The art of songwriting by Jimi Hendrix

December 26^th – Hope you had a wonderful day yesterday; me? Yup but as it's sandwiched between pantomime shows it has some of the gloss knocked off'f it (cue violins and floods of tears).

Masterpieces take years often a lifetime to create. At the shorter end of the spectrum it took Michael Angelo four years to paint the Sistine Chapel and that’s some good going when you see the quality and intricacy of the work…and the level of H&S that was flouted during the operation concerning the erection of the scaffolding. Mr. Tolstoy also laboured for four years to write War and Peace, supposed by some to be a great work. Can’t say I feel that enthusiastic about it as a story but as an historical document on the minds and manners of the people of the time it holds a wealth of detail. Coming down the scale slightly, Ludwig van Beethoven completed his ninth symphony in just under three years (and he was almost completely deaf when he did it) Benjamin Britten completed his War Requiem in two years, it took Mr. Handel just 24 days to compose the Messiah and Mr. Tchaikovsky wrote the 1812 overture in just a week so, knockin’ on a bit then.

With most works of creativity, certainly those worth more than a nod that is, the gestation period is often as long as the creative act. Most writers will tell you that, in many cases, the quality of a finished novel can often be equated to the years the manuscript spends in the bottom drawer of the dresser. Not true in every case, of course but things do need time to percolate before becoming fruitful; what’s that thing about, if you’re going to write something and it needs research then read and think deeply about the subjects, forget them…then start to write; it’ll all come back but in your own prose.

On the other hand there are artistic endeavours that are of the moment. I was in a heavy rock band called Hooker back in the 80’s, an interesting mix of lunatics that got together over a coffee-followed-by-a-malt meeting. At an early rehearsal it was decided the band had to have a signature tune that people could identify us/it with. The lead guitarist was plinking away during a lull (as lead guitarists are annoyingly wont to do) when he strung together a series of notes/chords that had a certain, guttural flow to them. Long story short, we pieced together a rampaging, take no prisoners track and, in the break after sorting it, I wrote the lyrics to it; took about an hour all told, then a couple of hours the following day to fine-tune the track and it was a staple of the band’s live shows for the three years we were together. Sorry, that all sounds like a brag; not meant to be, honest, it’s just to illustrate a point.

See, no-one’s ever heard of Hooker and the track I wrote has sunk into the sea of oblivion that is known as tracks no-one’s ever heard of. There are reams of these efforts that are reeled off by bands that never make it; suffice to say it takes a real talent to compose something that gains worldwide recognition and becomes the signature tune, not just for a band but for a whole generation.

On this day in 1966 whilst performing at the Uppercrust Club in London, Jimi Hendrix wrote the lyrics to Purple Haze in his dressing room in the break between performances. Now that’s humbling.

Desert Island Discs – You are allowed to take one book and one luxury item; nothing to help you escape just a deviation.

My Book: - An identification guide to the birds of wherever it is I end up which is boxed with a pair of Carl Zeiss Jena 8 x 40 Binoculars.

My Luxury: - A Ludwig drum kit consisting of: Two Bass Drum (One 22-inch, One 24-inch) both with hide Batter and Plastic Undersides – Four DW9000 Bass Drum Pedals – Two Snare Drum (One 14-inch, One 12-inch) with Plastic Batter and Undersides – Six, Rack-Mounted Tom-Tom Drum (Size Range 16-inch to 9-inch) all with hide Batter and Plastic Undersides – Two Floor-Mounted Tom-Tom Drum (One 18-inch, One 20-inch) Both with hide Batter and Plastic Undersides – 10 Zildjian Cymbal consisting of: 1 x 16-inch Sizzle, 1 x 12-inch Sizzle, 4 x Crash Size Range 18 to 12-inch, 1 x 12-inch China, 1 x 14-inch Inverted China, 1 x 14-inch Hi-Hat Top, 1 x 14-inch Hi-Hat Bottom – 10 Mapex Roadtour Cymbal Stands of Various Heights – 100 spare skins for each drum, Batter and Underside – Five sets of spares for each cymbal stand – 5,000 Premier ‘E’ Drumsticks – Cases for all the above…not that I’ve given this much thought, you understand…