some Michael Bland or Jimmy Ham Interviews. It's no secret Prince admired Sonny.
@@electric8668 every artist you listen to influences you. Susannah Melvoin introduced Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Hendrix to Prince. Prince grew up in Minneapolis, so what kind of music did tgey olay on tge radio there?! Sonny T. is highly regarded by a lot of musicians in Mnpls and he was the one who influenced Prince the most before he even knew who Hendrix or Sly Stone was. It's not always the BIG names. Sonny is humble and shy and doesn't talk a lot. Maybe one of the most underrated talents and musicians. Have a listen to NPG Exodus and you might understand what I am talking about - be careful, it's very experimental and funky - danger zone! Sonny lead vocals sometimes together with Prince and bass
@@jeromejamies3641 Seriously? Prince met Melvoin in 1983 when she was nineteen and he was 25. I have never been to Minneapolis (lived my whole 50+ years in Scranton Pennsylvania). I had heard The Beatles, Hendrix and Led Zeppelin by that time, so it is hard for me to believe that a 25 year-old musician living anywhere in the US would never heave heard or heard of such legends.
@@Cormac-jd2kxEdit it was an article written in the last 15 years, a retrospect by someone in alternative scene around 82 and the article was saying Prince was part of the alternative scene before he blew up with Purple Rain. That article stated that he was seen at earlier Bad Brains shows and honestly Prince knew music so why would he (?) miss a Bad brains show if you think about it. That being said, the streets is where you'll hear stuff. An old hastings street grinder told me how Bryan Adams was an ac-d dealer around that area and I've heard WAY more about all kinds of people. Prince said alot of controversial things and hes gone.
@@mikehemens9359I’m A fan since 83 too 1999 album. 1999 7 inch was my first record. Lovesexy 88 in London my first Prince concert. I remember Bad Brains hard rock records. I also was a fan of Fishbone and Kid Creole back then. I name this bands because I always thought Prince watched and listened to Them carefully… So do you have any Prince stories that aren’t told in books? I’ve heard a producer in Europe saying Prince was a heroin addict in the late 80s and I never believed it but why would anyone say such a thing publicly? He met him personally in 88 in Paris right before the Lovesexy tour kicked off
@@Cormac-jd2kx I just Google it and can find nothing about this. I doubt someone that didn't want people to talk to him or look him in the eye would be at punk concerts.
I was at a Santana show in Minneapolis at Northrup Auditorium in 1999 and Prince showed up to exchange licks on a couple of songs. I was in 9th grade at the time and not quite appreciating the stupefying spectacle before me, but now, with reflection I don’t think I will ever top it… it will probably be the best forever.
Did both played guitar?
I’ve seen both onstage but Prince wasn’t playing guitar.
prince did not “name his eight favorite guitarists” in this video… c’mon
Correct, plus they already had names.
His favorite was Carlos Santana. As a longtime Prince friend (his term for his "fans" since fan is short for FANATIC), I am 80% sure. And of course, Sonny T. You can tell he liked Jimi Hendrix but that wasn't his favorite. He was really into James Brown and Sly & The Family Stone moreso than Hendrix.
These platforms lie to viewers with their titles to get you to watch at least a few minutes of their videos so it can be counted by Google
Yes, and now delete your channel!
@@cryptozoomauler5505 You sure can't tell from the way he dressed and his theatric on guitar that he wasn't so much into Hendrix.🤔
You only realise what’s lost when it’s gone. Prince was fabulous as an artist and will live on ..
Not always, man, not always... We were a lot to aknowledge his genius when he was still with us, and we were millions to witness it live 'til the end of the story.
A prodigy. Purple Rain was a monster, eclectic one-of guitar that never gets old. I still play that record.
