Inside Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock Controversial and Iconic National Anthem Performance
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Date: 2022-12-29
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Comments and reviews: 20
Independent
I watched a Jimi Hendrix documentary on his life and music. He seemed like someone that didn't want to fight with anyone just everyone get along. Deep person but a modest person. He didn't have the flaming ego that came with later rockstars.
The modesty seems to be something that runs in their family since they don't like to be in the public eye. I haven't met all of them. But I used to be in close contact with Jimi's niece who is a former coworker where my wife worked at. They work together and they were friends.
She never wanted me to make a big deal about the fact of who her famous Uncle was. She just didn't want that kind of attention.
She also had a very striking resemblance to him in her facial features.
But to keep her privacy respected I won't reveal her first name.
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I watched a Jimi Hendrix documentary on his life and music. He seemed like someone that didn't want to fight with anyone just everyone get along. Deep person but a modest person. He didn't have the flaming ego that came with later rockstars.
The modesty seems to be something that runs in their family since they don't like to be in the public eye. I haven't met all of them. But I used to be in close contact with Jimi's niece who is a former coworker where my wife worked at. They work together and they were friends.
She never wanted me to make a big deal about the fact of who her famous Uncle was. She just didn't want that kind of attention.
She also had a very striking resemblance to him in her facial features.
But to keep her privacy respected I won't reveal her first name.
reply
davida2111
Visiting Washington, DC recently we went through the American History museum. There is a room displaying THE flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore. It's a big deal and a big flag that has been preserved and housed in a temperature, climate and light controlled room because it's very delicate. As you walk through the exhibit there is a large section devoted to the Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key. Lo and behold, much to my surprise and pleasure was a photo of Jimi at Woodstock doing his version of the song. It made my day. I had my son, who is 32 ( I'm 64 ) play the performance later in the day on the computer but he just didn't GET IT. I play that song every 4th of July and other times throughout the year.
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Visiting Washington, DC recently we went through the American History museum. There is a room displaying THE flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore. It's a big deal and a big flag that has been preserved and housed in a temperature, climate and light controlled room because it's very delicate. As you walk through the exhibit there is a large section devoted to the Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key. Lo and behold, much to my surprise and pleasure was a photo of Jimi at Woodstock doing his version of the song. It made my day. I had my son, who is 32 ( I'm 64 ) play the performance later in the day on the computer but he just didn't GET IT. I play that song every 4th of July and other times throughout the year.
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Christopher
Jimis version of the Star Spangled Banner, in my opinion, was just a reflection of his times. Where Americans were asked to be patriotic and support a war that they all knew deep down was based on greedy lies. His version represents the beautiful and yet ugly confusion of his era. And unfortunately, it still rings true today. Perhaps more so. They could take his life, but they cannot take his music. Jimi recorded constantly. There is much music out there. More than the average Hendrix fan realizes.
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Jimis version of the Star Spangled Banner, in my opinion, was just a reflection of his times. Where Americans were asked to be patriotic and support a war that they all knew deep down was based on greedy lies. His version represents the beautiful and yet ugly confusion of his era. And unfortunately, it still rings true today. Perhaps more so. They could take his life, but they cannot take his music. Jimi recorded constantly. There is much music out there. More than the average Hendrix fan realizes.
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Michael
The songs Jimi played were done very well. He did drink some wine before the set to calm his nerves, but the expert that he was, he played till the cows went home! the total event was anti- war, pro peace and an End to a generation of a decade long conflict, plus the Police brutality in American life during that era. Old hippies don't die. they just become more Beautifully grown, until one-day when we are in God's kingdom forever free!
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The songs Jimi played were done very well. He did drink some wine before the set to calm his nerves, but the expert that he was, he played till the cows went home! the total event was anti- war, pro peace and an End to a generation of a decade long conflict, plus the Police brutality in American life during that era. Old hippies don't die. they just become more Beautifully grown, until one-day when we are in God's kingdom forever free!
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Bruce
Jimi Hendrix played the Star Spangle Banner in a way that was very soulful for him. Obviously he diverted from the original score, but he played the anthem in a way that he thought it should be played. I guess he was making a statement, veterans of other wars are allowed to make whatever statements they feel are appropriate. At the very least. Jimi Hendrix started a conversation that people are still thinking about today.
