Jimi Hendrix and Clapton Meet On The Killing Floor

Rockapedia | 5th Jan, 2025 theBeat.ie

In 1966, Jimi Hendrix found himself in New York City. Having spent the past number of years cutting his teeth as a side man to the likes of Little Richard and The Isley Brothers, the 24 year old now had his eyes set on stardom. Forming his first band with an the ever-changing lineup, Jimi James And The Blueflames, he began performing around the clubs of Greenich Village when he crossed paths with British model, Linda Keith.

Keith was the then girlfriend of Rolling Stone, Keith Richards, and well connected within the British Pop-scene. From the moment she seen Hendrix perform in New York Linda became an instant fan following him across the city. Linda also played the role as PR telling British musicians visiting the states that they had to check him out. One such musician would be Chas Chandler, who found fame in the early 1960's as bass player with British blues band, The Animals. Despite his chart success in both the US and UK, Chandler had very little to show for it due to a number of bad management deals. Realising that the money was behind the artist he traded his bass guitar for the role of talent scout/producer.

Linda told Chas all about Hendrix and introduced the two of them at the Cafe Wha. Over the next number of months Chas would attend several Hendrix performances while going back and fourth between the UK and US. Convinced that Hendrix was a star in the making Chas offered him a contract, which was happily accepted. Eager to start making moves, and worried that Hendrix might get snapped up by a different manager, Chas first step was setting up base in the UK.

On their arrival to London, Chas didnt waste time and began looking for musicians to form a backing band. At the same time, he also felt it was important to get Hendrix out into the clubs of London and start making a name for himself. In September 1966, Hendrix got his first chance to dazzle when he sat in with the Brian Auger Trinity. Hendrix impressed Auger and was invited to join in with the band anytime he wanted. While his performace was well received it was his second performace a number of nights later that had a bigger impact. Hendrix once again wowed the audience, except this time British guitarists Jeff Beck and Pete Townshend were in attendance. Word was out that a new player was in town.

Hendrix was now beginning to make a name for himself around the clubs when Chas made it known he wanted Hendrix to sit in with the Cream. Formed in 1966, Cream consisted of Eric Clapton on guitar, Jack Bruce on bass and Ginger Baker on drums. The trio quickly built a reputation for their lengthly improvised jams built around Clapton's guitar work. As a result of his previous bands, The Yardbirds and John Mayalls Bluesbreakers, the music press considered Clapton to be the top guitarist around, with Jimi Page and Jeff Beck close behind. If Hendrix was to make a name for himself, he would have to de-throne Clapton first.

On 1st October 1966, Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce were backstage at a London gig when Chas Chandler brought Hendrix to meet them. Clapton had already heard positive reviews from his fellow guitarists Beck and Townsend, and was intrigued by the strange looking American with the afro haircut. When Chad asked if it was possible for Hendrix to sit in with them, both Clapton and Bruce were more than happy, though reports later say that Ginger Baker was not as keen.

When it came time for Hendrix to shine he took to the stage and tore into an extended version of Howlin Wolfs, Killing Floor. Plugging into Jack Bruce's bass amp, Clapton watched Hendrix use every trick in his bag, including playing guitar with his teeth and behind his head. If Chas Chandler wanted Hendrix to make a statement then he couldn't have asked for more. Despite being an unknown American act, and playing to someone else's fans, Hendrix performace had the intended impact. Nobody was in doubt that he was now the top guitarist around.

Writing about it years later in his autobiography Clapton would say;

Of course Jimi played it exactly like it ought to be played, and he totally blew me away. I mean if your jamming with someone for the first time, most musicians will try to hold back, but Jimi just went for it. He played the guitar with his teeth, behind his head, lying on the floor, doing the splits, the whole business. - Eric Clapton (Eric Clapton Autobiography)

While Clapton's experience hearing Hendrix for the first time was positive, others say it had a different effect on the British guitarist. New Musical Express journalist, Keith Altham recalls seeing Clapton furiously puffing on a cigarette, saying to Chas Chandler, You never told me he was that fucking good.

Within a couple of months of his arrival to the UK Chas Chandler recruited Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchel, completing The Jimi Hendrix Experience. While there would be musical rivalry between The Experience and Cream, Hendrix performace of Killing Floor in-front of Clapton would go down as the moment he took slowhands crown as No.1 guitarist.

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