My inspirations are Sly Stone, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis Muhammad Ali and Dr Martin Luther King Jr
Prince at 1994 AMAs
Great list!!!! You can't go wrong following leaders like that.
yep, the is a 51 minute video on UA-cam name >>>
Prince Unauthorized
...it showed from his youth he was inspire by sly stone, which is why he wanted a mixed culture band like Sly had.
Prince was an amazing guitar player and one of my favourites
With a statement like yours, I can only surmise you're either ignorant to true musicianship or haven't paid deep attention to the virtuosity of Prince.
@@kimbarling4213haha, you dick!
His solo at the Super Bowl was one of the best live solos ever. Beautiful!
😂 that wasn’t even good for him
Prince was his own band.
Yeah, the revolution sucked!
@@duane8829I never liked their sound. Sounded cheap messy and noisy
The Lovesexy band and NPG sounded so clean and professional
I remember back in the 80s I saw kid Creole live and I thought wth this band is better than Prince 😂
He could play every instrument in any rock band.
I was happy to see Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad mentioned.
I read an article in the past that Prince was a huge GFR fan. I didn’t realize the extent of it until recently. He was evidently somewhat addicted to GFR music. So much so that his first band Grand Central was partially named after them and he also considered the name Phoenix as a band name after the 1972 Grand Funk album. He also had an instrumental song called E Pluribus Funk. There are no known recordings of it, but some say it was performed live.
Same here! Farner has never been the world's greatest guitarist, but his energy and songwriting (plus he's always been a fantastic singer) has always been top notch. And he is STILL killing it!
@@cornfilledscreamer614you described him perfectly.
To me, no better front man than Mark Farner. Here's the boys barely out of their teens (thanks to whomever recorded this classic):
ua-cam.com/video/NxcOxvEsE_Y/v-deo.html
@@babyjessicascheekbones5463 Absolutely great video right there. Have you ever seen the version of that in Cincy? They had those fans just about to jump out of the stadium!
I wish those 3 could get past their differences enough to give us a last few shows. I know it probably won't happen, but they really should...
@ - Fantastic! One of my favorites!
🚂💨💨💨
The saddest thing for me was…. Finding out too late about his guitar genius and his unmatched work ethic. It was all due to his Schtick I could’t get into how he dressed, and acted on stage. I finally woke up during the halftime show. Pure badassness!!!
you make a good point. Many rock fans would not give Prince a chance because of his personality and the way he dressed.
For me it’s the cheesy keyboard sound he has in the ‘80s. I hate that sound. I would love to hear his original guitar songs, but I don’t know much other than what people play, and it’s always those keyboard heavy songs I dislike.
One of the best reviews of a major rock guitarist that I have seen on this channel. This is really an outstanding, insightful, and facts-grounded review. A+
Fantastic musician ❤Watch while my guitar gently wips played for George Harrison live 👌👌👌Unbelievable performance 🎭
Im in tears every time I watch it. So many different emotions
I have seen it, and it appears to be the only video people cite for how great a guitarist he is supposed to be. I have Googled a bunch of times over the decades, thinking maybe new footage will crop up, but so far nothing else has.
Awesome video. You did this subject justice. You've got yourself a sub.
In an interview Prince said that he was a fan of Al DiMeola
Loved and miss Prince. Would love to spend time with the Twins to help me get over it still....
1:20 - *Typo - JIMI & Prince were Native-American.
We still miss him!!!!!
self reliance and originality ! thats what he was and what made him great !
Great job. You covered all his guitar influences that I had heard about. 100% legit.
My top favorite guitar players aer Eddie Hazel ( original Funkadelic ) and Prince. No other guitar players make me feel their music with such emotion.
Me too, Eddie Hazels all day although many on here have never heard the name. R.I.P Uncle Eddie!
He was good at everything having to do with music but really transcendant on guitar. Did you see his solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on George Harrison's induction to the RROH? One of the best solos EVER.
If you haven’t heard Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, you should. His solos are also full of feel and emotion, especially on the song “Comfortably Numb”. He has quite a few like this.
