Jimi Hendrix died on September 18, 1970. Just two days before, he made his final public appearance, a recording of which you can hear above.
After performing at the Open Air Love & Peace Festival in Fehmarn, Germany on September 6, Hendrix and his group – drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Billy Cox – returned to London. While there, Hendrix ran into Eric Burdon, the former lead singer of the Animals, who was now performing with the group War.
Burdon invited Hendrix to join the group for their performance at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London’s Soho district on September 15. Hendrix showed up, but Burdon could see the guitarist was in rough shape and suggested he join them on the following evening. Hendrix returned on the 16th and took Burdon up on his offer.
Burdon recalled the event in his autobiography, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.
“The guys in War held their ground as we launched into a triple-time version of ‘Tobacco Road,’” he wrote. “Having Hendrix onstage made [War guitarist Howard Scott] play better than he ever had before.
“We slid into ‘Mother Earth,’ a beautiful blues written by Memphis Slim. We ended the set with a burning jam. Jimi was flying. And then it was over.”
Hendrix's appearance begins at about the 58-minute mark.
Two nights later, Hendrix would die in his sleep from asphyxiation.
“I took from the best and tossed in little bits of myself. Before long, it started to sound like me.” Eric Gales shares his secret for developing your own guitar style
“He makes it sing, and he makes it cry. He can do it all.” Jeff Lynne explains why a "campfire classic" proves George Harrison's slide playing was second to none
