Or Paul McCartney or Eddie Van Halen. All bunk. For almost 40 years.
From True Tunes News Vol. 5, Issue 7, Page 43...
True Tunes: There has been a story floating around forever. It has to do with Hendrix and/or Clapton saying that you're the best guitarist in the world.
Phil Keaggy: Well, to me it seems like an unverified rumor. Maybe someone said something and it went down the line and turned into something outlandish. After 22 years of hearing this thing you would think by now that someone would say "Hey listen to this tape or this video that proves it." Nobody has ever produced anything that gives it authenticity. I couldn't imagine that Hendrix or Clapton would have known me.
Or from Pop Dose (
http://popdose.com/hooks-n-you-phil-keaggy-phil-keaggy-and-sundays-child/)...
Pop Dose: I think my favorite part about the rumor is that it gets updated. Like, “Oh, you know, I actually heard that it was Eddie Van Halen who said that Phil Keaggy was the best guitarist he’d ever heard.”
Phil Keaggy: Well, you know, Eddie is not as big as Hendrix. He’s a guitar icon, but his face has not been on Guitar Player Magazine as often as Jimi Hendrix. I think people are starting to get used to the idea that it was impossible that Jimi Hendrix could ever have heard me...We...recorded our first album at Electric Lady Studios two weeks after his unfortunate death, so I just can’t imagine how he could’ve heard me. I think it’s just a rumor that someone’s kept alive, and it must be titillating enough to keep an interest there...So I don’t think it was said…and that’s it for that!
