When Jimi Hendrix covered The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' in record time
Jimi Hendrix was never shy to hide his admiration for artists he truly loved. There was no artist he valued more than The Beatles and, back in 1967, the iconic guitarist took things to the next level.
The night was June 4, 1967, Jimi Hendrix was stepping out on stage for his headline show at the Saville Theatre in London and, knowing that both Paul McCartney and George Harrison were in the audience, Hendrix decided to open the show with his rendition of Sgt. Pepper‘s title song.
Hendrix had been motoring around swinging London for a year or so when he was given his opportunity to shine in front of two of the Fab Four. He decided he had to pay tribute to the group with a simply sensational cover.
While opening your own show with a cover song was a ballsy move, it was the sheer fact that The Beatles had only released the song three days prior to that moment which caused the greatest shock. With the record being made available on the Thursday prior to the event, Hendrix had learned the song, perfected it and performed it live at his headline show by the Sunday.
Source: faroutmagazine.co.uk
