In September 1966, Jimi Hendrix was a relatively unknown American guitarist playing backup for acts like Little Richard and the Isley Brothers. He was a sideman with talent bursting at the seams, but no platform to unleash it. That was about to change.
Chas Chandler, the former bassist of The Animals, saw Jimi play at the Café Wha? in New York’s Greenwich Village. Chandler was looking to move into artist management, and when he heard Hendrix tear into a version of “Hey Joe,” he knew he’d found something special.
He convinced Jimi to fly to London, a city at the center of a musical revolution. Hendrix arrived on September 24, 1966, with just his guitar, a change of clothes, and a dream. London’s club scene was buzzing — the blues revival was in full swing, and guitarists like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page were gods among men.
But Hendrix? He was something else entirely.
Within days, Chas Chandler had him jamming in small clubs and getting noticed. One of the first key moments happened at Blaises, a small London venue. Word spread quickly: “You have to see this guy.” Then came The Scotch of St. James, and Hendrix set it on fire.
But the true jaw-dropper was when Chandler arranged for Hendrix to jam with Eric Clapton at a Cream gig. Clapton, already considered the best in Britain, was blown away when Jimi launched into a blistering version of “Killing Floor” — so fast, so raw, so bold that Clapton reportedly walked off stage, stunned.
From there, Hendrix formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell, recorded “Hey Joe”, and within months was dominating the British charts. The UK press dubbed him a genius. His outrageous style, his left-handed Strat flipped upside-down, the wild fuzz-drenched solos — it was like he came from another planet.
London in ’66 was where Hendrix became Hendrix. It wasn’t just about the music — it was about identity, liberation, and redefining what was possible with six strings.
Alejandro Basso
In September 1966, Jimi Hendrix was a relatively unknown American guitarist playing backup for acts like Little Richard and the Isley Brothers. He was a sideman with talent bursting at the seams, but no platform to unleash it. That was about to change.
Chas Chandler, the former bassist of The Animals, saw Jimi play at the Café Wha? in New York’s Greenwich Village. Chandler was looking to move into artist management, and when he heard Hendrix tear into a version of “Hey Joe,” he knew he’d found something special.
He convinced Jimi to fly to London, a city at the center of a musical revolution. Hendrix arrived on September 24, 1966, with just his guitar, a change of clothes, and a dream. London’s club scene was buzzing — the blues revival was in full swing, and guitarists like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page were gods among men.
But Hendrix? He was something else entirely.
Within days, Chas Chandler had him jamming in small clubs and getting noticed. One of the first key moments happened at Blaises, a small London venue. Word spread quickly: “You have to see this guy.” Then came The Scotch of St. James, and Hendrix set it on fire.
But the true jaw-dropper was when Chandler arranged for Hendrix to jam with Eric Clapton at a Cream gig. Clapton, already considered the best in Britain, was blown away when Jimi launched into a blistering version of “Killing Floor” — so fast, so raw, so bold that Clapton reportedly walked off stage, stunned.
From there, Hendrix formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell, recorded “Hey Joe”, and within months was dominating the British charts. The UK press dubbed him a genius. His outrageous style, his left-handed Strat flipped upside-down, the wild fuzz-drenched solos — it was like he came from another planet.
London in ’66 was where Hendrix became Hendrix. It wasn’t just about the music — it was about identity, liberation, and redefining what was possible with six strings.
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