Effin' Mike Bloomfield

[el diablo]

10 part series on you tube that shows how quickly he burned hot and out. In Bloomfield's prime, some guy named Jimi exploded and made MB an afterthought.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJa8KIF1A24
Part one. Watch the rest if you will. It's pretty good stuff.

 

[tgk03]

I like the theme of your posts.

I am just lately starting to dig Bloomfield. I recently got the Lost Fillmore Tapes which feature Johnny Winter's legendary sort-of-debut performance.

 

[el diablo]

Thanks! I'm all about putting guitarists out there that maybe got overlooked in the pop era. And they have all had an influence on my playing. And, sadly, many died way before they should have.
Greatness is a curse. Luckily, I have no such worry.

 

[Scott Powell]

He is one I discovered later in life,and I bitterly regret not 'discovering' his music when I was a teenager as I think I'd have gone into an entire different direction with my playing had I heard him in 83,84 instead of the Rock guys i was digging

 

[Deep Eddy]

I still remember reading the Guitar Player magazine interview with MB back in 1979. That is where I first learned of him.

I did a quick search but could not find the interview online. Here is another article about MB that folks here may enjoy

http://www.guitarplayer.com/artist-lessons/1026/10-ways-to-play-like-mike-bloomfield/12042

 

[el diablo]

There was also a Vintage Guitar cover story...but I don't know that they ever digitized their magazine.

 

[Denverdave]

Bloomfield's modal soloing on the song 'East-West' changed the way a lot of guitar players approached rock solos.

 

[Modern Saint]

I dig Bloomfield. Robben Ford lists him as a major influence so I began to explore him some years back. Love his work with the Butterfield Blues band and solo

 

[el diablo]

What was so interesting is he just kinda gave up when Jimi hit the scene. He actually cancelled a gig cause Jimi was playing the same event.. Spoiled boy.

 

[Deep Eddy]

What was so interesting is he just kinda gave up when Jimi hit the scene. He actually cancelled a gig cause Jimi was playing the same event.. Spoiled boy.

Bloomfield's heroin habit was likely a bigger factor in his giving up on playing (more so than the arrival of Jimi on the scene). From what I read, MB was a pretty serious junkie for a long time.