I agree with ALL your reasons for why Eddie Hazel isn't as famous as Hendrix. I think it's a shame that Funkadelic doesn't get played on AOR or classic rock stations even now. Funkadelic was a great rock band, period.
Absolutely. Their run of albums (as Funkadelic or Parliament) from Maggot Brain thru Motorbootyaffair or Uncle Jam at least is a longer and equally solid run of classic albums as bands like the Beatles or Led Zeppelin ever put out. There is no good reason why the classic rock radio format has never embraced P-Funk. I would have hoped being enshrined in the RnR Hall of Fame might have changed that - but sadly it did not.
Truth be told that George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic WAS BLACKLISTED BY THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, THAT IS WHY THEY PRODUCED AND RELEASED THEIR OWN ALBUMS!!
The way he controls his guitar with sustained notes, pitch and blending in. Eddie is known for having REALLY, STRONG FINGERS, just like Hampton. The best way to practice and playing Guitar, your fingers have to BLEED! BLEEDING FINGERS MAKES PERFECTION!
Eddie Hazel was truly one of the most criminally underrated guitar players to grace our ears, along with Shuggie Otis. Both of these men had such a profound impact on rock/R&B music I'm saddened by how so few people from my generation have respect for the classics. Once again, I really dig your videos Morris I'm glad I discovered you earlier tonight hahaha! I haven't had much of a chance to peruse your channel and was wondering if A) you had any Frank Zappa tutorials and B) what your thoughts on him are in general, he's by far my biggest musical inspiration as a guitar player/writer and love hearing other people's perspective on his incredible body of work.
In my opinion, I think Eddie was technically a better player than Hendrix. He just wasn't as flashy. He also stuck to funk instead of hard rock. Its sad he never gets the credit he is due. A true Blues Rock Master.
If not for Jimi no one would ever even think of playing guitar like that. I think Eddie Hazel is a great top of the line, but would be the first to disagree with you.
not to mention he was one of greatest vocalist of that period , knew him in the early 70's during the many times the bands played 'the combat zone' in Boston,,,,great mentor and guitar teacher, never threatened by what the next axeman was bringing to the table, RIP
Exposure Support And Timing Is Everything. Eddie Hazel Was A Truly Gifted Guitarist. Many Things Contributed To His Not Being Recognized. The Industry Was Not Ready Nor Willing To Showcase Or WELCOME His Gift. It's As If They Felt Like We've Got Our One Black Rock Guitarist "Jimi" And We Done. Eddie Was Timid Quiet And Played In The Shadows A Lot. Thank GOD For FUNKADELIC. A LOT Of FUNK Groups Kept A Badd Ass Rock Style Guitarist. P-FUNK, Cameo, Isley Brothers, Mothers Finest, Slave, Xavion. Prince Stayed Out Front Even After Being Run Off The Stage. He Duplicated Improvised And Kicked The Door In On Many Occasions Making The Industry Say His Name.
Thanx 4 taking the time 2 recognize & talk about Eddie... IMO, Eddie Hazel's overall work is much more listenable & inventive then Jimi's, & I just FEEL his playing more. That man had tone & DEEP SOUL. It's all there in Maggot Brain. It's only now people are catching up 2 just how great Eddie's contribution to guitar was & is. Thank God 4 Eddie Hazel is right. His playing is what keeps me up til ALL HOURS of the night & day, hunched over my guitar, reaching for a bit of what he had. Thanx again, big bro.. Hope U keep these analyses comin
I'm not sure just how much of Jimi's songs you've heard outside of the 'traditional Rock' stuff. listen to Band of Gypsys, also plenty of other blues, tracks he did. Give a listen if you haven't already. If you have, i suggest You do it again. LoL
I've often heard George Clinton refered to as The Black Zappa. Thats a huge compliment. So far ahead of their time . The intelligent lyrics and the comedy in the music was just genius. I saw the Mothership land in Huntsville Alabama, 1978 when I was 15 years old. I was one of probably 5 white kids in the whole Von Braun Civic Center at that show. It changed my life, straight up. Music is so powerful that way. I listen to all types of music from classical to acid rock, but Funk music holds a special place in my heart. I'll never forget that night I got a dose of the funk and its carried me thru many hard times in my life. Songs Like Maggot Brain, Cosmic Slop, Placebo Syndrome, really are special to me and alot of times I weep when I listen to them. Eddies guitar work really pulls the emotions out of me. He is surely missed.
