In memory of Jimi Hendrix and Police conections to him

[njperry]

It has been 40 years since Jimi Hendrix left us on September 18, 1970, at the age of 27. The greatest guitarist ever (and my favorite musician who isn't the Police, Beatles, or a member of the Police or Beatles).

In honor of the anniversary of the great man's passing, I wanted to note the impact Jimi had on the members of the Police, all of whom saw Jimi play live, and compile a list of Hendrix covers known to me to have been played by Police together and solo.

Hendrix's Impact on and Interaction with the Police:
Stewart said in a recent interview that, “Hendrix was a god.” http://www.musicradar.com/rhythm/drum-i ... e=MRRHYTHM. We know that Stewart saw Jimi perform from Ian Copeland's excellent memoir Wild Thing where Ian mentions that he and Stewart saw Hendrix (and Cream). (page 93)

In Broken Music, Sting discusses the "whirlwind, the tidal wave, the earthquake, the force of nature that was Jimi Hendrix." He described that seeing Hendrix on television "changed everything" and then how he seeing Hendrix live at a nightclub that Sting was too young to enter causes made his "world-view significantly altered." (pages 83-85)

Andy not only saw Hendrix, but knew and even jammed with Hendrix. In Andy's memoir One Train Later, he discusses how he was "transfixed" when he first sam Hendrix playing what Andy calls "music from another planet." Andy and Jimi saw each other from time to time since their girlfriends were best friends. Andy described how "unnerving" it was to play guitar in front of "probably the legendary guitarist in the world when Hendrix saw Andy play with his psychedelic band, Dantalian's Chariot. Andy also describes the thrill of jamming with Jimi in a recording studio, but how Andy resists the temptation of becoming a Jimi clone. (pages 100-101, 123-125). As most recorded notes Jimi ever played has been officially or unofficially released, there is a bootleg available with a few tracks of Hendrix jamming with Andy Somers (as he was then known).


Hendrix covers by the Police members:
The Police honored Hendrix in their final concert at Madison Square Garden by playing "Purple Haze" in August 2008.

Sting has covered several Hendrix tracks in studio and live versions through his solo career.

- "Little Wing" was covered on his second solo album, ...Nothing Like the Sun. He also played on the tour for that album.

- Both "Little Wing" and "EXP" (with "Up from the Skies") were covered in Sting concert with Gil Evans which were released on Last Session. (The concert has been released under other album titles also.)

- "Purple Haze" was played during the Soul Cages tour and a version from his LA concert was released on the Soul Cages Concert video, as well as on some versions of Fields of Gold single, Love is Stronger than Justice single, and many bootlegs of that concert.

- "Wind Cries Mary" was played by Sting on the Hendrix tribute CD In From the Storm, and also played on the 1991 Timothy White Sessions radio show (also often bootlegged).

Stewart seemingly played drums on 2 songs that, while not written by Hendrix, were made popular by him, "Hey Joe" and "All Along the Watchtower." These are on the CD and video of Miles Copeland's project, "The Night of the Guitar," although not all sources have Stewart playing on "Hey Joe."

[ltwoman]

Nick, thanks for putting this together. I didn't know!
RIP Jimmy. We can only hope...

[giovanni]

Can we expect a Jimi Hendrix tribute cd by Sting? Well, considering what he has alredy done with Hendrix songs, surely it would be amazing.
By the way, in Italy I do represent a label linked to the Hendrix family.
Giovanni

[Howstupidmrbates]

I just heard two jams with Hendrix and Andy - interesting for sure, although not as life changing as legend has it.

Also, I'm not entirely convinced that's Stewart drumming on Hey Joe - it just sounds wrong. All Along The Watchtower is undeniable, however.

[smax]

nicely complied nic,

i was at the Night of the Guitar concert in London in 1989. and i'm sure Stewart only played on the Finale number 'All along the watchtower'.. someone's who's got the video would be able to say fo'sho' though..... oddly the 14 year old me went 'cos the turner bros were playing and the police link there, only to see Miles bellowingly introducing the acts and dear stew on the drums, sweet.

i'm listening to Hey Joe now......... Randy California talking about the song and how Jimi taught it to him personally....... no mention of stewart on drums although there's some hi-hat work going on and there's a double strike of the toms fill thing which stewart does at times...