A few other points to the Hendrix Sgt Pepper story...
Hendrix was already booked to play the event in honor of the Beatles release of Sgt Pepper. The Experience had their set planned. However a few hours before the show Hendrix relaxing and musing about the nights upcoming performance remembered he was given a copy of the Sgt Pepper album. So he unwraps it, puts it on the turntable and listens to it.
Meanwhile... Hendrix's "new" manager Chas Chandler, former bass player of The Animals, is getting really nervous at the venue. The place is near full, rock dignitaries around, and no Jimi.
Hendrix comes drifting in, calms Chas down then goes back stage to meet the band.
The Experience is scheduled to go on shortly.
Jimi comes in puts the Sgt Pepper record on for the guys to hear it. Then announces we're gonna open with the Sgt Pepper intro! Noel Reading's jaw drops and say's "We can't do that! We'll embarrass The Beatles!". Hendrix quips "Only if we F--k it up! We're a band man! We can do this!" Mitch Mitchal agrees. So Hendrix pass the word on to the MC the start of the show will be delayed a bit. This gives The Experience time to quickly practice the new intro. Chas Chandler is now beside himself!
About 45 minutes later the MC comes out and anounces the show is about to start. Behind the curtain Jimi looks over at Noel and says "I like your pants Noel!", The curtain opens and Hendrix kicks off his rendition of Sgt Pepper LHCB.
The Beatles are in the front row of the balcony. Cream, The Who, Jeff Beck, etc. Are all in the audience.
The Experience finishes the opener and dead silence from the audience. Chas Chandler is near having a heart attack!
Then from the Balcony come a pair of clapping hands. Paul McCartney stood up and began clapping the Hendrix rendition of Sgt Pepper and the audience goes wild!
At a Paul McCartney concert I was at Sir Paul also commented that later in the set after Jimi's whammy bar escapade his guitar is out of tune and he asks over the mic if "Eric" can tune up is guitar!
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