Humility is a noble attribute
As an African American guitarist in the same age range as Prince and from the Midwest, I hear many of the same influences that inspired me: definitely Santana, but also Terry Kath, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eddie Hazel and even George Benson. Appreciate that you also mentioned great funk guitarists like Freddie Stone and Tony Maiden. Certainly James Brown's guitar players were a big influence too. Ironically I don't hear much of a Hendrix influence from his playing. Really well done video though and happy to see Prince get the respect he deserves as a guitarist 🎸 ❤
Face it, Hendrix was a huge influence on Prince. No Hendrix = No prince.
@elmorevandodewaard544 I'm not saying that Prince wasn't influenced by Hendrix, EVERY modern guitarist was. But when he's playing, I hear more influence from some of the other guitarists I mentioned. I think one of the things that kind of bugs me is that whenever you hear a great Black guitarist, people automatically compare them to Hendrix. It's stereotypical, in my opinion.
I think you @@ansonjackson6254 have a better understanding of the styles of those players, eg. Tony Maiden & Freddie Stone, so you can see more of that in Prince's playing. I think James Brown was as big an influence on Prince , if not more so that Jimi Hendrix, because not only was Prince influenced by his "moves" and stage presence (live performances and video work, eg Sign of the Times - whole concert video; BatDance - music video) but also his band, their style , individual competence on their instruments and presence and the way James interacted with his band. I personally think Prince was also influenced by Eric Clapton and David Gilmore.
Thanks for mentioning Eddie Hazel, my second favorite after Prince. Another totally overlooked awesome guitar player.
Terry Kath SMH I'm a young brotha and Terry was that dude. Mark Farner is cold 2
Very good analysis of Prince's guitar influences. But I felt that the discussion of Santana was missing a clip of Prince's solo in "The Question of U". I feel that Prince was influenced by "Europa" when he did that one.
Also, I think that Prince's "Purple Rain" solo was greatly influenced by David Gilmour's "Comfortable Numb" one.
Yup for both.
I also heard that Prince was listening to alot-of-music from: "Missing Persons" shortly before he passed. (it makes sense) Terry Bozzio is an absolute Beast on the Drums and that band had incredible musicianship = Jazz musicians who played with Zappa doing New Wave !!!
💜
@@michaelmoraga2926 He could recognize and appreciate Real Talent. Even having Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis in-his-band.
@michael_caz_nyc Also a big Kate Bush admirer and collaborated on one of her albums. He was later to invite her to appear on one of his.
He was a Missing Persons fan. He signed Dale Bozzio to his Paisley Park label. She released one album in 1988. She recorded a followup but it was shelved
3rd hand report on who Prince might have included among his top guitarists. Some good observations.
He was a huge fan of Led Zeppelin too.
I remember seeing him cover Led Zeppelin, Rock and Roll in 2005. It was a great performance.
I enjoy some of Santana - but his tone is always the same and his songs sound so much alike. Prince was amazing - he pulled from so many people: Page, Hendrix, Benson, Santana, Montgomery to name a few.
Excellent comment
You mean Page
Santana’s sound and tone is unmistakable. That’s what separates him from other guitarist. It’s not about who’s better it’s about feeling the notes . Santana can get standing ovations and encores in Indonesia , Vicksburg Mississippi and Detroit Michigan. His music is felt and known all over the world. Perhaps not the greatest band in rock but arguably the best world band in rock.
Prince is the best all round musician in my lifetime, as he was world class on so many instruments AND a crazily talented singer AND a songwriter AND a dancer AND a fashion icon
Ive yet to hear anyone play on Rory Gallagher’s level. Hendrix openly acknowledged his skill
i saw Rory Gallagher live in 1978,still have the ticket,what a guitar player,super,Gary Moore was at the same level,my opinion.
@ Thats amazing.
Rory is criminally under rated, yet Guthrie Govan is a better all round guitarist
When Prince went to heaven MUSIC went with him!!!!
