When Jimi Hendrix Supported The Monkees

07/08/2011
. (Gibson) It had to be one of the strangest pairings in rock and roll history. On this day in 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience began a tour as the opening act for� The Monkees. Yes, the cherished guitar god and his group had agreed to support the "Pre-Fab Four" on their American trek. It's no surprise that the situation didn't end well � although it had little to do with the relationship between the musicians.

What's easy to forget is, in the middle of '67, Hendrix wasn't yet a rock star in America. Earlier in the year, he'd begun to accumulate a following (especially among rock's elite) and he'd set his guitar (and the music world) on fire during his appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival. But, the Experience hadn't scored a mainstream hit in the U.S. yet and they were looking to expand their audience.

Being part of the musical community, the guys in The Monkees were already fans of Hendrix's music and performances. Micky Dolenz recalled seeing him in New York, while Mike Nesmith was introduced to him through a Beatle. more on this story

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