Hendrix, Clapton and The Killing Floor

Rockapedia | 12th Apr, 2023

Less than a week after his arrival to London on 1st Oct, 1966, Jimi Hendrix would get his chance to share the stage with England’s foremost guitarist, a player that fans had taken to scrawling Clapton Is God on London’s buildings and walls.

Hendrix and Claptons First Meeting

Clapton had recently unveiled rock’s first power trio, Cream, with Jack Bruce on bass and Ginger Baker on drums. By July 1966, Eric Clapton's career with the Yardbirds and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers had earned him a reputation as the premier blues guitarist in Britain.

Chas Chandler, Hendrix manger, let it be known that he'd like Hendrix to sit in at Creams London Polyechnic concert, an important show for the newly formed trio.

Although the two guitarist had not met until this point, Clapton was aware of Hendrix though Pete Townsend and Jeff Becks admiration for the guitarist and agreed to a jam, though Ginger Baker had mixed feelings.

In Eric Clapton (The Autobiography), Clapton says, I was hanging about backstage with Jack, when Chas Chandler, the bass player with the Animals, appeared accompanied by a young black American guy who he introduced as Jimi Hendrix, informing us that he was a brilliant guitarist and he wanted to sit in with us on a couple of numbers.

The Killing Floor

Hendrix would get his chance to exchange guitar licks and tore into his version of the Howling Wolf song Killing Floor.

Clapton says, 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 from 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.

The meeting of the two guitarists would go down in Guitar History. Clapton was still being referred to as God around London, Hendrix was a new guitarist competing for the throne.

While Clapton has positive memories of the event, others who where present had different views.

Clapton Overwhelmed

Recalling the jam Chas Chandler said, Eric actually turned pale, he was so overwhelmed by Jimi's talent. He could hardly talk.

New Musical Express, journalist Keith Altham also remembered events slightly differently to Clapton.

According to Altham, he went into the dressing room after Clapton left the stage in the middle of Killing Floor. Clapton was furiously puffing on a cigarette and telling Chander; You never told me he was that fucking good.

Hendrix said, When I think back, it seems so pushy that I would have barged into someone else's show that way. I can hardly believe I treated Clapton - a hero of mine - with so little respect. I can still remember seeing out of the corner of my eye, a glimpse of him watching me that night. I knew I was being rude, but at the time I had to get moving. so I did.

- New Music -