Band of Gypsys

After The Jimi Hendrix Experience disbanded in mid 1969, Hendrix hastily formed a group to honour a commitment to play at Woodstock in August of that year. Noel Redding had left, replaced by Hendrix's old Army buffy Billy Cox on bass but Mitch Mitchell stayed on drums and would remain involved for the very short life of the band. At the Festival, MC, Chip Monck (great name!) introduced the band as "The Jimi Hendrix Experience", but Hendrix quickly corrected this to "Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, for short it's nothin’ but ‘A Band O’ Gypsies" and launched into a two hour set, the longest of his career. Two further performances and it was the end of Gypsy, Sun and Rainbows.

Exit Mitch Mitchell. Enter another friend, Buddy Miles to take up drumming duties in the new look, sounding band titled 'Band Of Gypsys'. For 10 days they were locked in Baggys Rehearsal Studios, to prepare for a 4 night stint at the legendary Fillmore East venue over the New Year period. The first track I have for you today is taken from those rehearsal sessions, captured in a rare bootleg album titled 'Baggys Reharsal Sessions'. For 10 days practice, they sound absolutely brilliant! Inspired by the film, but not on the soundtrack, here is 'Ezy Rider', the studio recording of which would eventually make it onto some of the posthumous releases in the following years.

Please turn this one up, it deserves to be listened to loud!




The second track would also appear on some of the albums released after his death, but this is taken from the performance at the Fillmore on Jan 1st 1970 and is available on the 'Live At Fillmore East' album