22 Minutes with Jimi Hendrix: Flashback to His “Aborted” Winter Festival for Peace Performance in 1970
Jimi Hendrix was born 80 years ago today, November 27, in Seattle.
Jimi died on Sept. 18, 1970 in London. He was just 27.
On Jan. 28, 1970, I saw Hendrix and his Band of Gypsys perform at the Winter Festival for Peace at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
The five-hour anti-Vietnam War benefit concert — produced by Sid Bernstein, Peter Yarrow and Phil Friedman — also featured Blood, Sweat & Tears, Peter, Paul & Mary, Richie Havens, Judy Collins, the Rascals, Harry Belafonte, Dave Brubeck, Mother Earth and the cast from Hair. It was my first rock concert.
I don’t remember much about the show other than Hendrix’s brief set. I say brief because he came on stage and played “Who Knows” and “Earth Blues” and after just 22 minutes cut the set short and left the stage.
My recollection is fans were calling out for Hendrix’s hits like “Purple Haze” and “Foxy Lady” that were staples of his first group, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, which featured a white rhythm section (Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell). Jimi had…
