Experience Hendrix - Featured Stories

Experience Hendrix: Featured Stories delves behind-the-scenes, on stage and in the studio to further explore the music, life and legacy of Jimi Hendrix… the world’s greatest guitarist. Check back regularly for new stories, interviews, photos, music, videos and more.

24 HOURS IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL - The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live In Ottawa ‘68

By John McDermott & Steven C. Pesant. The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s appearance in Ottawa, Ontario on March 19, 1968, was part of an extensive US tour organized in support of his recently issued second album, Axis: Bold As Love. The second show and portions of the first show were captured to tape that evening and were subjects to two different album releases via the Dagger Records bootleg label. Additionally, following The Experience’s performances, Jimi attended Joni Mitchell’s performance at the tiny Le Hibou Café and recorded her performance using his new reel-to-reel recorder. This recording has since been released as part of one of Mitchell’s sprawling multi-disc box sets. Let’s journey back to March 1968 and revisit Jimi Hendrix’s 24 hours in Canada’s capital city.

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THE BRITISH ARE COMING - Jimi Hendrix Invades New York City

Story & Interview by Steven C. Pesant. Jimi Hendrix Interview by Jay Ruby. What started as a well-planned media event in the heart of New York City featuring a squadron of helicopters whisking British bands to the top of the Pan Am Building turned into a water-logged, caravan of tired musicians showing up several hours late to their own party. In the end, the British groups made their arrival—but they were headlined by American guitarist Jimi Hendrix who was leading his chart-topping group The Jimi Hendrix Experience fresh on the heels of their sophomore album release. Music editor Jay Ruby from Jazz & Pop was on the “battleground” that day and recounts his experience, plus a few of Jimi’s own words from this fabled gathering.

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ACE OF SPADES - You Will Never See Someone Like Hendrix Again

By Steven C. Pesant. Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister candidly recounts his days as one of Jimi Hendrix’s roadies in this classic interview. In May 2000, we sat down with Lemmy where we talked about his time on the road with Jimi Hendrix and Hendrix’s lasting influence on him and music. “You'll never see someone like Hendrix playing the guitar again,” explains Lemmy. “He was unique and he was the best!”

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THE LINE-UP OF A LIFETIME - On The Road With The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Second UK Tour – Nov/Dec 1967

By Dave Thompson. For three weeks in November/December 1967, aboard a fleet of buses which combed the British roads, leaving no major town unturned, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Move, Amen Corner, Pink Floyd, The Nice, The Outer Limits, and Eire Apparent set out to bring a taste of swinging London to the provinces. By the time this sensation itinerary was complete, The Experience had marked their first year together, had competed with some of the best bands around, at home and abroad, and had come out on top. 1968 was looming brighter every day.

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HEY, HEY WE’RE THE … EXPERIENCE? - How The Jimi Hendrix Experience Landed On Tour With The Monkees

By Steven C. Pesant. "Listen, we got you this wonderful gig that you just can't turn down. It's the hottest tour in America - the tour of a lifetime!!" exclaimed Mike Jeffery on the phone to Chas Chandler, "The Monkees!!" Take an inside look at this fabled pairing of two superstar music groups who set out to conquer America during a 7-week summer tour in 1967 but unravelled after just seven shows.

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UNWRAPPED: THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE - A Behind-the-Scenes Guide to the First Deluxe Box Set

by Steven C. Pesant. Upon its original release on September 12, 2000, The Jimi Hendrix Experience – aka. “The Purple Box” became one of the most talked-about artist compilations on the scene with Rolling Stone dubbing it “the Rolls Royce of posthumous collections.” Recently expanded to 60-songs and more than 4-hours of music, much of it previously unreleased, the deluxe set marked the first truly comprehensive Jimi Hendrix box set ever produced. This behind-the-scenes interview with John McDermott details some of efforts and music that went into this stunning release 23 years ago.

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ROOM FULL OF MIRRORS - Unraveling the Mystery with Al Marks

Interview by John McDermott. The process of uncovering leads which shine new light on Jimi's recorded legacy is often a fascinating exercise. New information often arises from the wildest of circumstances. Such an occasion happened following the 2000 release of The Jimi Hendrix Experience box set, with a chance meeting with Al Marks, who came forward to provide compelling detail about the April 21, 1969 recording of "Room Full Of Mirrors".

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EPICENTER: ON STAGE WITH JIMI HENDRIX - A Classic Interview with Mitch Mitchell

Interview by John McDermott. As technicians scurried around him making last minute preparations prior to filming, Mitch Mitchell sat comfortably in a New York recording studio, reflecting upon the August 30, 1970 performance at the Isle Of Wight and the tumultuous events which led up to the group's performance. Like those of fellow band mate Billy Cox, In this classic interview from 2000, Mitch's comments provide an insightful perspective for Jimi's fans.

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THE ‘MARRIAGE’ OF MUSIC AND THOUGHT - Interview with Music Arranger Larry Fallon

Interview by Steven C. Pesant. Jimi Hendrix was a technical wizard. His explosive imagination and unabashed hunger to experiment with the flexible sounds of music undeniably aided his success. While Jimi's history with blues is well documented, his admiration of the experimental sounds of jazz has yet to be fully understood. The following interview his acclaimed Arranger and Composer Larry Fallon details his involvement with Jimi Hendrix at Record Plant Studios on June 14, 1968 where the song “South Saturn Delta” was recorded.

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POP MONSTERKONZERT - Music & Revolution Collide In Switzerland’s Capital

By Dave Thompson. They came from all corners, converging on the Swiss capital of Zurich for two nights of music quite unlike anything the country had ever seen. The musicians arrived from England, Europe and beyond at the same time as the youngest elements of the city’s outspoken left wing were busily preparing for the day when revolution would come to the streets of Zurich. Was it design, or coincidence, that decreed May 30, 1968 as their chosen date, and that day's Pop Monsterkonzert as the powder keg?

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