The Legendary Musician Paul McCartney Once Claimed Was Better Than Jimi Hendrix

The Legendary Musician Paul McCartney Once Claimed Was Better Than Jimi Hendrix Jimi HendrixImage via Ed Caraeff By  Karly B. Published Feb 2, 2026, 7:29 PM EST Karly B. is a music news journalist at Collider, specializing in the Western and Asian music industries. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Digital Media and Web Technology, she has dedicated part of her career to covering the latest music trends, breaking news, and album releases.  Her work also appears in various other publications, such as the South Korean-focused music publication Kpop Wise, where she serves as a contributor and interviewer. Beyond her work in IT and journalism, Karly is an avid Tudor history buff. She operates her own historical blog, 'Before the Queen's Crown, ' which explores the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth I. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

There are very few artists whose opinion on the music industry as a whole is held in such high esteem as Sir Paul McCartney's. The 19-time Grammy Award-winning songwriter behind such classic hits as “Hey Jude, “Let It Be,” and “Maybe I’m Amazed” has long been revered for his artistry, and, even after nearly six decades in the industry, his strong influence remains. Although McCartney has generally offered his opinion about other artists with graciousness, there was at least one instance in which he unfavorably compared two great music legends, Fela Kuti and Jimi Hendrix.

The Reason Paul McCartney Says Fela Kuti Was Better Than Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix's legacy lives on despite his untimely passing at 27. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists in rock 'n' roll history, inspiring a generation of stars from Gary Clark Jr. to Lenny Kravitz. Known for his trailblazing style and electrifying performances, Hendrix left behind many hit songs, including "All Along the Watchtower" and "The Wind Cries Mary." But it was Hendrix's skill on the electric guitar that truly cemented him as a musical innovator. And while the star was and remains an idol for many famous musicians, Paul McCartney (a legend in his own right) thought another artist surpassed his talent. And that artist was the famed instrumentalist, composer, singer, and songwriter Fela Kuti. Hailing from Nigeria, Kuti arguably gained more notoriety, in part, thanks to his politically charged 1976 album Zombie. He later cemented himself as a music legend and is now known as one of the pioneers of the afro beat genre.

Despite his death at 58 in 1997, Kuti's influence is so profound that this year, he became the first African to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Like many other true artists, McCartney was once not only impressed by Kuti's talent, specifically in guitar playing, but his work also made the Beatles' members emotional. During an interview, as McCartney was finishing up recording his third studio album alongside his band Wings, titled Band On The Run (released in 1973), he had this to say about witnessing Kuti's talents in relation to Hendrix: “I could do nothing but weep. It hit me so hard. It was like, boom, and I’ve never heard anything as good, ever, before or since. I mean, I’ve heard lots of fabulous music. I’ve heard Hendrix live and some great, great stuff, but this was the killer. And, like I say, tears just pouring down my cheeks. It’s just so good.”

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The Classic Hit Song That Reduces Paul McCartney to Tears

Feta Kuti's work isn't the only thing that reduced Paul McCartney to tears, but it was also a classic written and performed by The Beach Boys. As every music fan already knows, The Beatles and The Beach Boys were among the most impactful bands that defined the 1960s. Each group revolutionized popular music with their inventive sound and infectious lyrics. While The Beatles integrated fusions of rock, pop, and experimental styles from the United Kingdom, The Beach Boys alternately combined impeccable harmonies with California's surf culture into the forefront of music. Although their music and legacy are often compared, resulting in a rivalry between them, the two bands have always expressed admiration for each other. Discussing the rivalry between them, McCartney once said, “Brian Wilson sort of proved himself to be a really amazing composer. I was into chords and harmonies and stuff at that time, and we ended up kind of like a rivalry. We put a song out and Brian would hear it, and then he’d do one. Which is nice – it’s like me and John. You know, you kind of try and top each other all the time.”

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McCartney also once revealed that The Beach Boys' song, "God Only Knows", greatly impacted him. He told BBC Radio 1 in 2007, “‘God Only Knows’ is one of the few songs that reduces me to tears every time I hear it. It’s really just a love song, but it’s brilliantly done. It shows the genius of Brian. I’ve actually performed it with him, and I’m afraid to say that during the sound check I broke down.” McCartney continued, referencing his 2002 performance of "God Only Knows" with Wilson, “I got to sing it with Brian once when we did a benefit [show] together. I was okay at the actual performance; I held it together. But at the rehearsal, at the soundcheck, I lost it, because it’s very emotional, this song, I find it… ‘Oh my god, I’m singing with Brian,’ it just got me, I couldn’t. So all it is, it’s little vibrations reaching your music, it’s only little vibrations, little words, and little things. There is this powerful effect, you know.”

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