It's simple. Step one: learn to play how the Three Kings played. Not like they played; HOW they played. Step two: learn to play like yourself Step three: ??????? Step four: MAKE IT SLAP If you have funk in your heart, let it out!
Eddie and the guitarists in pfunk was all influenced by jimi but eddie was into lee dprsey mudddy waters and eric clapton and jeff beck Also jimi was inflyenced by billy davis johnny guitar walker and albert and bb king and buddy guy so if you gonba learn eddie and jimi you gotta learn rhem too
Eddie took hendrix influence and created the funkadelic sound every guitar that joined pfunk had to play by eddies standards. Eddie and the original funkadelic came with a lot of beats and grooves that was used way after they left the group funkadelic was the loudest blackest nastiest the truest representation of hood life until so called gangster rap came along
Real cool Morrisman! Eddie was one of my best inspirations on guitar. The first time that i saw him live was in 1969 in my home town Buffalo, New York.
An excellent assessment!!!.. I love Price, but to me, ANYTHING is easy once ya been shown how to do it!!!.. Good stuff, Morrisman!!.. Oh, I STILL ROCK!!! And hard too..
+Morrisman Smith Could you do some lessons on some of Smokeys songs? I would have love to learn song like Baby that's Backatcha, Quiet Storm or Why you wanna see my bad side
Morrisman, I love your stuff. I learn a whole lot from your vids. I especially like this post, and how you address the issue of black rock bands. I have been involved in the Detroit rock scene for about ten years. When I began playing guitar, I got into rock, because it was just more guitar driven music, and it allowed me to get a good start. Now I love R&B soul and Funk guitar playing, because it's so in the pocket. I am still a rock n roller true and true though. Thanks man. J. Walker
Have to say Prince was hot because he had that mixture of playing like Jimi & Carlos and that was since he was about 14 years old, also I have to say in some ways when Mike Hampton came on board with Funkadelic in 74' he did kinda swiped Hazel's thunder, or that's how it seemed back then during that time.
Underrated and truly right there with Jimi Hendrix. Michael Hampton is rightbup there as well. They all were great but America did not want rock music taken over by these brothers.
I don't know about overrrated. They were all great, just for different reasons. Though Hendrix was by far the most innovative guitarist since Leo Fender and Les Paul, others were able to match his technical ability. Each guitarist brought his/he own amount of innovation to the craft.
Good stuff. Hazel and Ernie Isley are equally as underrated in my opinion for similar reasons that u stated. The Hendrix Effect. They could really Wail!
Ernie is labeled r&b and the isleys are labeled a r&b group so thats why ernie isnt more recognised as a serious guitar player Plus funk wasnt even played on white radio stations just like funkadelic wasnt played on white or black stations which was why george had to cut down on the wild stuff and try to make money as parliament
..maybe someone can confirm, that he and Jimi where planning something at one time. I in my heart, I think he was the greatest I have ever heard in my life. Thank You Eddie; I know you still in spirit around us all. I'm sixty now but remember buying "Free Your Mind"; my mother said you can buy a record (only $2.99 in those days), she only seen the front of the cover LOL. I miss the old times, thank goodness for recordings, may Eddies' family Have Their Hearts Desires.
Eddie Hazel is one of the greatest to me, I don't know why there aren't documentaries about his life. I've heard people like Wayne Kramer talk about Eddie having superior technique. He did. Listen to Game, Dames And Guitar Thangs. Listen to Standing On The Verge. His playing, his tone, the way he articulated his leads were fantastic
Excellent presentation : Morrisman Smith! At that particular time they were not going let to many blacks at all with top rating in "ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE".
For years the p-funk guitar army never would get recognized but the truth always comes to light. Eddie hazel Mike Hampton blackbyrd mcnight were monsters on the axe!!
