Six Degrees of Jimi
In a few weeks, Bo will head out on the Sgt Pepper’s tour with Todd Rundgren, Denny Laine, Lou Gramm and Christopher Cross. If you’re wondering what Bo Bice has to do with the Beatles, a conversation at bobice.com reminded me of something I had forgotten.
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was a truly ground-breaking album. It’s hard to imagine it now, but at the time sampling sounds and then putting them into a song just wasn’t done. Nor was playing things backwards. Or using an orchestra on a rock song. Or any one of a hundred other innovations that the Beatles came up with on that one album. It truly changed music forever, opening the door for the entire progressive rock genre for example, and introducing Western listeners to what would become known as ‘world music’ via the song Within You Without You.
The album caused a sensation upon it’s release. Everyone who heard it was blown away – including a young American guitarist who was on tour in the UK during that time frame. That guitarist was Jimi Hendrix. (In fact, Sgt Pepper’s was the only thing that kept Are You Experienced from reaching #1 on the UK album charts).
Jimi paid tribute to the CD on his last UK tour date. Here’s the Wikipedia entry:
On June 4 1967, the Experience played their last show in England, at London’s Saville Theatre, before heading off to America. The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album had just been released on June 1 and two Beatles (Paul McCartney and George Harrison) were in attendance, along with a roll call of other UK rock stardom: Brian Epstein, Eric Clapton, Spencer Davis, Jack Bruce, and pop singer Lulu. Hendrix chose to open the show with his own rendition of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, rehearsed only minutes before taking the stage, much to McCartney’s astonishment and delight
The audio recording of that performance is on Youtube.
So you see, it didn’t even take six degrees to get from the Beatles to Bo … just one.
August 3rd, 2008 at 7:59 am
Fascinating! Oh, to have video of that performance if just for the chance to see the look on McCartney’s face.
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:34 am
I know! I bet he called John as soon as he got home (no cell phones back then!)
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:53 am
I love it! And can’t wait to see the show. Bo will it right in and I bet he’ll have a ball with it.
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
I can’t wait either! It’s only 15 days away!
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I Have always loved Hendrix and the Beatles…I love Bo even more! No wonder! ;)
August 4th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I can’t wait to see this at Westbury, NY! It was so exciting to see Bo’s name on the ticket!