I witnessed Prince live 8 times. 3 of those were in little clubs in Copenhagen.
He was so Phenomenal that I honestly regret I did not attend a few more concerts with him.
I Miss him so much in today's music!
Vous avez cent pour cent raison prince restera à jamais le meilleur
The neatest part about this video has to do with its inclusion of Chicago. In actuality, I was an admirer of Prince before I became a big Chicago fan. The acknowledgment that their original guitar player, Terry Kath, could have impacted him definitely counts for something.
Wasn't Hendrix also a Kath fan??
He was, @curtisthomas2670 .
If you are looking at accomplished self-expression, musical sensibility and feel, Rory Gallagher.
One of the greatest
He spent an entire life having a battle with only 1 musician: Frank Zappa. He built his Vault, trying to leave it bigger than Frank's Vault.
He officially stops with 39 releases, 4 NPG albums & a couple Lps after his death. I do believe that the number is bigger.
Frank 's Vault is officially built with 63 Albums.
In 1994 he wrote The Crystal Ball exactly few days after Frank left us.
The Crystal Ball is the most Zappalist album from Prince.
Frank mentioned The Crystal Ball in the song The Evil Prince.
Officially, they never talked about their Rivality. But they have something in Common: the Hate & the battle against Warner Br.
I wrote a Book about theirs Vaults & the unwritten connection between them.
I hear Neal Schon more so than Santana. And I think, in my view, that Prince channeled that influence from Neal played with Santana and then formed Journey. I think Prince also referenced many of his favorite guitar players when songs he wrote performed came from referencing or finding inspiration in a certain artist. Sometimes he went Joni, sometimes he went Jimi. But I think Prince loved many other guitarists like George Benson, heck I even hear and see a bit of Stevie Ray Vaughn. Including Jimi at different stages of his career, you can see Prince reference them throughout his career. And right! Chicago Terry Kath's solo on 24 or 4 to 4! Big influence, and early one Prince learned if I'm not mistaken. Very well done this, yes, I've always felt he channeled rather than copied and eventually his own style uniquely his own became what it was.
I find your last statement interesting because SRV probably played more blues than Jimi. Jimi was a great blues player but he said h did not want to play it all the time. Jimi remains my fav musician for over 55 years. That said I'm crazy about guitar players in general.
@@victorbrown3570do you like Rory Gallagher the Irish fellow?
Paco de Lucía?
I love Joni too. Loved her every since meeting her at the 'Old Post Office' in Topanga Canyon back in 1967.
He should listen too "May this be love," Little Wings and Villanova Junction Hendrix played beautiful guitar
Terry Kath influence came through the most from what I like about princes playing .
I agree with you. Those clips of Terry Kath really shone through for me.
neither of them would be mentioned by most guitarists of the highest calibre.There are literally hundreds of well known and less well known guitarists who could outplay any guitarist mentioned here.Its just 'on trend' to drone on about Terry Kath at the moment.Ive heard nothing to impress me at all.
@@DANCEDISCODANCE-n3c It's also "on trend" to be contrarian with no basis other than: "I've heard nothing to impress me." So what?
@@littlegiantproductionsandr3091 Well unfortunately for you i've felt that way about Bill Evans for 4 decades so hardly a ''slave to fashion''....He was best at writing.His compositions are great even if they are derivative of Debussy and Ravel.I don't like the endless triplet passages either.But no blues is never a good thing in Jazz.Thats where it all comes from.Just listen to Charlie Parker.
@@DANCEDISCODANCE-n3c Not true, eben Hendrix said how good Terry was. Hendrix invited him to play on his tour. Jeff Lynne, Steve Lukather, Mike Campbell, Dean DeLeo and Joe Walsh also heavily praised him.
In an interview of guitar player magazine Prince named his main influence on guitar and music in general - it's Sonny T.! The magazine wanted to hear famous names like Santana or Hendrix, but it was Sonny first and foremost. Sonny was Prince's mentor, he was the mark to aim for!