Thanks Morrisman for the decent commentary, and opening this forum on African-American high impact guitar giants. I don't have a lot of time to read through all the comments, but I feel most are sincere with their input. I just wanted to add, that you and most in the forum are discussing notable Black rock style "recorded" guitar legends. Back in the day 60's, 70's, some 80's there were many brother's out who could melt your face off with a solo. However, as you mentioned in your essay, were shunned because of being compared to or gauged by the Hendrix standard. Secondly, the drug game took away a 'LOT' of cats. Lastly, there are guys out on the street HOMELESS who will surprise you with their talent. Yes, George is/was a visionary and has earned his place in history. Being from Detroit we hold him in the highest esteem. But it's finally being recognized, and unfortunately posthumously, that Prince is probably one of the greatest COMPOSERS we'll probably witness in our lifetime. Up there with Gershwin, Beethoven, Ellington, Mozart, Coltrane, etc... in terms of body of works. Some may laugh at this statement, but "As Time Goes By" (original Song by Sam Dooley Wilson) you'll remember me mentioning it. As I said not much time to really elaborate, and this piece may been poorly written, and not making much sense. But Morrisman keep doing what you're doing, and I 'll catch up with you on the flip side... PEACE
+Morrisman Smith you had a video posted that you also own a Roland jc and a fender amp too right? I'm looking for a nice clean jazz amp. not a giant fan of the rolands though
+Morrisman Smith must have sold it. you got it for $10 cuz the guy said it didn't work. the picture you put up for the fender amp was an ultimate chorus, is that one you've owned? I'm torn between that and the princeton chorus
Eddie Hazel, 4 my money, I would rather listen 2 ANY DAY OF THE WEEK then Hendrix... No slight against Jimi, we all know how good he is, and rightly so... but what I hear in Eddie is FINESSE and taste... 4 all his technical fury, the man had an incredible sense of TASTE... when I hear Prince's playing, I hear Carlos Santana and Eddie Hazel... his LOOK was more Hendrix, but his sense of playing is Eddie all day long... and I'm glad U said what U did about us all being ONE... social politics have divided us along "RACE LINES" 4 far 2 long... we are all the same, we are one people... George Clinton understands this, and this is why Parliament Funkadelic isn't just MUSICALLY important, but maybe even more so, Culturally and Socially... and what im interested in is what scales Eddie chose 2 use the most in his playing, maybe U could clarify that 4 me... Thank U & Stay Well Brother
Thanks for doing that one, Morrisman! I appreciate it! The only modern day black guitar rock artist I personally know of (without doing a google search; and having to do a google search would show you there's a definite lack of them in today's popular music scene) would be Black Joe Lewis. I found him on youtube a couple years ago and thought he sounded super fresh; bit of a throwback to James Brown style funk/soul style but with an ecclectic rock/jazz/blues/big band/modern feel as well. Unfortuantely, I saw him live last year and it was a major letdown due to poor sound engineering (way to loud for the venue it was at) where everything was way too loud and you couldn't understand a single lyric. People were really excited to see him but 3/4s of the crowd left before the show was over because the sound gave them pulsating headaches. That night too it seemed he'd changed from the funky stuff I'd heard online to a fuzzy Hendrix homage sound. He even put his guitar up to the amps to get that signature Purple Haze feedback effect on more than a few occasions (so again the Hendrix influence/comparison still happens even today). The opening act, Caroline Smith, sounded fantastic that night, though, so not sure who exactly was responsible for Black Joe Lewis' band being so muffled and loud. I came to see Joe and didn't know Caroline Smith very well before that show, but she turned me into a huge fan that night. Great live performer. That's one topic small venue bands need to have addressed. Learning to adapt the sound/volume to the venues and not playing at a volume fit for Madison Square Garden when in a little amphitheatre or club. It's not the old "if it's too loud, you're too old" addage either. It's "if it's too loud, it's TOO LOUD!", lol. That audience seriously scattered like ants a few songs into Joe Lewis' set and while I stayed for the whole thing, the problem never got better and I was really disappointed. Caroline Smith made the night more than a positve overall experience, though. I highly recommend checking some of her stuff out here on youtube. Just type in "Caroline Smith - Child Of Moving On - Audiotree Live" (all of her Audiotree performances are superb). She's not a black guitar player, she's a white female guitar player/singer/songwriter, but good music is good music and deserves its due especially in today's music world which isn't exactly the epitome of greatness IMO. (Gary Clark Jr. is another current black guitar player that sometimes plays rock but I think "rock blues" a little bit more when I think of him. Still he's one to maybe keep an eye on for more great rocking guitar stuff to come in the future.)
Sadly, in urban areas, there is little exposure to rock and other music but hip-hop and rap. It is not socially acceptable to be into "white music" in many cases and people through peer pressure end up falling in with the accepted status quo. It takes true revolutionaries to go against the grain and be an original. You're right, thank God for Jimi, Prince, Eddie Hazel, Bobby Womack, Ernie Isley, Vernon Reid, for being beacons shining a light and letting us know it was okay to like what you like and play it too.
