More important/better 60's musician: Jimi Hendrix or Bob Dylan?

I realize it's quite a comparison, but it struck me that the two most influential solo artists of the 60's were so different, yet forever linked. Hendrix was one of the biggest Dylan fans who ever lived, and when he covered Dylan's songs, they became his own. Hendrix is most famous for his virtuosity on the electric guitar, whereas Dylan is not at all thought of as technically accomplished. Dylan is arguably the most important political musician of the century, whereas Hendrix's music rarely touched on such divisive topics, with a few exceptions.

Not that it means ANYTHING, but VH1 put Jimi Hendrix third on its list of the greatest artists of the century, just behind the Beatles and the Stones. Dylan, if I recall correctly, came in fifth, just after Led Zeppelin. Certainly I would never argue with the placement of either in the top five, but the question is, which artist's wake ripples more to this day?

 

Trust me, VH1 is shit. As to the question: Dylan is very important and influential, but no more so than Henrdix, and Henrdix was far, far more groundbreaking and musicaly talented. Dylan's lyrics are much better(Hendrix was good though). Dylan has never released an album as good as Axis Of Love, Are You Experienced?, or Electric Ladyland.

 

Rolling Stones over Dylan? lmao.

 

While they are much better, no one was talking about them.

 

"Not that it means ANYTHING, but VH1 put Jimi Hendrix third on its list of the greatest artists of the century, just behind the Beatles and the Stones. Dylan, if I recall correctly, came in fifth, just after Led Zeppelin. Certainly I would never argue with the placement of either in the top five, but the question is, which artist's wake ripples more to this day?"

 

He was saying that he didn't think they belonged in his top 5, not that he agreed with the top 2.

 

Whats your point? I'm saying Rolling Stones rated over Bob Dylan in any top whatever is ridiculous... I was reffering to that paragraph in particular..

 

Ok, I thought you were responding to the poster.

 

I feel like the Stones held their peak a lot longer than Dylan. Sure, Dylan has put out a few decent albums, and one could argue the Stones had a very definite peak as well, but the Stones were still world famous and putting out huge albums into the 90's... heck, even today. The Stones also did a lot to bring rootsy blues type stuff to whites (taking the torch from Elvis, Chuck Berry, etc.). Dylan was bigger in the 60's, but the Stones were not far behind and produced a much larger body of relevant material. So, it's a tough call. I say Dylan by a nose, objectively, but I probably prefer the Stones.

 

So I guess releasing a no. 1 album at age 65 doesn't count for much?

 

I think you gotta give them 1st in each division
Dylan had great lyrics
Hendrix was guitar god, and he didnt think he could sing well.
they were best at what they focused on.

 

(NOT to go off topic.. but how could vh1 make that list 'greatest artists' and include the Stones in the top 5 and not Pink Floyd? haha vh1 is bull)

 

both of them...you cannot put dylan in front of hendrix and vice versa.....

gotta agree with cheech&chong up there

think about it though....without either one of them, music would be drastically different....i think dylan and hendrix are on a level all their own

 

Revision! When Highway 61 Revisited was released Rock was a from of entertainment, nothing more, after it was a serious means of expression. Dylan.

 

dylan influenced hendrix

dylan might be the most important musical artist of the century

[except for john cage]

 

Hm tough question. I'd have to go with hendrix though. Dylan inspired people to think more than play music , jimi hendrix made thousands of people want to pick up an electric guitar.

 

I would say that these ... top lists are all ridiculous. You can't compare such personalities as the beatles, the stones, dylan, hendrix.. etc. Each one has been special and important, for me personally the best ones ever are the stones even though I admit hendrix was better musician, beatles were... more popular and first.. dylan was important for another sort of people. You can't compare uncomparable.

 

dylan influenced the beatles

dylan more important

pre-dylan-influence-beatles suck

they were a crappy rock and roll group and only became interesting as they grew more pretentious

[give me link wray or give me death]

 

You can't possibly say that one is better than the other because their music is completely different. I would say they are equally important. Dylan with his lyrics and Hendrix with his guitar.

 

I think that they are just too different to compare. They each have great influence in their own right. Also there are plenty of other deserving artists that have equal or more influence over music today. Althugh Dylan inspired The Beatles, The Beatles made a bigger impact than Hendrix or Dylan togethor.