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Boogie
Member with too much time available
USA
5993 Posts |
 Posted - 07/26/2010 : 17:18:53
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| or maybe he was told ....maybe more than once |
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Boogie
Member with too much time available
USA
5993 Posts |
Posted - 07/26/2010 : 17:21:08
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| I guess I always thought of him as a quiet, humble type off stage. I had no particular reason to think so. What other things lead you to think so, Ernie? |
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No Pride
Member with too much time available
USA
11623 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2010 : 13:15:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Boogie
I guess I always thought of him as a quiet, humble type off stage. I had no particular reason to think so. What other things lead you to think so, Ernie?
Read the book, Boogie. Seriously, that's the best answer I can give.
I think all of us who get on stage and perform for a room full of people have at least a little bit of narcissism. It takes a certain amount of audacity to feel that you've got something to offer that's worthy of a crowd's attention, otherwise we'd be content to play for ourselves in the privacy of our homes or just jam in somebody's garage. How much of that chutzpah we have can vary wildly, from just being satisfied playing for friends and family to wanting to show the world what you've got.
Jimi WAS quiet and humble in certain ways, but he had strong desires to be heard... and seen. He was fired from bands for upstaging the frontman. He wore outrageous clothes even when he was just walking down the street. He was out to make his mark on the world, although I don't think even he could've imagined the magnitude with which he accomplished that and the lasting effect it would have.
Maybe we should call it "ego" instead of "narcissism;" the latter word implying an overblown degree of the former. But "ego" is not a dirty word; even the smallest amount of ambition requires a sense of self worth. Maybe Jimi didn't think of himself as a genius, but he knew he had something substantial to offer the world... and we're all very fortunate that he did just that!
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http://www.baddogu.com |
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G.A. Donis
Large Member
940 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2010 : 14:11:36
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I don't think narcicism is really what you are talking about. Narcicism is vanity, selfishness or being "in love" with oneself. The word came from Narcicuss who fell in love with his own reflection and was subsequently turned into a flower. I wouldn't think that would necesarily drive someone to show the world what they can do.
I think ego is most likely what drove Jimi to the heights he reached. And I agree, Ernie, ego is not necesarily a bad word. Ego is required to some extent to be succesful in anything. If you don't believe in yourself then nobody else will either. It's when ego is unchecked (anybody ever "release the fury!") that it becomes a negative thing.
I'm definately going to have to read the book now, because I always had the impression that Jimi was quiet, reserved and very humble. I guess he must of had humiity in direct proportion to his ego which would account for him being confident enough to do the things he did (Star Spangle Banner on a distorted electric guitar, heresy I say!) but still be a likeable guy (by all accounts I've heard).
I have no idea what is going on...
www.zachtate.com |
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No Pride
Member with too much time available
USA
11623 Posts |
Posted - 07/27/2010 : 15:09:44
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quote:
Originally posted by G.A. Donis
I don't think narcicism is really what you are talking about. Narcicism is vanity, selfishness or being "in love" with oneself. The word came from Narcicuss who fell in love with his own reflection and was subsequently turned into a flower. I wouldn't think that would necesarily drive someone to show the world what they can do.
I know all that, Stu. I think narcissism is an extention of an ego that gets out of control. You want vanity? Jimi spent hours curling his hair to get it just right, which to him, meant looking like Bob Dylan's do. He'd get very jealous (sometimes violently, but apparently only when he was drinking) when one of his girlfriends showed interest in another guy, yet he expected them to respect his wishes to have as many women as he wanted. That's pretty vain!
Vanity can certainly drive someone to show the world what they can do, whether or not what they can do is actually real or just delusional self perception. When you're in love with yourself, you need affirmation from others that you really are the $hit.
Hey, Jimi was a complex guy. He WAS likeable; in fact it was his charm that got people to feed him, provide board for him and buy him guitars when he didn't have any. He wouldn't have survived his lean years without his charismatic personality.
Nothing's all black and white. Jimi was an exceptional person in many ways, but he was also a flawed human being just like all of us. Well, except for me of course.  
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http://www.baddogu.com |
Edited by - No Pride on 07/27/2010 15:14:59 |
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Boogie
Member with too much time available
USA
5993 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2010 : 12:23:24
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not trying to put ya on the spot, Ernie. I was just wondering what other insights you had gleaned in your reading about Jimi. I agree with most of what has been said here. I'll probably not read the book, and therefore feel free to 'ruin it for me' if you have anything else to add.
