The Greatest Rock Musician Ever, According to Freddie Mercury

For many rock fans, Freddie Mercury is the end all be all musician. From his vocals to his stage presence, he was an unparalleled frontman. However, Mercury turned his attention to another icon. He once called one guitarist the epitome of rock n’ roll. Find out which artist that was, below.

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The Greatest Rock Musician Ever, According to Freddie Mercury

Well, I stand up next to a mountain

And I chop it down with the edge of my hand

Well, I stand up next to a mountain

And I chop it down with the edge of my hand

Well I pick up all pieces and make an island

Might even raise a little sand

Jimi Hendrix is on every rock fan’s list of incomparable musicians. It would be blasphemous to not include him, frankly. Mercury certainly recognized his stature in the rock community. In fact, he once called the guitarist his idol.

“Jimi Hendrix was just a beautiful man, a master showman and a dedicated musician,” Mercury once said of the legendary guitarist. “I would scour the country to see him, whenever he played, because he really had everything any rock’n’roll star should have; all the style and presence.”

“He was living out everything I wanted to be,” Mercury continued. “Hendrix is very important. He’s my idol. He sort of epitomises, with his presentation on stage, the whole works of a rock star.”

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Cause I’m a Voodoo Child

Lord knows I’m a Voodoo Child baby

I want to say one more last thing

I didn’t mean to take up all your sweet time

I’ll give it right back to ya one of this days

It’s always nice to hear that our favorite musicians also have favorite musicians. No one creates in a vacuum and Hendrix is one of those musicians that provided an endless source of inspiration. He changed the face of guitar playing forever. His influence rages on today.

Mercury is much the same. He was a daring musician who left everything out on the stage. Like Hendrix, he was the best of the best at his craft. That fact makes his reverence for Hendrix all the more affecting.

(Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)