Jimmy Hendrix and Where Was I During Woodstock?
- on 09.18.08
- Music, Woodstock
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Today is the anniversary of the passing of Jimmy Hendrix, one of the classic and best at playing the electric guitar. When I think of his music, the song that comes to mind is one that probably comes to the mind of many from my generation, the “Star Spangled Banner” as he played it at Woodstock.
Was I there? No, I was looking ahead to my Senior year in High School, working at a summer camp in New Hampshire at the time. It was the talk of the summer, though, since it wasn’t all that far away and all of us knew someone that was going, we knew about the traffic, and how it was affecting some that were trying to get to camp. But I can’t say I was fully into the culture of the time yet, a bit of that that came into my life later, I’ll have to share about that one day.
Back to Hendrix, it’s a shame that such talent had to be snuffed out due to drug overdose, sad, what a waste, but here’s Hendrix, immortalized on video. First a brief interview, then “The Star Spangled Banner” as only Hendrix could play it…listen for the “bombs bursting in air”…the anti-war (Viet Nam) movement was in full swing at the time, but in another time and place, the song could have considered pretty patriotic.
I think I was still a little too young when Woodstock came along but I remember seeing the Jimi Hendrix video of The Star Spangled Banner. It’s interesting, I was never a Hendrix fan and I think it was because I believe he lived a wasted life. He chose drugs over pursuing his God-given talent—as did some other talented artists back in the day (Janis Joplin).
Claudia, I was also a camp counselor during Woodstock. Too much of a goody goody to take off!
Wow! I can’t believe another year has gone by, marking the passing of Jimi Hendrix. Did he die in ‘68 or ‘69? I can’t remember exactly but I can remember how shocked I was. He truly was an amazing musician and his energy and talent changed the music world for years.
Thanks for the memories!
I was there. It was the summer I graduated from high school, I got there late but I saw Jimmy and a score of others, including the Grateful Dead, Janis and Country Joe, Arlo and other legends.
Even with the mud from the rain, the pervasive smell of mary jane, and the really bad lack of bathroom facilities it was a moment in time that has never been equaled because of the quality and quantity of music - all free!
I did an artistic tribute to many of the lost music icons of my day, something I’d wanted to do for years!
Thanks for the nudge! Delicious times …
I was married, living and working in New York and did not go with my friends to Woodstock. In many ways I am sorry I did not. Possibly being in photographs or video which circulates our planet and hearing those greats AGAIN in person — that would be so cool. AGAIN, because I am a flower child of the 60’s myself. I went to San Francisco State, weighed 120 pounds ; ) had very long black frizzy hair, and danced bra-less in Golden Gate Park (or at the Fillmore) to most of the bands appearing at Woodstock.
When I heard on the news that the crowds were so immense that food ran out as did fuel and bathrooms, and that it rained, I was kind of glad I was at home that weekend in my upper flat in Queens, laying on my straw mattress on the floor, under a billowing madras bedspread, fastened to the ceiling, with a blue light bulb casting a peaceful glaze over the room.
I did know a girl who was a Hendrix groupie and actually slept with him … well, that’s what she said.
I don’t remember Woodstock at the time. I’ve heard a lot about it after wards.
It was during the summer before my senior year and I really wanted to go, but my parents would have killed me.
So sad that so many talented people have substance abuse issues and they die so young. Such a waste. Why is that I often wonder?
Unfortunately, several of the musicians of that day did not realize the talent they had. They seemed to think it was enough to just do their thing. Maybe back then it was. I did not really know that much about Jimmny Hendrix until after he died. Wasn’t really into that era of music until I got older. I like a lot of that music now. Isn’t that funny?