And all three were also Native! Jimi was Cherokee, Santana Yaqui and Prince was Ojibway! Yes!!!
have to say I'm impressed that Prince was aware of the raw intensity of Mark Farner's guitar playing and singing. I wish he'd heard Robin Trower, Robert Fripp or Bill Nelson of the British band Be Bop Deluxe, whose album "Sunburst Finish" has some of the best guitar playing I've ever heard.
It always amazes me when a certain type of people will spin things to make things look like what they want it to be. All Prince had to say is he liked someone's style then all of a sudden, this person has a big influence on him and becomes his musical mentor and is part of the reason why he is what he is today. For every artist mentioned in this video that knew him, I'll guarantee they all liked and admired his musical style just as much as he liked theirs, and to go a step further I will also so say some of the ones named in this video as influencers to Prince were in fact influenced by him. Prince Roger Nelson was a self-taught musical genius. He may have liked and appreciated other people's styles and music but his style and music is strictly his own, created by him for him.
It is horrible that Prince wasn't recognized for his guitar playing while building his career. But then again, he really didn't need it.
Could someone just list the 8 guitarists? I can't listen to this same voice anymore.
1er prince 2 alvin lee 3 marck knopfler 4 Hendrix 5 jhon mayer . Clapton 6 Albert Lee 7 Stevie R V , 8 Santana ( ce n est que mon classement a moi )
Well everyone that plays is a product of those who came before them, there's no way around it.😉
Always liked Prince as a guitarist, though. There used to be a lot of people that didn't realize that though, as strange as that seems.
I think its genius to be influenced by so many greats yet still carve out your own niche! I still listen to the RnR HOF induction performance.
Funnny cuz the whole time he’s saying he likes Santana better , in the background prince is playing like Hendrix
I'd like to hear a Prince country song.
Purple rain is close 😅
I dream of the day when A.I. is sophisticated enough to properly pronounce "Santana".
❤❤❤ICON FOREVER ❤❤❤
Sly and family stone!
So glad you Sonny T got a mention
“Candidness”?……er, no…..candour is the word you’re looking for mate 😂
Well done, you. You must feel very intelligent now.
Prince
Never knew how talented Prince was, what a great musician.
I mean, he can play any instrument amaazinly, he can dance, he can sing.He' s got it all.
Other famous musicians can only and/or dance, ( like michael j) but Princez he does all. Amaaaazing Prince. No 1 guitarist..
Love prince's solo on the While my guitar gently weeps video! Thought his guitar would burst into flames cause it was definitly somkin!🙆♂️🙋♂️
great solo he played but i always preferred framptons sound better..... even with humbuckers the teles never quite get the les paul sound unless you're jimmy page with a tele and a cranked up supro amp doing stairway to heaven
Thats why he threw it away at the end
@@DarrenFinley so many people say that but it wasn't really among his best solos. His own songs live have some great solos.
He missed the cerebral sense of Harrison. Artistically, Prince "wanked" all over it like a slob ... and don't get me wrong, I love fusiionary Prince ... he did wrong solo, wrong place .. he should be thankful Dylan wasn't there .. he might have hit Prince
ok, slob is harsh .. but get my drift ...
I love Santana's guitar work in 'Smooth'. Yeah.
terry kath should not be a surprise. anyone who lived through that era knows that kath's solos on early chicago stuff were unmatched. to me he's the finest soloist of the rock era, and that includes hendrix, clapton, beck, page, etc.
#1 Terry Kath.
this was very enjoyable to watch.
As Robert Plant said, Page and Prince would've been a great pair.
True, but Prince failed to reply to it, so maybe he doesn't like Plant or Page.
I thought there would be mention of Larry Graham.
"Car Loss Son Tanna"
I love Carlos Santana
I so do miss prince... (not his way he treated the crew... ect) But always a Legend.
