10 Moments That Changed Rock Music History
5. Robert Johnson Goes To The Crossroads
Dylan supposably went to the crossroads back when he was a rookie kid playing bad guitar in New York and there were all kinds of rumours that Hendrix made a pact with the Devil, how else you could explain those sounds? But the origins of such tales all find their way back to Robert Johnson.
In a tale that makes this man one of the most mysterious figures in music, Johnson supposably yearned to be a great blues guitarist. So, following the advice of a mystic, he traveled to a fabled crossroads in Mississippi where he met the Devil who in exchange for his soul, gave him his legendary ability.
Johnson's sound might seem a bit dated now, and it's a far cry from the face melting guitar riffs of Eddie Van Halen or Slash, but the influence of his recordings can not be understated. The way he crafted melodies, seemingly playing both lead and rhythm sections at the same time was revolutionary for musicians who studied his craft.
It's no secret Eric Clapton was a huge proponent of Robert Johnson and Keith Richards was also inspired by his unique way of fingering the the fret board. The blues was were rock n roll started and one of its best players was Robert Johnson.