Eddie Hazel: The Psychedelic Funk Guitar Virtuoso
Eddie Hazel was the incendiary lead guitarist for the pioneering funk collective Parliament-Funkadelic. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, his searing, Hendrix-inspired guitar work was a foundational element of the P-Funk sound, most famously immortalized on the epic 1971 track Maggot Brain.
Early career
Born in 1950, Eddie Hazel joined George Clinton's doo-wop group The Parliaments as a teenager. When the group's sound evolved into a harder, psychedelic fusion, it split into two entities: Parliament and Funkadelic. Hazel became the lead guitarist for Funkadelic, signing with Westbound Records and contributing heavily to their early, groundbreaking albums.
Breakthrough
Funkadelic's 1971 album Maggot Brain served as Eddie Hazel's definitive artistic statement. The title track, a ten-minute guitar solo piece, was reportedly conceived when George Clinton, under the influence of LSD, instructed Hazel to play as if he had just learned his mother died. The album became a cult classic and a landmark in psychedelic funk, though it did not achieve mainstream chart success upon initial release.
Key tracks
Maggot Brain — This solo guitar masterpiece remains one of the most emotionally powerful instrumental pieces in rock and funk history.
Super Stupid — From the same album, this track showcases Hazel's ferocious riffing and explosive soloing over a hard rock groove.
Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts — A later track from 1974's Standing on the Verge of Getting It On that features another extended, spiritually searching guitar performance.
California Dreamin' — Hazel's funky, wah-wah drenched instrumental cover of The Mamas & the Papas hit was a highlight of his 1977 solo album Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs.
Eddie Hazel's career was frequently interrupted by personal struggles and legal issues, including a period of incarceration. Despite this, he remained a sought-after session player within the P-Funk universe, contributing to classic Parliament albums like Mothership Connection (1975). His only solo album, Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1977, is revered by guitarists for its raw talent and inventive funk interpretations.
For fans of Eddie Hazel's searing guitar style, explore similar pioneering funk and rock artists from the United States like Jimi Hendrix, whose revolutionary approach directly influenced Hazel's playing. Funkadelic is the essential group where Hazel forged his legendary status. Also listen to Parliament for the more polished but interconnected side of the P-Funk empire. The virtuosic bassist Bootsy Collins was another key P-Funk collaborator who shared Hazel's flair for the psychedelic and theatrical.
Eddie Hazel's influential guitar work maintains a steady presence on classic rock FM stations and dedicated funk and soul radio streams. His music is a staple on channels celebrating the pioneers of 1970s rock and funk fusion, ensuring his solos continue to reach new generations of listeners.
The music of Eddie Hazel, a cornerstone of psychedelic funk, can be heard on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover his legendary performances with Funkadelic and his solo work through the classic rock and specialty funk radio stations available on onairium.com.