They ALL learn from others. I don’t know how ANYONE can argue that he was one of the greatest artists of our lifetime. I’m 70.
Sorry for being difficult but your wording is ambiguous. No one can argue that he was, or no one can argue that he wasn't? It's incontestable that he was, or it's impossible to assert that he was?
Too bad Manitas de Plata never got into the Electric Guitar
@@StamfordBridge “one of” @Howard Cosell. Phd, or just a Masters degree in English?
@@michaelmurray5439 How is “one of” clarifying? If the sentence is not ambiguous to you, please explain to me how. (And no need for the anti-intellectual insecurities display; no one’s ego is on the line here.)
I think he means you can't argue that he wasn't one of the greatest artists
Alan holdsworth was the most original guitar player ever
Prince is a great pop fusionary player, but Holdswoth is Coltrane on guitar, literally inventing it "in the new"... but the masses .. let them dance to their bobbing beep ....
Watch Prince do “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. Not just the playing, but the original interpretation. He schooled Clapton and took it to the next level. Harrison would be proud.
Then Gary Moore schooled Prince.
@@TheNoncritical1 lonnie johnson schooled them all.
No one schooled prince to be sure
Skin color getting involved, leave that out.
@@TheNoncritical1how??
Joni: love her voice.
Prince's favorite guitarists are Prince.
The transit authority!
Price was his own genre and own style.
wrong!
Van Halen was changing music at that time & David Lee Roth dated Apollonia & Edward had just recorded with Michael Jackson & introduced more rocker riffs to R&B...therefore i would say that Edward was one of Prince's Top-5 guitar players....All facts and no A.I. bs👍👍
Great - sources for the clips?
I don't know why youtube channels say "Prince was a perfectionist in the studio". The opposite was actually the truth. Susan Rogers who worked with Prince for a decade said he was the opposite to a perfectionist.
She said he sold lay down an entire album in a week on "feel" and go many times with the first or second take even though it had a rough feel to it.
Kinda true... But perfectionist in a sense that he made sure he had the exact sound and every nod in the mixer just where he wanted .. he'd spend hours fine tuning... Then he'll play live and allow anything to happen
@@kwez211 Very true, there are different kinds of perfectionism.
He recorded the Purple Rain album fro May 1983 to March 1984 and it was released 25 June 1984, that's ten months for nine songs, so if he wasnt a perfectionist he was very slow combied to many other musicians of that time.
Perhaps the lengthy delay was his 1999 five month tour from 11 November 1982 to 10 April 1983, but dozens of other bands toured for much longer yet still released albums much faster.
You forgot Shuggie Otis
saw him live five or so years back, incredible guitarist.
Prince was craze
Good collection of people to admire! You are fairly wrong though when you say Hendrix did not often praise other guitar players - he was a booster of many and was not shy about saying who he liked. Read or listen to any of his interviews and he is praising others.
I agree 100%! I have been reading music magazines since 1987 and have read hundreds of interviews featuring and articles about Hendrix and he was constantly asked about his influences and credited them. He heavily praised Terry Kath, and also cited Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, BB King, Eddie Cochran, Jimmy Reed, Albert King, Howlin' Wolfand Curtis Mayfield among others.
Sad to think that we'll never hear a new Prince song, i'm sure he had hundreds more in him.
Closer to my home
1. Sonny was and is every much a guitar player as a bass player
2. The Chicago guitar solo Prince's generation learned was from Make Me Smile, not 25 or 6 to 4
Hendrix - great.
I think you are stretching it saying the guitar players from Boston and Chicago were big influences on Prince's guitar playing.
When it comes to pretty guitar solos, Ernie Isley is the best.
If you have more than 4 favourite guitarists, then you are at the "MUSO ZONE."
