Welcome to "Vibrations And Echoes", a guide to the London of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
The entries in the blog are in a chronological order relevant to Jimi and The Experience's travels through life in London. The posting dates on each entry will be wrong, I'm having to mess with them to keep the 'story' flowing from the top of the page downwards, making it easier for readers to follow.
The 1960's and 1970's dates in the title of each post are written in the European fashion, Day-Month-Year.
Each location has been given a unique entry, so if 3 places were visited by Hendrix on the same day, they will become 3 seperate entries.
And if you need it, the blog has a handy 'Search' box at the top of the page.
Well that's the boring intro stuff over with! Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the blog....
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Heathrow Airport (24-09-66)
24th September 1966
Just after 9am on the 24th of September 1966, Jimi Hendrix set foot for the first time on British soil. He arrived from New York at Heathrow Airport's "Oceanic" Terminal, today know as Terminal 3, international departures.
Hendrix was accompanied by Chas Chandler (ex-Animals bassist, and now his Manager) and Terry McVay (ex-Animals Road manager). He was travelling light, bringing only a small bag containing one change of clothes, a set of plastic hair curlers, and a jar of Valderma acne cream. He had no working Visa, so to avoid suspicion when passing through the Customs checkpoint, McVay had to carry his guitar.
Pictured above, Hendrix's 1966 passport photo.
Just after 9am on the 24th of September 1966, Jimi Hendrix set foot for the first time on British soil. He arrived from New York at Heathrow Airport's "Oceanic" Terminal, today know as Terminal 3, international departures.
Hendrix was accompanied by Chas Chandler (ex-Animals bassist, and now his Manager) and Terry McVay (ex-Animals Road manager). He was travelling light, bringing only a small bag containing one change of clothes, a set of plastic hair curlers, and a jar of Valderma acne cream. He had no working Visa, so to avoid suspicion when passing through the Customs checkpoint, McVay had to carry his guitar.
Pictured above, Hendrix's 1966 passport photo.
Monday, 28 May 2007
Gunterstone Road (24-09-66)
24th September 1966
Jimi's first stop after arriving at Heathrow was an address in West London. 11 Gunterstone Road, Fulham.
Above, Gunterstone Road today
Chandler thought it would be good idea to get Hendrix playing with English musicans as soon as possible, so decided to drop him in at the deep end. Direct from the airport they stopped off unannounced at Zoot Money's home in Gunterstone Road, West London. Money was a longtime friend of Chandler's and also a renowned keyboard player who had performed with Spencer Davis, Alexis Korner and The New Animals. In the basement of the building Hendrix and Money jammed for a number of hours.
Some accounts claim the jam session was also attended by the guitarist in Money's 'Big Roll Band', Andy Summers (who would later find fame as one third of The Police). Summers however has denied this, saying that he first met Hendrix a few nights later in a club called 'Blaises'.
Below, Zoot Money's Big Roll Band
Living at the same address was Kathy Etchingham. She would soon become the closest thing Hendrix had to a long-term girlfriend, and would later be the inspiration for 'The Wind Cries Mary'. Though she was in the house when Hendrix arrived, she didn't meet him on this occasion.
Above, Kathy Etchingham in 1966
Jimi's first stop after arriving at Heathrow was an address in West London. 11 Gunterstone Road, Fulham.
Above, Gunterstone Road today
Chandler thought it would be good idea to get Hendrix playing with English musicans as soon as possible, so decided to drop him in at the deep end. Direct from the airport they stopped off unannounced at Zoot Money's home in Gunterstone Road, West London. Money was a longtime friend of Chandler's and also a renowned keyboard player who had performed with Spencer Davis, Alexis Korner and The New Animals. In the basement of the building Hendrix and Money jammed for a number of hours.
Some accounts claim the jam session was also attended by the guitarist in Money's 'Big Roll Band', Andy Summers (who would later find fame as one third of The Police). Summers however has denied this, saying that he first met Hendrix a few nights later in a club called 'Blaises'.
Below, Zoot Money's Big Roll Band
Living at the same address was Kathy Etchingham. She would soon become the closest thing Hendrix had to a long-term girlfriend, and would later be the inspiration for 'The Wind Cries Mary'. Though she was in the house when Hendrix arrived, she didn't meet him on this occasion.
Above, Kathy Etchingham in 1966
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Hyde Park Towers (24-09-66)
24th September 1966
Following the jam session at Zoot Money's house, Chandler and Hendrix checked into the Hyde Park Towers Hotel, in the Bayswater area of London.
Hendrix wrote Stone Free and Love Or Confusion whilst staying here.
I have no idea what grade the hotel was in the 60's, but today it's a 3 Star. On tripadvisor.com holidaymakers give the hotel very mixed reviews. There seems to an almost 50/50 split between those who consider it to be a filthy hovel and those who consider it to be pleasant enough for the price.
It has to be said that some of the hotel's own publicty photographs do give the impression that the interior decor hasn't changed since 1966!
You can find Hyde Park Towers Hotel at 47-51 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, London.
Following the jam session at Zoot Money's house, Chandler and Hendrix checked into the Hyde Park Towers Hotel, in the Bayswater area of London.
Hendrix wrote Stone Free and Love Or Confusion whilst staying here.
I have no idea what grade the hotel was in the 60's, but today it's a 3 Star. On tripadvisor.com holidaymakers give the hotel very mixed reviews. There seems to an almost 50/50 split between those who consider it to be a filthy hovel and those who consider it to be pleasant enough for the price.
It has to be said that some of the hotel's own publicty photographs do give the impression that the interior decor hasn't changed since 1966!
You can find Hyde Park Towers Hotel at 47-51 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, London.
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