- The Place – Isle of Wight Festival
- Time – 30th August 1970
- Artist – Jimi Hendrix
That night after keeping the crowd waiting for sometime, Hendrix finally appeared on stage to face a very edgy and tired audience.
After a few minutes it was easy to see that he had lost his charisma and direction that once was so natural.
After a while the crowd were booing and throwing things. They wanted to hear the hits not the mostly out of tune progressive improvisations he was attempting.
Acknowledging the tension from the audience he spoke into the mic saying,
You wanna hear those old songs
“You wanna hear all those old songs, damn!” and reluctantly started to try and win the crowd over.
There were flashes of genius but unfortunately the once great performer was indulging in his legendary persona.
At the end of his act smoke started to fill the stage; everyone thought the stage was on fire as unease spread quickly.
Macero’s words earlier that day echoed in my thoughts.
One Hot Act
It turned out it was a lighted flare that had landed on the top of the stage, which had been thrown by someone in the crowd.
When the confusion died down the evening continued.
The only real event of Hendrix being on stage that night was it was captured on film for the history archives.
Jimi Hendrix dies
On the 18th of September, nineteen days later, I awoke to the news that Jimi Hendrix was DEAD; Macero’s prophetic warning came flooding back. I did wonder if he really did know something that day?
I believe if Hendrix had lived he would have slowly disappeared from the limelight into obscurity, ending up playing to diminutive audiences in small town bars in and around the USA. His death today would have attracted only a few lines inside the Worlds newspapers.
But one thing is for sure; Hendrix has gone on to be, by far, one of the most successful posthumous artists to this day.
I would like to thank Neville Crozier for his help with these Isle of Wight posts
Jimi Hendrix at the Isle of Wight Festival
I O W Festival 1970 the backstage stories from the Pye Mobile recordings
I O W Festival 1970 the backstage stories from the Pye Mobile recordings
I O W Festival 1970 the backstage stories from the Pye Mobile recordings
Beleive in yourself and no one else
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