November 15, 2008

Roberto:

I'm very sad to hear of the great Mitch Mitchell's passing. We hung out with him quite a lot at Steve Paul's 'The Scene' in New York.

He was a true english gentleman.

He did sit in with us (The Candymen) and was an amazing musician. He was a small guy but played drums like a gorrila. I think he was much more jazz then rock but he was just Mitch. A total original! I think he was a cross between Joe Morrello (Dave Brubeck Quartet) and Ginger Baker (Cream).

I've been listening and visiting with The Experience again lately and I can tell you that music still sounds like the future!

I'm so glad that I have been Experienced!

Thank you Jimi, Noel, and Mitch for everything you gave us.

Robert Nix...........................

http://robertoreg.blogspot.com/2008_11_09_archive.html

From Bobby Dupree, Rusty Crumpton & Keith Brewer of the Rockin' Gibraltars:

Russ Shaw booked us to open up for Jimi at the Bakersfield Civic Center. We played our set and got off stage so Jimi could come on and do his show. I went up to the dressing room to change, and then went back down and stood at the side of the stage. Jimi played a couple of songs, and then started his rendition of “The Stars Spangled Banner”. Not many people know this, but Jimi was very patriotic, he even supported the war in Viet Nam. He was also Airborne certified.
But back to the story.
The manager of the Bakersfield Civic Center was an old WWII veteran, and of course he was very patriotic too. When he heard Jimi playing “The Stars Spangled Banner” the way only Jimi could play it, the guy got so pissed off, that he went back behind the stage and cut off the power. All that was heard was Mitch Mitchell’s drums ringing through the auditorium. Well, Jimi went back behind the curtains and said, “Who turned off the power?” The WWII vet said “I did.” Jimi went over to him and slugged this guy in the face, knocking him off the stage. Of course, all HELL broke loose, and cops and Warner Brothers executives were everywhere. The cops were going to arrest Jimi but after some negotiations, and a $5000.00 check Russ Shaw made out to the guy, the concert was stopped, and Jimi got in his stretch limo with his two white girlfriends and went back to LA.
This is the true EXPERIENCE we had with Jimi Hendrix. We never saw him or played with him again.
Bobby Dupree with Rusty Crumpton and Keith Brewer

Robert,
Ok here is the story.
On May 7th I went to the Hendrix concert at Memorial Coliseum (now
Coleman Coliseum) with my room mate Hoagy (Guy Huthnance) and his
girlfriend who's name time has swallowed. She was the key to this story. Fat
Mattress, Noel Redding's group, opened the show. At the break we all went
to the bathroom. Hoagy's date was a very attractive person and the head
of the University Program Council had the hots for her. During the
break she ran into him and he said " why don't you come with me after the
show. We are taking Hendrix to the Citizen's club for a party." She
said, no thanks and then came and told us what was going on. I had run into
Pete Kinnear and told him of our plans to go to the Citizens Club to
party with Hendrix. The four of us crammed into my Triump Spitfire and
went to the club. This was the old Citizens Club that burned 20+ years
ago and was later moved to a new location. I had been there several times
before with other mixed race bands that I had played with and felt
comfortable being there. When we got there, we were the only white folks
there, but that was OK. We waited and enjoyed the soul band that was
playing there. About 30 minutes later, when we were beginning to doubt that
they would show, here came the entourage. I stood up and shook
Hendrix's hand and told him how much I enjoyed the show. They all sat down at
the table next to us. The British guys from Fat Mattress were seated
next to me and we partied with them that night since Hendrix was
immediately surrounded by groupies. They were a little nervous about being in a
all black club in the south, but loosened up enough to get up and play.
They played a few songs and then left the stage. After their set, I
went to pee and Noel Redding came in. We had a nice chit-chat about music
while we both emptied our bladders. The rest of the night was spent
drinking beers and talking music with new friends. End of story.
Bruce Hopper of THE OMEN & THEIR LOVE