How Jimi Hendrix formed The Experience: The real story
During the summer of 1967, right before the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s debut album hit American shelves, rock fans were treated to an unusual music tour spectacle – Jimi Hendrix opening for The Monkees. Being the preeminent guitarist of the era did not immediately translate into top billing for Jimi, as he was often relegated to second or third place behind The Monkees, a playful pop band with their own television show. The clash between Hendrix’s radical sound and The Monkees’ pop-friendly tunes became apparent when fans of the clean-cut pop group were not quite ready to embrace Hendrix’s edgier style.
Despite Hendrix’s exceptional musical talent, the pairing with The Monkees was not well received by audiences seeking a different kind of entertainment at the time. Frustrated Daughters of the American Revolution even organized protests against Hendrix’s purportedly “too erotic” music, making his time on The Monkees’ tour quite challenging. Ultimately, when Hendrix and his Experience were dropped from the tour, he took it in his stride, humorously remarking that he might be replaced with Mickey Mouse.
Interestingly, the Jimi Hendrix Experience itself did not exactly come together in a conventional manner. Unlike popular belief, the band members did not have a longstanding friendship or roots in the music scene. Mitch Mitchell, Hendrix’s drummer, had his own story to tell before joining the band. Before finding his way to the Experience in 1966, Mitchell dabbled in acting, even starring in TV series such as Jennings At School. But it was his fusion of jazz drumming techniques with blues rock that made him a perfect fit for the band. It was through a series of coincidental events, including a call from Chas Chandler, that led him to audition and eventually join the Experience.
Auditions and recruitment decisions for the Jimi Hendrix Experience were not far from casting for a television show. Chandler, the band’s manager, sought musicians with a marketable look, reflecting Brian Epstein’s style of group formation. Although Chandler envisioned a larger band, the trio’s chemistry during auditions necessitated a change in plans, leading to the three-piece band we now know. Noel Redding, the inadvertently recruited bassist, only found himself in the band due to a chance encounter and some borrowed instruments. The band’s unique musical prowess only truly shined through during rehearsals, prompting the decision to forego additional band members like keyboardists or extra guitarists. The young band members, 21 years old at the time, set out to create a dramatic, amplified sound for their upcoming performances, aiming to make a lasting impact on rock music.
Entering the music scene as somewhat of hired guns, Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding, and Jimi Hendrix came together to form one of the most iconic and influential bands in rock history. The chemistry between them, amplified by their shared passion for music and desire for experimentation, laid the foundation for the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience. Their groundbreaking debut album, ‘Are You Experienced?’, with tracks like ‘Purple Haze’ and ‘Foxy Lady’, catapulted the band into the annals of rock history, paving the way for future generations of musicians.