--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One guy can ruin an instrument. Jimi…" description: "\"One guy can ruin an instrument. Jimi Hendrix, bless his heart - how I wish he was still around - almost inadvertently ruined guitar. Because he was the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/keith-richards-1996_answers_one-guy-can-ruin-an-instrument-jimi-hend_1722440.png" --- # One guy can ruin an instrument. Jimi Hendrix, bless his… ![“One guy can ruin an instrument. Jimi Hendrix, bless his heart - how I wish he was still around - almost inadvertently ruined guitar. Because he was the only cat who could do it like that. Everybody else just screwed it up, and thought wailing away (on the guitar) is the answer. But it ain't…” quote by Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/keith-richards-1996_answers_one-guy-can-ruin-an-instrument-jimi-hend_1722440.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/keith-richards-1996_answers_one-guy-can-ruin-an-instrument-jimi-hend_1722440.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/keith-richards-1996_answers_one-guy-can-ruin-an-instrument-jimi-hend_1722440.png) > “One guy can ruin an instrument. Jimi Hendrix, bless his heart - how I wish he was still around - almost inadvertently ruined guitar. Because he was the only cat who could do it like that. Everybody else just screwed it up, and thought wailing away (on the guitar) is the answer. But it ain't; you've got to be a Jimi to do that, you've got to be one of the special cats.” [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote praises Jimi Hendrix as uniquely innovative, suggesting true musical expression requires his rare talent, not just noisy playing. **In simple terms:** Hendrix was uniquely creative; others just make noise. Key Takeaway Embrace true originality. Themes music creativity talent authenticity Mood admiring reflective Type musical inspirational When to use this quote - guitar performance - songwriting - live shows - musical education Key Concepts musical innovation artistic mastery Questions to Reflect On - How can you develop a unique voice? - What distinguishes genuine artistry from noise? A Different Perspective Not everyone can replicate true genius; imitation falls short. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Jimi Hendrix played loud and free, Sergeant Pepper was real to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/jimi-hendrix-played-loud-and-free-sergeant-pepper-was-real-to-me/) [Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/) > [I'm like a middle-aged person; when my friends go on about modern bands, I don't know what they are talking about. I'm into rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-may-jagger/i-m-like-a-middle-aged-person-when-my-friends-go-on-about-modern/) [Georgia May Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-may-jagger/) > [There was a time when my taste in music was mainstream, for example - people like Jimi Hendrix - who I really based a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-raphael/there-was-a-time-when-my-taste-in-music-was-mainstream-for-example/) [Gordon Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-raphael/) > [When I hear myself singing, I hear Iggy Pop and Jimi Hendrix. There's a conversational thing going on. I suppose it depends on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/when-i-hear-myself-singing-i-hear-iggy-pop-and-jimi-hendrix-there-s-a/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [I wanna be one of those special guys. Jimi Hendrix wasn't afraid of who he was. That's the part I emulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/i-wanna-be-one-of-those-special-guys-jimi-hendrix-wasn-t-afraid-of/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [As far as rock groups, I really like Stone Temple Pilots. As for classical composers, it's Bach. I love Paganini, too, the Italian composer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-schulze/as-far-as-rock-groups-i-really-like-stone-temple-pilots-as-for/) [Matt Schulze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-schulze/) > [Music really influenced me when I was growing up. I did go through a Jimi Hendrix phase. My hair was naturally quite afro, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccrory/music-really-influenced-me-when-i-was-growing-up-i-did-go-through-a/) [Helen McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccrory/) > [I'd get ten tabs, and he'd take seven and give me three, which I thought was very reasonable. He was great, a perfect old-school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/motorhead/i-d-get-ten-tabs-and-he-d-take-seven-and-give-me-three-which-i/) [Motorhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/motorhead/) > [“Had Kurt Cobain not committed suicide in 1994, would his genius have survived the continuous incisions of a media that was only too proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-thompson/had-kurt-cobain-not-committed-suicide-in-1994-would-his-genius-have/) Dave Thompson > [Secretly, I wanted to look like Jimi Hendrix, but I could never quite pull it off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-ferry/secretly-i-wanted-to-look-like-jimi-hendrix-but-i-could-never-quite/) [Bryan Ferry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-ferry/) > [Jimi Hendrix is very important. He's my idol. He sort of epitomizes, from his presentation on stage, the whole works of a rock star.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/jimi-hendrix-is-very-important-he-s-my-idol-he-sort-of-epitomizes/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [Jimi Hendrix is one of the main influences on why I wanted to play guitar. He really shook me. I think it was his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-5/jimi-hendrix-is-one-of-the-main-influences-on-why-i-wanted-to-play/) [John 5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-5/) > [Who I am as a guitarist is defined by my failure to become Jimi Hendrix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/who-i-am-as-a-guitarist-is-defined-by-my-failure-to-become-jimi/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [I feel close to people like Jimi Hendrix because I connect with his music. Not the man but what he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-feel-close-to-people-like-jimi-hendrix-because-i-connect-with-his/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [All the really good guitar players - Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, or even Bert Jansch or John Martin - I love all those people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-vincent-mcmorrow/all-the-really-good-guitar-players-jimi-hendrix-jimmy-page-or-even/) [James Vincent McMorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vincent-mcmorrow/) ## More by Keith Richards > [“When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/when-you-are-growing-up-there-are-two-institutional-places-that/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“Wild Horses" started in a B-minor chord, and Stu didn't play minor chords, "fucking Chinese music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/wild-horses-started-in-a-b-minor-chord-and-stu-didn-t-play-minor/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“And you listen to some of that meticulous Mozart stuff and Vivaldi and you realize that they knew that too. They knew when to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/and-you-listen-to-some-of-that-meticulous-mozart-stuff-and-vivaldi/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Everybody's got a different way of telling a story - and has different stories to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/everybody-s-got-a-different-way-of-telling-a-story-and-has-different/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Let me be clear about this. I don't have a drug problem. I have a police problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/let-me-be-clear-about-this-i-don-t-have-a-drug-problem-i-have-a/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [It's called the mysterious rhythm of life, ... I can't quite account for it. It's probably an addiction, quite honestly. I need that shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/it-s-called-the-mysterious-rhythm-of-life-i-can-t-quite-account-for/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I never thought I was wasted, but I probably was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-never-thought-i-was-wasted-but-i-probably-was/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I don't encourage anybody to do what I do, you know? Why should you? More for me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-don-t-encourage-anybody-to-do-what-i-do-you-know-why-should-you/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [The idea of retiring is like killing yourself. It's almost like Hari Kari. I intend to live to a 100 and go down in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/the-idea-of-retiring-is-like-killing-yourself-it-s-almost-like-hari/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“La gente me pregunta "por qué no lo dejas?". El hecho es que no me puedo retirar hasta que no estire la pata. Creo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/la-gente-me-pregunta-por-qu-no-lo-dejas-el-hecho-es-que-no-me-puedo/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [Before Elvis, everything was in black and white. Then came Elvis. Zoom, glorious Technicolor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/before-elvis-everything-was-in-black-and-white-then-came-elvis-zoom/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [There's no substitute for live work to keep a band together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/there-s-no-substitute-for-live-work-to-keep-a-band-together/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [But I've always felt very comfortable on stage, even if I screw up. It always felt like a dog, this is my turf, piss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/but-i-ve-always-felt-very-comfortable-on-stage-even-if-i-screw-up-it/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I'm not getting old I'm evolving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-m-not-getting-old-i-m-evolving/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I'm an unpure purist, something like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/i-m-an-unpure-purist-something-like-that/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) [Explore all 190 Keith Richards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One guy can ruin an instrument. 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