Jimi Hendrix

Revered as perhaps the greatest guitarist of all time, Seattle's legendary axe-maestro, Jimi Hendrix, is a name recognised across the world. While seeing him perform is no longer a reality, due to untimely death in 1970 at 27, his spirit lives on in the masses of recordings and live footage available. Hendrix is responsible for some of the world's best known hits, like “Hey Joe” and “Purple Haze”, as well as impressive renditions of “All Along The Watchtower” and “The Star-Spangled Banner”. However, his greatest legacy is probably left in the form of his jam sessions; influenced by the myriad narcotics that would later claim his life, Hendrix could weave a rich sonic tapestry of melody, emotion, psychological exploration and technical frivolity like no other. Cemented as a genuine icon in the worlds of rock'n'roll, psychedelia and blues, Hendrix's live performances, especially his final ones at festivals in Europe, are regarded as spectacular displays of professionalism and entertainment. He regularly played to hundreds of thousands of people, wearing outfits frozen in iconoclastic images, and delivering or inferring anti-establishment sentiments which galvanised the counter-culture of the '60s. He is/was immersed in popular culture in every way. Able to perform with his teeth, Hendrix's unorthodox left-handed style and flamboyant stage personality was a monumental spectacle – that's to say nothing of his ceremonious destruction of guitars, via burning, for instance – that continues to mesmerise to this day.

For my 13th birthday, on June 9, 1970 my parents drove me and a friend from my hometown of Jackson, Tennessee to Memphis, 65 miles south, to see JIMI HENDRIX at the MIDSOUTH COLISEUM. They waited in their car in the parking lot while we attended what was my first concert. Opening the show was a new band called THE JAMES GANG, lead by a guy named JOE WALSH. They had one album at the time and played a song that had not been named yet but that turned out to be FUNK #49, to appear soon on their 2nd album JAMES GANG RIDES AGAIN. After their very entertaining set, HENDRIX took the stage for the BAND OF GYPSIES show. I'm not sure if Billy Cox and Buddy Miles were his bandmates at this show, but I assumed they were at the time. While my older brother had his major released albums at the time, I was limited to the songs that got radio airplay in identifying the set list. But he definitely played "Purple Haze" and "Machine Gun," and probably most or all of the Band of Gypsies album. He was dressed in a purple silk pajama-style shirt and pants, and he barely moved throughout the performance, instead hovering over his guitar in stillness. The arena, used for Memphis State University basketball and other events, wasn't anywhere near capacity. I attended many concerts there after this maiden concert event. I appreciated getting to witness Jimi live since he died that same year, and I'm sure all those who attended felt the same.

TO SONGKICK STAFF: VENUE & OPENING ACT ARE 100% CORRECT. HENDRIX BAND MEMBERS ARE UNVERIFIED.