Artists from around the world have been commenting on the passing of Bo Diddley. Here are some highlights from those comments.
Mick Jagger:
"He was a wonderful, original musician who was an enormous force in music and was a big influence on The Rolling Stones. He was very generous to us in our early years and we learned a lot from him. We will never see his like again."
George Thorogood:
“I first heard Bo Diddley in 1966. I knew the Rolling Stones were big on this guy and I got a copy of Bo Diddley's 16 All-Time Greatest Hits and flipped over it, and played it constantly."
"I first met him in 1979, and as years went on we got closer and closer. It’s an honor to be associated with his great music. I just had Hand Jive’ on last night. It goes, ’A doctor, a lawyer and an indian chief/They all dig that Diddley beat.’ That says it all.”
Elvis Costello:
"Listening to Bo Diddley, you could convince yourself that the only thing you need to create great rock 'n' roll is a tremolo guitar, a killer beat and one and a half chords. Many tried and some have failed, but nobody did it like Diddley."
Robert Plant:
"Bo Diddley's voice and relentless, glorious anthems echo down through my years. Without him, the history of music would not have developed as it has. This royal shape shifter continues to influence four generations of musicians on a daily basis."
Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart:
"'Bo Diddley-beat' was "the bedrock for thousands of bands including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Greateful Dead, and countless others."
"His slashing rhythm guitar brought the most powerful rhythms from west Africa into rock 'n roll."
"When I was 14 years old I happened to wander into a club and have the opportunity to play my first public performance with the master. It seems his drummer was late and asked if there was drummer in the house. That moment will always be with me."
"Rock the heavens, Mr Diddley, like only you can."
Bonnie Raitt:
"Bo Diddley was a monumental figure in early rock 'n' roll, a huge influence on everyone. He was a wonderful man, a true original musician and beloved the world over. He will be sorely missed."
Billy F. Gibbons of Z.Z. Top:
"It's a good day because I've walked on the planet at the same time as Bo Diddley.
"The simplistic and humorous artistry that accompanied this creation we all know as the Bo Diddley beat is a resounding testament to someone who knew how to touch us in a rock 'n' roll way. Bo Diddley was the man who constructed the sound we all grew to revolve around and a vision of simplicity delivered through effortless expression and sense of humor. Many times, Bo made a point to say, "I'll always be around" and we know he will."
Source: http://winkscollectibles.blogspot.com/2008/06/tributes-to-bo-diddley.html