Up next
Maryland Man Arrested For Death
Electric guitarist Jimi Hendrix is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and transformative musicians in music history. The way he approached playing, finding a seamless way to meld blues, psychedelia, rock, and soul, left the world in awe while redefining the potential of the instrument. Hendrix found a way to add a fourth dimension to music, bringing it to life in a way that the rock genre had previously never experienced.
The first musician to use stereophonic phasing effects in recordings, the innovator was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. His fortified legacy was tragically cut short, however, on September 18, 1970. At the young age of 27, Hendrix passed away at the hands of drug abuse. Seemingly at the peak of his creativity, ready to explore the edges of jazz fusion and socially conscious songwriting, fans and fellow musicians alike were left wondering what could have been.
On September 6, 1970, just twelve days before his death, Jimi Hendrix’s final official concert performance took place at the Open Air Love & Peace Festival in Fehmarn, West Germany. Here’s a closer look at the pivotal moment in musical history.
Jimi Hendrix’s Final Performance
Though Hendrix jammed for a few songs at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London just 48 hours prior to his untimely death, his gig at the Open Air Love & Peace Festival was his final proper performance alongside drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Billy Cox. The festival was riddled with problems due to poor organization and ticket sales, with many acts pulling out of what was beginning to look like a disastrous inaugural festival. Yet, Hendrix braved the omen and showed up. The show was plagued with bad weather, technical difficulties, and an initial negative fan reaction, making it all the more unforgettable.
Starting the show infamously saying, “I don’t give a f-ck if you boo, long as you boo in key,” Hendrix went on to give an immersive experience that set the entire festival ablaze. It’s almost as if the tension built helped make the show all the more mesmerizing. Hendrix played classics like “Purple Haze,” “Hey Joe,” and “Foxey Lady,” proving that beyond troubling circumstances, his talent would always ring louder. Hendrix’s 13-track setlist also included a cover of Howlin’ Wolf‘s “Killing Floor” and Bob Dylan‘s “All Along The Watchtower,” ending with “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return).” With fans observing it all in absolute frenzy,
The experience can be relived via Live at the Isle of Fehmarn, Hendrix’s posthumous live album released on December 13, 2005, which documents this very performance. It has since become a poignant historical document, serving as a bittersweet farewell from a man whose music continues to serve as a cultural lighthouse.
