Often times greatness is not something that is easily recognized. In addition, greatness often emerges over time.
Perhaps a person that posesses the raw ingredients for greatness simply becomes a little more great every day.
So when The White Stripes first took the stage at Detroit's Gold Dollar back in the summer of 1997, it is difficult to say whether or not Jack White played with his full present greatness. Jack has certainly become a prolific artist if not one of the most prolific artists of our time. Keeping company with modern day masters like Dave Grohl, Jack simply continues to get better and better with each project.
Perhaps this is how a true guitar hero is made in some cases. I say some cases because other guitar heros seem to have had a certain god status from the very beginning. Say Eddie Van Halen for instance. From the very first record, few people doubted Eddie's ability to drop jaws with his withering solos and vastly creative approach to guitar playing.
Contrast this with Jack White's rise to power. Did we know by White Blood Cells that Jack was destined for guitar greatness? Perhaps, but certainly not in the same instantaneous sense with which we watched Randy Rhodes or the previously mentioned EVH. Be that as it may, Jack White belongs among the guitar greats. Every bit as creative as Eddie, every bit as flashy as Rhodes, as good a song writer as Grohl, as prolific as, dare I say it, Prince, Jack has arrived. Perhaps long ago in some people's opinion but certainly arrived now in everyone's opinion.
While it is not "new" music, go and take a hard listen to Elephant or The White Stripes. Yes, they are from way back in the day by now but they still hold those early markers of greatness that can sometimes only be recognized in retrospect. My personal favorites include Ball and a Biscuit or Girl, You Have no Faith in Medicine. The former channels Hendrix esque blues vocal style that oozes a powerful rock star virility while the later containes a staccato guitar lick that I have yet to be able to adequately copy.
Jack White is indeed a modern day hero. Whats more and more important is that he is a timeless hero. This work will stand and continue to inspire. Fifty years from now, young guitar prodigy players will be doing magazine interviews and saying the likes of, "Uh well my heros are ummm...well Jack White for sure..I mean right? Who doesnt want to play as good as Jack?"
Perhaps a person that posesses the raw ingredients for greatness simply becomes a little more great every day.
So when The White Stripes first took the stage at Detroit's Gold Dollar back in the summer of 1997, it is difficult to say whether or not Jack White played with his full present greatness. Jack has certainly become a prolific artist if not one of the most prolific artists of our time. Keeping company with modern day masters like Dave Grohl, Jack simply continues to get better and better with each project.
Perhaps this is how a true guitar hero is made in some cases. I say some cases because other guitar heros seem to have had a certain god status from the very beginning. Say Eddie Van Halen for instance. From the very first record, few people doubted Eddie's ability to drop jaws with his withering solos and vastly creative approach to guitar playing.
Contrast this with Jack White's rise to power. Did we know by White Blood Cells that Jack was destined for guitar greatness? Perhaps, but certainly not in the same instantaneous sense with which we watched Randy Rhodes or the previously mentioned EVH. Be that as it may, Jack White belongs among the guitar greats. Every bit as creative as Eddie, every bit as flashy as Rhodes, as good a song writer as Grohl, as prolific as, dare I say it, Prince, Jack has arrived. Perhaps long ago in some people's opinion but certainly arrived now in everyone's opinion.
While it is not "new" music, go and take a hard listen to Elephant or The White Stripes. Yes, they are from way back in the day by now but they still hold those early markers of greatness that can sometimes only be recognized in retrospect. My personal favorites include Ball and a Biscuit or Girl, You Have no Faith in Medicine. The former channels Hendrix esque blues vocal style that oozes a powerful rock star virility while the later containes a staccato guitar lick that I have yet to be able to adequately copy.
Jack White is indeed a modern day hero. Whats more and more important is that he is a timeless hero. This work will stand and continue to inspire. Fifty years from now, young guitar prodigy players will be doing magazine interviews and saying the likes of, "Uh well my heros are ummm...well Jack White for sure..I mean right? Who doesnt want to play as good as Jack?"
