1969
Jimi Hendrix Debuts the Band of Gypsys
Jimi Hendrix debuted his short-lived power trio Band of Gypsys with a series of concerts held on Dec. 31, 1969, and Jan. 1, 1970, at New York City’s Fillmore East. Sadly, by the end of January, Hendrix had broken them up, but not before releasing a classic live set from the shows – the only concert recording issued during Hendrix’s lifetime. Appearing with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles, Hendrix constructed a new sound infused with more jazz and fusion, fashioning the definitive version of his anti-Vietnam song “Machine Gun” during these shows. By September 1970, however, Hendrix was dead of an overdose.
