For Neil Young was the Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar

Among the major sources of inspiration from Neil Young figure Jimi Hendrixso much so that it was the Canadian musician who introduced the virtuoso of the guitar who passed away in 1970 in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Clearly, among the artists who have inspired him, there is not only Jimi, over the years he has expressed admiration for many colleagues, including one who has defined the Jimi Hendrix acoustic guitar.

That guitarist is the Scottish Bert Janschmember of Pentangle and soloist, who disappeared in 2011 at the age of 67 due to lung cancer. During his concert a few years ago he recalled how he discovered Jansch’s music. “When I went around and slept on people’s floors, I knew a girl called Vicky Taylor, she was a folk singer and lived in Avenue Road, in one of those Victorian neighborhoods. I slept on the floor in front of the fireplace. Then, one night, while I slept there, I put Bert Jansch on this LP.”

He continues again by saying: “It was one of the greatest acoustic guitarists ever, probably like Jimi Hendrix for electric guitar. Everything he played was perfect, the notes went here and there, everything was fluid and easy, wonderful, as if you could simply abandon yourself by listening to it.”

In 2010, Neil Young He brought Jansch on tour as his concert opening. Before some concerts he introduced him by saying: “I hope you appreciate and realize how lucky you are to listen to Bert Jansch. (…) It is a real pleasure to play on the same stage with him”.

A few years earlier, in 2006, the two musicians played together with a charity event for the Bridge School. The song by Young “Ambulance Blues” who was part of his 1974 album “On the beach” (Read the review here), contained parts inspired by the song of Jansch of 1965 “Needle of Death”.

He revealed it in an interview from 1991 with Guitar Player: “For the acoustic guitar, Bert Jansch is the best. It’s my favorite. I like his first records, the first album he made. Then he redone that disc, different versions of the same songs with someone else. I don’t know, this record comes from England and I listened to it. I was particularly inspired by a song entitled” The Needle of Death “, a truly outrageous, beautiful song. This boy was simply fantastic. I don’t know what he is doing now, but years later I wrote” Ambulance blues “for the album” On the beach “. I took the melody from his album, the guitar part exactly, without realizing that I had completely copied it. Then, years later, someone said it and I went back and I have heard it. For note of this album.

In 2011, in the death of Jansch, Young, who was still married to Pegi, declared: “With deep regret, Pegi and I take note of the disappearance of Bert Jansch. Pegi and I have been lucky to play with him in all our concerts in the last two years. He is a hero of mine and one of my greatest influences. Bert has been one of the greatest acoustic guitarists and songwriters of all time. Our most sincere condolences to his soul mate, Loren. In his 2014 cover album,

“A letter home” (read the review here)
,
Neil Young
engraved
“Needle of Death”
.