Sure, all players willing to get up on stage have a certain amt. of drive and that likely does come in part from a sense of having something worth sharing and thus worth YOUR/OUR attention. I get what you mean in thinking about his clothing choices and etc. I also wonder about the opposite...diminished sense of self worth or confidence, when it comes to those personalities that are so willing to indulge in the hard drugs and heavy booze and risk their lives regularly when most people would feel that life should be valued, protected, and shielded from an untimely death or accident. Of course I have never felt the pressures of that kind of fame and these stars may simply be trying to escape a bit of that when the culmination of it all simply overtook them. |
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No Pride
Member with too much time available
USA
11623 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2010 : 13:45:28
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quote:
Originally posted by Boogie
I also wonder about the opposite...diminished sense of self worth or confidence, when it comes to those personalities that are so willing to indulge in the hard drugs and heavy booze and risk their lives regularly when most people would feel that life should be valued, protected, and shielded from an untimely death or accident. Of course I have never felt the pressures of that kind of fame and these stars may simply be trying to escape a bit of that when the culmination of it all simply overtook them.
In Miles Davis' autobiography, he claimed that all geniuses are greedy. I don't know if he was including himself in that club, but he certainly worked with several of them: Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, etc. I'm not sure the heavy boozing and drugging comes from a lack of self worth or confidence; I think it's more about immediate self gratification and indulgence. You know, "party like it's 1999." There's something exciting about living in the moment like that, doing everything you want to and doing it now. Of course, reasonably sensible people like you and me know and care about the consequences, so we can't fully understand that mindset, let alone adopt it.
I'm not giving away any more "spoilers" in case anyone here plans to read the book, but I will say that one great legend concerning Jimi's death was debunked in it.
I know it's hard to find time for reading in our busy lives, but if you can possible manage the time, it's a worthy read.
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http://www.baddogu.com |
Edited by - No Pride on 07/28/2010 14:01:54 |
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Craig B
Member with too much time available
USA
11552 Posts |
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petrucci-fan
Member with too much time available
USA
2953 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2010 : 19:29:35
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quote:
Originally posted by Craig B
I keep getting reminded of this commercial!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGegKKF2Xpw
Personally, I would have bought the coke and then walked back to the music store! 
"Never play a minor in a MAJOR situation"
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Craig B
Member with too much time available
USA
11552 Posts |
Posted - 07/28/2010 : 20:16:31
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Yeah, me too.
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franjo
Member with too much time available
Germany
5352 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2010 : 09:04:32
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"meant looking like Bob Dylan's do"
obviously THAT'S a pretty bizarre wish!!!
and then: narcist?
ME?
never.
now bring me my cape to step in front of the masses...
cheers
franjo
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"You're just a fleck of vomit in the parking lot of life" by sluggo
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cyclotron
Member with too much time available
USA
4254 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2010 : 20:50:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Craig B
Yeah, me too.
Me three. But don't knock the "other" store. In my first band circa '68, our keyboardist, who turned out to be the band leader eventually, came to practice with his accordian until he finally talked his dad the Italian barber into buying him a Rheem organ. He was really good on both by the way. He was also a good scam artist who got me to GIVE him a guitar for FREE. But I give him credit for talking me into buying my first Telecaster and Twin Reverb.
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"The Truth will make you free - but first it will make you miserable. |
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G.A. Donis
Large Member
940 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 23:22:23
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So now I have to add a Johnny Winter book to the list of books I need to read. The owner of a bar lent it to our singer to read. It is called Raising Cain. I flipped through the pictures and there was one of Jimi playing Tommy Shannon's bass during a jam with Johnny.
I have no idea what is going on...
www.zachtate.com |
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Boogie
Member with too much time available
USA
5993 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 10:15:49
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| yeah, I read about that book in last months Vintage Guiitar. Lot of these coming out lately. |
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G.A. Donis
Large Member
940 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2010 : 12:20:44
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I'm about halfway through Room Full of Mirrors. My first thought about the whole room full of mirrors comment wasn't narcicism but maybe loneliness. Without giving too much away so far it seems Jimi had a few moments of happiness in an otherwise crappy life.
So far there have been several things that I didn't know, never even considered and am amazed by that I have learned about one of the most influential guitar players to ever play this great instrument.
I have no idea what is going on...
www.zachtate.com |
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Latest Hendrix Biography: Room Full of Mirrors