+Kenny Gore Hey Kenny i've been buying guitar mags since i was in the 9th grade and your right you see the same ones over and over they'll go over seas get a black guitarist we've never even heard of from another country and put them in there in stead of the ones in the USA
William P Scott Agree, but Eddie had more tangibles. Eddie isn't celebrated enough. Finally, I heard in a few places Jimi and Eddie didn't care for each other... Again , great commentary.
I Think Jesse Johnson, Charlie Singleton, and Marlon McClain are great, guitarist also i think if they made a straight rock, record it would be very good.
+Robert Jefferson I toally agree with you Charlie from Cameo did some great Guitar work on the Cameo album. Jesse a great Guitarist but in my opinion was sounding too much like Prince because that's what Prince wanted.
The music industry has always had a problem marketing Black rock bands to the larger white audiences (remember the Black rock band "The Chambers Brothers" from the late 60's? And the industry really didn't understand Hendrix in the beginning) As a young guitarist growing up in the late 60's and 70's, I, and my guitar, bass and drum playing peer, always rocked out with the best of them. Black folk listened to R&B, Jazz, Blues, Pop, Soul and Rock back in the day. Jimi's first 3 albums where always a major influence, but when the album Hendrix Band of Gypsies went on sale, that was all she wrote. Many, if not most, of the Brothers who played guitar in my surrounding area became Hendrix or Santana clones real quick and rock music was the foundation of much of that. Then....from a distant universe outside of our own came...."The Funk" I was and still am hooked. I'm approaching 60 years of age. Like you, I've been influenced by several genres of music over the years and my guitar and bass playing have improved with time. I miss the days when we set up the drum sets, the Ampeg bass amps, the Marshall's, Fender Twin Reverbs, and Mesa Boogie guitar amps to rock out in the park or someone's backyard with our Strats and Les Pauls screaming to high heaven!!!!!
+elzariz Hey Brother i'am with you got in to Rock in the 8th grade i had the same amps i play the guitar and bass too still got all my lps still into i'll be 60 in 2 years Morrisman is like Our CNN we have the internet now we still make it happen
+pipsie james Yes indeed. Morrisman is the truth!!! His knowledge base is broad, diverse and always on point. Greatly appreciated. By the way, those old LP's you still have are a great teaching tool also, especially if you have Soul and Funk albums in your collection. Back in the 90's, the youngsters in my area would play their Rap and Hip Hop for me and swear up and down that what we just listened to was the shiznik. I would go to my record bin, pull out several old 70's LP's and play the original versions and explain to them that what they thought was "Da Bomb" was actually a sample from these great pieces of music. Blew their minds every time, but exposed them to some of the best music ever composed.
I know I’m late, but honestly.. Prince and Hazel solo wise, came out around the same time and were at the same label. I’ll agree, Princes 80’s break allowed for time and space. But I just think Warner didn’t put the same budget behind Eddie. Because vocally we could agrue Eddie had a better voice. Playing wise it gets annoyingly tough to choose because they both should’ve had longer career. And in volume prince tops all.
Thanks for your comments very valid points more money was put into Prince's career by the record companies. They felt he would make them more money and the bottom line for business is to make money nothing personal just business
@@morrisman64 I read somewhere Prince spent upwards of like $500,000 on his debut and that's with him writing, playing and partially engineering everything. Have you heard of Velvet Turner though? He sounded EXACTLY like Jimi. I think Eddie capitalizing on the Funk instead of Blues/Rock really put him in his own space and Prince going Pop-Funk/Synth really helped him too but Velvet sounded identical like Jimi.
I think all the guitar players in P-Funk are/were underrated. Eddie, Michael Hampton, Garry Shider, Blackbyrd McKnight are all great players. along with Erinie Isley who were all put in the black guitar players box-they are good but not as good as these white pop guys. it is true that the music part came from Bernie Worrell and Bootsy Collins for sure. the black band thing I can go all day long on. but I will say this briefly-I have always blame the industry for shutting down black bands. because they felt they could not sell them to a mass pop audience. so they slowly killed them off. and replaced them with young rap groups who they could control and steal from easily. or smaller groups. in essence saying-"whites we have bands and play instruments and sing". black people they rap". I think they took the black bands and threw them away.
I very nearly got Eddie tattood on me, he means that much to me and my musical life. As far as the dearth of black rock bands, I feel like hip hop's sneering "(in an exaggerated fratboy voice) white music bro!" trope is partly to do with it. Personally, I just want to hear talented bands make good music - and if you can blend the genres like The Roots, all the better.