🤔 IDK I have never heard any guitarist mention by Prince or in the comments that could copy Hendrix. His style was a 1 of 1. Check the guitarist listed and see what they said bout Jimi. He was the MJ of electric guitar
Thanks, I have been sayiong the same thing since he died in 2016. When he died, most of the local bands played 'Purple Rain' everywhere you went. The fact that when he died, that album and a few other ones, from many years ago, were the only ones I ever saw or heard mentioned!
For such a supposed guitar legend, I have never read or heard of anyone mention/recommend any song/solo that isn't 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps', a cover that he doesn't even sing on!
@@MrChopsticktech "anyone" perhaps you weren't listening/reading/paying attention to the right people? No one in NYC was playing Purple Rain, unless it was a classic rock cover band. I saw lots of concerts that year and Fishbone, EWF, Al Dimeola, and Wynton Marsalis all played a few Prince songs in memorial, and none of them played purple rain...eh...maybe EWF did, but still...
Prince wasn’t a perfectionist in the studio. Never was.
@christopherj3121 Kate Bush, who has worked with Prince, once said, " Even if you're not completely happy, you have to settle for a level of satisfaction, or you'd go nuts".
It’s all so very subjective,they were all great in their own way.No need to disrespect any of them based on Prince’s preference
Yeah, I wouldn’t say Prince is in the guitar legends list. He was one of the great showmen in music history. But technically, not at the apex. Prince was an all around phenomenal musician. None of guitar gods had that.
Well I have to say that the end of Let's Go Crazy sounds like Do You Feel The Way We Do Peter Frampton to me. 🙂
@@donmoyahjuda9669 other than the fact that they are in a different key, have different tempos, their arrangements have nothing similar about them, the instrumentation of the bands are completely different, the singing is totally different, as is the style of music.
@chazmartin5725 The end I'm talking about is in the same key and there is no singing, the guitar solos
@@chazmartin5725 Key doesn't matter. A I vi V VI has the same numeral chords in every key, tempos can vary and still the song/progression can sound the same as well.
@@MrChopsticktech It's not the same chord progression in those two songs either.
You need to re-edit this video and remove the narrator when
Prince....i.e, is playing his guitar etc.
Not for nothing, but I thought Prince was cooler than this. A musician (I forget who) was to jam and record with Prince. When he got to his house or the recording studio - a Goon told him that he was not to call Prince - Prince. He was only to write that stupid symbol down. And he was not to look at Prince in the eyes. - Well the guy took off. And I would have too. I don't know if this story is true, but if it is - this is F@#$%D !!!
I read that as well. Also, Alice Cooper said nearly the same thing happened at a Grammy show (the year isn't listed). Alice said he was standing with David Bowie, Elton John and someone else he doesn't remember. 'All of a sudden, these five big guys walk by and they said 'Don't look at Prince. Don't look him directly in the eye'.
@@MrChopsticktech😂😂😂😂 love him!!
it starts by saying 'he refused to compromise' as if someone was putting a gun to his head.'Prince, compromise or die!' Stupid lazy journalism...if that's what this is!
Eddie Hazel - Garry Shider - Blackbyrd McKnight - Curtis Mayfield - ...
@@modifiedcontent right! It’s like these rock guys have little to no context of what a guy like Prince would have been influenced by.
All of these mentions of people who he “could have been influenced” by, meanwhile you can tell the Curtis Mayfield, Eddie Hazel, and Mike Hampton influences.
He himself even mentions that in his own interview.
It’s also kind of strange seeing so many people mentioning that while my guitar gently weeps solo which is one of his best for many of these people, he has to be playing classic rock for them to even notice.
that’s probably why Prince was pissed when he was up there playing
@@chazmartin5725Prince is excellent at rhythm guitar. Much better than soloing shredding
But the general public only appreciates rock blues solos
Prince was funk basically
Everyone names Jimi and forgets Wes or Albert King just to name 2
@@Cormac-jd2kx EXACTLY
there is one artist that Prince shares many traits with, both started off as drummers, both fronted their own bands for decades, both were overlooked as guitar virtuosos due to outlandish wardrobe and behavior (on and off stage) Both had public battles with Warner Bros. And both died too young and left behind vaults of completed records.........though I have never once heard their names mentioned in the same sentence.
