The latest edition of the Experience Hendrix Tour features several guitar heavyweights paying tribute to the man whom many call the best player of all time.
The late Jimi Hendrix's music will be interpreted in Mesa on Monday, May 23, by Brad Whitford of Aerosmith, Steve Vai, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Randolph, Living Colour, former Hendrix bandmate Billy Cox, Jonny Lang and others.
Whitford called to talk about one of his pet projects away from Aerosmith, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in 2001.
Question: Is it rewarding to help turn a new generation on to Hendrix's music?
Answer: Any time you can pique somebody's creative interest . . . it's part of an education. It's really fun to be part of that. Passing on any of this is real important, and it's a real privilege.
Q: It must be a blast to step away from Aerosmith once in a while and just let loose like this.
A: It really is. A lot of these people you don't get to see that much or spend much time with, so I've made a lot of great friends doing this work. Everybody enjoys it.
Q: What do you have up your sleeve for this Experience Hendrix outing?
A: We put a lot of this together the day before we start it. (Laughs) It's a bunch of great musicians, so we can pull a lot of rabbits out of our hats.
Q: Did you ever see Hendrix perform live?
A: I saw him twice. It was pretty special, essentially a life-changing experience.
Q: Was he the best guitarist ever, in your view?
A: It's hard to put that sort of label on anybody because there are a lot of players that may fall into that category. But he was a stylist to the nth degree, and his approach and what he did was so fresh. It remains fresh, especially with the guys on this tour - they're all (Hendrix) fanatics, and it touches them in a special way. It still tears the top of your head off.
Q: You share the stage in Aerosmith with one of rock's guitar heroes, Joe Perry. Are people surprised when they hear you play over-the-top Hendrix leads on this tour?
A: I do get that sometimes.
Q: Like Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, you are a fabulous rhythm guitar player. Is that an underappreciated art?
A: In a sense, I guess it is. I see a lot of young talent focusing on all aspects of guitar. I have two sons who are great players, and they're networking with other young guys. I find it refreshing that they've skipped over a lot of the bad music of the past 30 years and are focusing on the really good stuff, a lot of classic rock.
Q: Joe has bashed a few guitars onstage a la Hendrix. How about you?
A: I may have simulated it once or twice. I don't think I could top those antics.
Q: How many guitars do you own?
A: Probably around 100. It's way too many for one player. Every once in a while, I have to clean house.
Q: Which Hendrix songs do you especially enjoy playing live?
A: We do "Spanish Castle Magic," "The Wind Cries Mary," "Fire," "All Along the Watchtower" and "Red House."
Q: Give us a quick Aerosmith update.
A: We have a lot of irons in the fire. The firm tour that we have lined up is outside the United States - South America, Mexico, Japan. We're also still trying to work on this record we've been trying to make for five or six years. Something always keeps us from completing the job.
Q: How has (singer) Steven Tyler's stint as a judge on "American Idol" affected the band?
A: It limits things because he is not available for a certain part of the year.