Eddie could have went toe to toe with Hendrix listen to all of hazels work miss Lucifer's love, super stupid, red hot mama, hardcore jollies, and you'll see he can stand beside any of the greats
Hazel was younger, N got popular after Hendrix, but was doing his thing at the same time really. DefN8ly equally gifted. PLUS stop comparing him 2 only other black guitaristz. Guitar iz guitar.
When I was a young kid, I thought that the color of your skin is just like the color of your hair. There was no race for me, just other colors. Some were born with brown hair, some were born with black hair. Some were born with white skin, some were born with darker skin. Some were short, some were tall. Doesn't matter, we are all the same. 40 years later I know at the 4 year old me was right. I guess that I should thank my parents for teaching me love instead of hate.
Rob---I agree with you---Eddie was in a funk/rock band----and as successful as Parliament/Funkdelic were---they didn't really have x-over appeal Secondly---both Jimi & Prince were frontmen. Contrary to my last name---I'm a black male who grew up in the late 60s/70s. We are talking about a long lost diverse musical landscape. Also I'm a guitarist and rock "sounding" music sadly had an aversion in the black community. With that being said---Eddie didn't have a chance of being recognized on either front. Let's face it---Prince had pop appeal---and in order to hear his true guitar genius---you had to have heard him live. This list goes on---Mike Hampdon, Blackbyrd McKnight, Gary Shider, Vernon Reid, etc, etc etc---all amazing black guitarists
Yeah, meanwhile Black folk invented "Rock and Roll" . But much respect to Funkadelic, Betty Davis, Black Merda, Rasputins Stash, Tony Williams Lifetime, Death, Bad Brains, Manchild, Slave, Fishbone, 24-7 Spyz, Living Colour, God Forbid(the band).
To be honest I just feel like black People not into guitar as much as white folks most classic rock 70s guitar players get the recognition they need but the 70s funk guys were totally overlooked funkadelic was basically a black rock band 😂anybody who says Eddie’s hazel didn’t invent funk rock hasn’t heard alice in my fantasies
I don't think he got put into the clone category so much as he just doesn't receive attention. Hendrix is played heavily on classic rock radio and Funkadelic isn't. Paul Kossof, leads for Free, is only on one song that gets any substantial airtime, and it's "All Right Now", hence why so few outside of enthusiast circles know that name. Lots of greats aren't heralded enough. Hell, Keith Richards has never been the best guitarist in the Stones. Brian Jones was a better lead by far, but that's not a name you hear often. Basically, I think we just have to be able to appreciate them ourselves and not care about ratings and stuff. Allmusic gives a perfect score to Neutral Milk Hotel and a 2/5 to Electric Mud by Muddy Waters which is a fabulous album. Rolling Stone ranks damn Revolver, the Beatles' crappiest album @ #3 all time ffs.
Morrisman Smith It’s a sad thing because we really created the genre. Rock is a formation of faster blues from the south that white kids from the South, Middle America, and England took. It’s just like this one documentary called A Band Called Death, everytime they try to pigeon hold
Morrisman Smith they’re truly The Godfather’s of PunkRock. And the crazy part was they said “We didn’t even think of it as Punk, we thought we were just playing fast rock and roll” It reminds me of bluesmen (and women/Sister Rosetta Thorpe) that paved the way for rock and roll saying that they didn’t even think of it as rock, they thought of it as simply playing the blues. The term Rock and Roll is even a black slang back in the day for “get going” and it was sexual term even earlier used by our people.
good one Morrisman. Eddie was badd. But just my opinion, that's why I hate BET. For them to be " black entertainment ", never once have I've seen, MacAlpine, Howe, Hazel, Lynott or even Pat Hare. Hare was crunching fuzz guitar way before Hendrix. I'd say the media and studios are worse that the audience because they brainwash those that listens & follow, lol.
And know what pisses me off...these same people seem to forget that Rock was started by US....slowly black rock bands were pushed to the back... The give the credit of Punk Rock to The Ramones, but there was a black band called DEATH that was out way before The Ramones......but KLIVE DAVIS wouldn't sign them because of the name of their group...20 years later you have white groups like Megadeath....go figure.
Yes hip to those dudes DEATH I did a cover on a tune they wrote so sad what kept them from fame they refuse to change their name so the record company dropped them. Really bad mistake on their end.