Who are you thinking of?
I think Prince was a GOOD LIAR. The album Was called Purple Rain and all I could smell on him was Jimi Hendrix. I think he hated the connection because it was probably made because of race. But he knew 100% he a Hendrix fan. Everything about him is Hendrix-influenced. That doesn't mean Santana is not in there with a cleaner sound. But Hendrix culturally had a deeper influence on his music. So much comes from James Brown, Rick James, Sly, on and on. Endless influences.
I don't believe some of these guitar players had the influence on Prince the narrator states.
Sonny T. was Prince's main musical influence, Sonny was the mark to aim for. Prince loved and adored him. Just watch some Michael Bland or Jimmy Ham Interviews. It's no secret Prince admired Sonny.
@@jeromejamies3641Prince was influenced by Hendrix also.
@@electric8668 every artist you listen to influences you. Susannah Melvoin introduced Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Hendrix to Prince. Prince grew up in Minneapolis, so what kind of music did tgey olay on tge radio there?! Sonny T. is highly regarded by a lot of musicians in Mnpls and he was the one who influenced Prince the most before he even knew who Hendrix or Sly Stone was. It's not always the BIG names. Sonny is humble and shy and doesn't talk a lot. Maybe one of the most underrated talents and musicians. Have a listen to NPG Exodus and you might understand what I am talking about - be careful, it's very experimental and funky - danger zone! Sonny lead vocals sometimes together with Prince and bass
@@jeromejamies3641 Seriously? Prince met Melvoin in 1983 when she was nineteen and he was 25. I have never been to Minneapolis (lived my whole 50+ years in Scranton Pennsylvania). I had heard The Beatles, Hendrix and Led Zeppelin by that time, so it is hard for me to believe that a 25 year-old musician living anywhere in the US would never heave heard or heard of such legends.
Exactly. This dude is speaking mostly opinion.
NOTHING Santana ever played is more beautiful than Angel, Little Wing, Castles Made of Sand, One Rainy Wish or Villanova Junction (
@ Woodstock)
Prince 😎
I have to disagree with Prince. You can't get any prettier than Jimi's Little Wing.
The Purple Rain persona was all Johnny Thunders. I also heard old Prince was seen at some Bad Brains shows.
Really? Bad Brains? Where did you hear that
@@Cormac-jd2kxEdit it was an article written in the last 15 years, a retrospect by someone in alternative scene around 82 and the article was saying Prince was part of the alternative scene before he blew up with Purple Rain. That article stated that he was seen at earlier Bad Brains shows and honestly Prince knew music so why would he (?) miss a Bad brains show if you think about it. That being said, the streets is where you'll hear stuff. An old hastings street grinder told me how Bryan Adams was an ac-d dealer around that area and I've heard WAY more about all kinds of people. Prince said alot of controversial things and hes gone.
@@mikehemens9359I’m
A fan since 83 too 1999 album. 1999 7 inch was my first record. Lovesexy 88 in London my first Prince concert.
I remember Bad Brains hard rock records. I also was a fan of Fishbone and Kid Creole back then. I name this bands because I always thought Prince watched and listened to Them carefully…
So do you have any Prince stories that aren’t told in books? I’ve heard a producer in Europe saying Prince was a heroin addict in the late 80s and I never believed it but why would anyone say such a thing publicly? He met him personally in 88 in Paris right before the Lovesexy tour kicked off
@@Cormac-jd2kx I just Google it and can find nothing about this. I doubt someone that didn't want people to talk to him or look him in the eye would be at punk concerts.
@@MrChopsticktech
Why not? Maybe he went to listen to their music 😂