“Lately things don’t seem the same”
Winger’s glam metal re-imagining of Hendrix’s Purple Haze was doomed to fail, considering the relative positions of Hendrix and Winger on the Cool-o-meter Of Rock. I’ll give Kip and pals kudos for being brave/cocky enough to put their own spin on such an untouchable classic but the end result leaves me neither happy or in misery. It’s not so awful that I’m thinking “scuse me while I skip this shite” but in bringing the song in line with their own brand of 80s virtuoso sleaze, Winger also manage to bash out all of the dark, lysergic funk that made the original so intoxicating in the first place. Which is probably why…*points at Cool-o-meter* Winger down here, Hendrix up here.
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
At first thought it was a Winger song. Then I got the Ozzy cover a few days later…and realized!
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What one is better? This or Ozzy?
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I don’t like either…I don’t like when Ozzy whispers “Purple…Haze!” But I do like Zakk’s playing on it, so I guess Ozzy? I guess? WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME CHOOOOOOOOSE.
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Hahaha I’ve not heard the Ozzy one other than maybe a little clip of it. I imagine his is more faithful?
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To me it sounds more Sabbathy but definitely not more faithful. Lots of those Zakk squeals.
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Incidentally Ozzy’s has Geezer on bass – the only track he recorded with Ozzy from his 1988-1990 tenure.
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Yeah I don’t like that either. It sounds very off the cuff, more live than studio, which might explain Geezer being on there? Was it a B-side or something?
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No it was produced by Bruce Fairbairn as I recall for a charity album.
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I bought this album back in ’88 and I think I only listened to this version of Purple Haze once to he honest with ya. Your right though a brave/cocky move on their part.
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I’m sure a lot of people prefer to skip this one.
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A brave effort but I’ll take the original. I do prefer Ozzy’s cover to this one.
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Agreed. I’ll need to check out the Ozzy version, haven’t heard it.
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Oh man, this is just so horrible. What did they have against Jimi?
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I love the original and appropriate Winger now, but this cover is pretty terrible. The production and vocals dont suit it at all.
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I don’t seem to hate it as much as most people but yes, it’s not a great cover.
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I never got the hate for this cover. I actually prefer it over the Hendrix/Original version 🤷🏻‍♀️
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A brave opinion! I prefer the original myself but it’s also one of those songs I never need to hear ever again so I quite enjoy that Winger do something different with it. I don’t love it but don’t particularly get the hate either.
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