visited an old friend yesterday. Jimi Hendrix

[mes]

Originally Posted by Y2K

Even through the Purple Haze I'll bet 'eh.

Are You Experienced

[Big D]

Walt- great thread! I am incredibly lucky to have seen him... and in the most bizarre of circumstances. Long about Easter 1968, when "Are You Experienced" was huge, and before "Axis" was released, Jimi Hendrix Experience did a show in Muncie, Indiana. Touring with them was Soft Machine. I was in the 9th. grade. A friend and I went... we walked, as neither of us could drive. Tickets? $3. Sure wish I had that stub.

The show was in a pavilion on the county fairgrounds. Just a stage, and a concrete floor pole barn. Perhaps 300 people there?

Well, I stood next to the stage... could have reached out and touched the purple pants. Jimi played most all the first album. No monitors, no PA's, no roadies bringing him fresh guitars. Just Jimi, Noel and Mitch, and that wall of Marshals. Jimi had to re-tune after every song. he'd noodle, and tune, and noodle. I can't be sure, but I might have heard "Little Wing" during such a tune session, long before it was recorded.

Anyway, Jimi handed my little 9th grade ass to me that night. Never seen anything like it. I remember the encore: Spencer Davis' "I'm a man", and he finished with "Wild Thing". He didn't set his Strat on fire, but I remember he took a baseball swing into one of the Marshals. It either cost him a speaker, or that case was sacrificial.

Great thread, Walt!

YouTube - Jimi Hendrix - Wild Thing

[roadogette]

Saw him in Syracuse.