Vernon Reid spent time away from the dinner table this Thanksgiving to revisit Jimi Hendrix’s back catalog. Since then, he’s come to the defense of a song he feels doesn’t get the plaudits it deserves.
While Hendrix tracks like of “Purple Haze,” “Voodoo Child” and his astonishing cover of “All Along the Watchtower” — complete with one of rock’s most iconic solos —routinely earn accolades, Reid says one song from his catalog shows Jimi’s relevance beyond his guitar talents.
“’Manic Depression’ doesn’t get nearly enough respect for what a groundbreaking song it STILL is,” the guitarist wrote on X.
“It describes struggles with mental illness directly, not via metaphor. It was unprecedented in rock history. It laid a roadmap for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon to expand upon.”
Reid’s point is especially relevant given the norms of the era in which Hendrix wrote the song. The subject of men’s mental health was rarely breached when Hendrix and the Experience released the song on their seminal album, 1967’s Are You Experienced. Today, pop stars are much more quick to express their vulnerabilities.
In that respect, Reid sees Hendrix as a trailblazer who did more beyond what he achieved with a Fender Stratocaster.
Manic Depression doesn’t get nearly enough respect for what a groundbreaking song it STILL is. It describes struggles with Mental Illness directly, not via metaphor. It was unprecedented in Rock History. It laid a roadmap for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon 🌑 to expand upon. https://t.co/44sIanz2rvNovember 27, 2024
The Living Colour guitarist said he also sees signs of Jimi’s emotional expression in “The Wind Cries Mary,” which he considers “one of the greatest meditations on the nature of grief and loss ever written.
“The way it spares no one. ‘Somewhere, a Queen is weeping. Somewhere, a King has no, Wife’. The tiny pause between ‘no’ and ‘wife’? That’s where his Mom goes.”
Hendrix’s mother, Lucille, was largely absent from his childhood. His parents divorced when he was nine, and the court placed him and his brother, Leon, in the custody of their father, Al. Jimi would reference Lucille in other songs, such as 1971’s posthumously released “Angel.”
Continuing his Hendrix love-in, Reid has since added that “Red House” proves “that Hendrix was an R&B guitarist, as much as a blues player,” and that “ ‘Wait Until Tomorrow’s flawless guitar parts would’ve been equally at home at Stax, Atlantic, or Motown” record labels.
Reid recently teamed up with Reverend Guitars for a brand-new series of signature guitars. The collection comprises three models united by their trio of custom-voiced Railhammer humbucking pickups, Floyd Rose 1000 tremolos and pin-lock tuners, but offering three very distinctive finishes
The collaboration was first teased back in April via Instagram, where Reid said, “It’s gonna be a stunner.”
Speaking to Guitar Player in October, Reid explained how a simple error resulted in his greatest guitar find. He says that after a paperwork mix-up led to a price, that “wasn’t too bad” quickly becoming a whole lot better.
