🚀 1959.
16 year old Jimi Hendrix made his stage debut when he played a show at the Temple De Hirsch Sinai synagogue in Seattle.
A small snippet of Jimi's and Lola's (Bensky) chat:
Lola: ‘Are you religious?’
Jimi: ‘Am I religious? I don't believe in religion. I went to church a few times when I was a kid, but i got driven out because my clothes were too poor’.
Lola: ‘That wasn't very charitable or pious of the church or the congregants, was it?’
Jimi: ‘Charitable or pious .... They're interesting words.. No, it wasn't charitable or pious. I loved listening to the choir. But I never went back’.
What do you believe in? said Lola.
I don't believe in heaven or hell, he said. I don't know if there is a God. Music is my religion. i play to go inside the soul of people.
‘Are you Jewish?’ Jimi asked.
‘Very’ said Lola.
Jimi laughed. 'My first gig was in the basement of synagogue, The Temple De Hirsch Sinai, in Seattle, but I was fired between sets'
‘What for?’ Lola asked.
'For showing off' said Jimi. I was trying to play from my soul and the other members thought I was showing off.’
🚀 1967.
The Experience perform at The Pavillion in Bath, Somerset.
The Experience head back to De Lane Lea Studios to continue work on their debut album. Recordings this evening focused on “I Don’t Live Today,” and by the session’s end, Chas Chandler had a working master in hand.
Tape Log: I Don’t Live Today
🚀 1968.
Jules Freemond interviews The Experience for the East Village Other. The interview is published March 8.
🚀 1969.
Olympic Studios London, England. Jimi attends but does not participate in a recording session for the group Glass Menagerie. Chas Chandler is the Producer for the session.
