Jimi Hendrix is because of its experimental and innovative way of playing electric guitar, known as one of the greatest guitarists and had a lasting influence on the development of rock music. Together with his bands, including The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Gypsy Sun & Rainbows, he appeared at the Monterey Pop Festival and the Woodstock Festival.As Hendrix together with his accompanying musicians on August 3 1966 in the "Cafe Wha?" in New York's bohemian Greenwich Village played, was also the former Animals bassist Chas Chandler present, who was impressed by Hendrix's artistic achievement on the guitar. He offered him a contract, in which Hendrix should build a new band in London. For the new function the old pseudonym Jimmy James was abandoned, and Jimi Hendrix was used as his name. Together with drummer Mitch Mitchell (previously Georgie Fame's Blue Flames) and bassist Noel Redding they established the Jimi Hendrix Experience September 1966 in London. Chandler also served in the future as a manager and producer for the group. He was responsible for the artistic part of management, while Michael Jeffery took care about the financial part. Jeffery Chandler had previously been Manager, when Chandler was playing with the Animals.

Their first joint gig was an opening act for Johnny Hallyday at the Paris Olympia. The first song, Hey Joe, Stone Free was recorded in October / November 1966. The single was released in December 1966 and went in February 1967 in England to No. four of the charts. The first album, Are You Experienced? ", reached number two on the UK charts.

 Hendrix played on June 18 1967 with his band at the Monterey Pop Festival, which has greatly increased his popularity. Mostly by the fact that Hendrix at the end after the ninth song Wild Thing burned his guitar. He himself, said:

"The time I burned my guitar it was like a sacrifice. You sacrifice the things you love. I love my guitar. "

After the release of Axis: Bold as Love, the band started in February 1968 for a longer tour of the USA, where they performed in the Fillmore West in San Francisco. The same year they released Electric Ladyland, with the familiar songs Voodoo Child (Slight Return) and All Along the Watchtower. The album rose to number one on Billboard charts. The last joint appearance of the Jimi Hendrix Experience took place on  June 29 1969 in Denver.

The new Jimi Hendrix Experience 

After the Band of Gypsys was only one month together, Hendrix formed in March 1970, the new Jimi Hendrix Experience . He took over Billy Cox from the Band of Gypsys and continued to play with Mitch Mitchell.

In 1970 there were numerous, often spontaneous studio recordings with different musicians involved, that led to a planned album with the working title of First Rays of the New Rising Sun. A selection of songs was published in 1971 called "a Cry of Love", the complete album, was released a lot later in 1997. For the recordings Hendrix set up his own recording studio, located in the 8th Street in New York, which was completed in August 1970. He called it "Electric Lady Studios".

In 1970 the band went on their last U.S., and European tour. Opener in Europe, was the Isle of Wight Festival on  August 30 1970. After subsequent performances in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Berlin (September 4, 1970 in Halle Germany) Hendrix graduated from the Love-and-Peace Festival. On  September 6 1970 on the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn he had his last appearance. Later there was a memorial stone placed. To this date, regular revival festivals are carried out.

By Melanie Bradley