Friday, 5 June 2015

ARCHIVE: THE BEATLES AND THE INFLUENCE OF SGT.PEPPER´S - JIMI HENDRIX COVERED IT THE OPENING TRACK

On June 4, 1967, Jimi Hendrix and the Experience played their last show in England, at London’s Saville Theatre, before heading off to America.  The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album had just been released on June 1 -Paul and George were in attendance.  Hendrix, who was already a great fan of the band, bought the album on the day of its release and covered it the opening track two days later.



Hendrix had released "Are You Experienced" a few weeks earlier. His legendary performance at the Monterey Pop Festival was two weeks away. Although a lot of the public was not yet familiar with him, Hendrix was already getting a reputation as one of the greatest and most innovative guitarists in the world. And there was a developing mutual admiration between Jimi and The Beatles.
The video is Jimi Hendrix playing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" but is not from that night. That wouldn't be so unusual except The Beatles recording of the song had been released just three days before.






Hendrix chose to open the show with his own rendition of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band“, rehearsed only minutes before taking the stage, much to The Beatles astonishment and delight.


Hendrix didn’t know at the time that they were in the audience. Paul said later he was honored by the tribute;

“simply incredible, perhaps the best I have ever seen him play”
Hendrix showed what he thought of The Beatles and the record by performing the song just a few days after its release. It wasn't the only Beatle tune in his catalog. He also did versions of "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "Daytripper."
McCartney shows his respect by still playing "Hey Joe". He also tells a couple of Hendrix stories during his shows as a tribute.
As for the Sgt. Pepper's album, it was one of the first concept and psychedelic albums. It's sold 32 million copies worldwide, making it the highest selling album of its time. It was the first rock LP to win the Grammy for Album of the Year. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it Number One on their list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Professor Kevin Dettmar, writing for the Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature said it best, "Sgt. Peppers is the most important and influential rock and roll album ever recorded."

3 comments:

  1. where can be found all Hendrix' beatles songs covers ?????

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  2. Dear everyone, I was at this concert at the Saville Theatre on June 4th. This video is NOT from that night. There isno video from that performance. Jimi opened playing Sgt. Pepper SOLO. The photo is NOT from that night, even though it says so in many sites all over the internet. Not all Beatles were in attendance: George, Pattie, Paul, Jane and Cynthia. What I read is that Paul had given Jimi a copy of the record. It might have been officially released on June 1st, but I bought my copy in London on May 25th. Regards from Rio de Janeiro.

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  3. Hi Lizzie,indeed they are purely references,thank you!. How are you?... by the way, this concert at the Saville Theatre will be in your book? regards

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