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Jimi Hendrix played the Star Spangle Banner in a way that was very soulful for him. Obviously he diverted from the original score, but he played the anthem in a way that he thought it should be played. I guess he was making a statement, veterans of other wars are allowed to make whatever statements they feel are appropriate. At the very least. Jimi Hendrix started a conversation that people are still thinking about today.
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Maddog
Having listened to the song over and over since I was a kid, I think Hendrix captured the zeitgeist of the sociopolitical moment through his alchemical magic hands through guitar thats all, dude tapped into the raw human experience of the moment and expressed it to the world on point, you can experience the violence of the times the contradictions in the air the angst its all captured magically as wizards tend to do!
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Having listened to the song over and over since I was a kid, I think Hendrix captured the zeitgeist of the sociopolitical moment through his alchemical magic hands through guitar thats all, dude tapped into the raw human experience of the moment and expressed it to the world on point, you can experience the violence of the times the contradictions in the air the angst its all captured magically as wizards tend to do!
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Donnie
Jimi Hendrix is my hero man. I was born 24 years after he left but, I still feel undyingly connected to him. One thing though, the Star-Spangled Banner WAS indeed improved. And what I mean is Larry, Billy, Mitch, Juma and Jerry didn't know he was going to go into it, that's why he turned to them and yelled out E! E! so they could join him. Billy Cox told that story on one of the Hendrix docs. I think Hear My Train.
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Jimi Hendrix is my hero man. I was born 24 years after he left but, I still feel undyingly connected to him. One thing though, the Star-Spangled Banner WAS indeed improved. And what I mean is Larry, Billy, Mitch, Juma and Jerry didn't know he was going to go into it, that's why he turned to them and yelled out E! E! so they could join him. Billy Cox told that story on one of the Hendrix docs. I think Hear My Train.
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Thiago
I think at that point of his performance on Woodstock, Hendrix was more open than ever as a catalyst, as an antenna for the general feeling of the people who were there, including himself. In this way, he indulged his soul as a means of translating the anxieties, fears and results of war into a vibration sonic form with his electric guitar.
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I think at that point of his performance on Woodstock, Hendrix was more open than ever as a catalyst, as an antenna for the general feeling of the people who were there, including himself. In this way, he indulged his soul as a means of translating the anxieties, fears and results of war into a vibration sonic form with his electric guitar.
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gst013
The rest of the world has a hard time understanding why so many Americans treat a piece of cloth and a song with such a degree of reverence and almost religious significance. And yes, the reasons why you do so could be applied to almost any other country, yet it's not generally seen anywhere else in near the same way.
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The rest of the world has a hard time understanding why so many Americans treat a piece of cloth and a song with such a degree of reverence and almost religious significance. And yes, the reasons why you do so could be applied to almost any other country, yet it's not generally seen anywhere else in near the same way.
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cravinbob
I saw him play it in Denver June 29 1969 and it was in no way controversial. That night was his last gig and Noel quit the band. I watched Noel throw his bass down an walk off. 6 weeks later he played his next gig at Woodstock. Jimi did not bother yakking about politics such as Lennon did.
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I saw him play it in Denver June 29 1969 and it was in no way controversial. That night was his last gig and Noel quit the band. I watched Noel throw his bass down an walk off. 6 weeks later he played his next gig at Woodstock. Jimi did not bother yakking about politics such as Lennon did.
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Cathy
Subversive, although I liked Hendrix a lot. He was one of my favorite musicians growing up during the 70s. It was a sad day when he passed away. Also when Janis Joplin died. That was hard for me as a teen. Their deaths impacted me hugely, something I never could come to terms with.
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Subversive, although I liked Hendrix a lot. He was one of my favorite musicians growing up during the 70s. It was a sad day when he passed away. Also when Janis Joplin died. That was hard for me as a teen. Their deaths impacted me hugely, something I never could come to terms with.
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theora
I will say it's an anti-war song never thought of it this way, but I like it. Both my brothers, a cousin (wounded) and may family friends were there. One friend is MIA, one got agent orange. My oldest brother died there in 68. I was 11 yrs old. The rest suffer with PSTD.
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I will say it's an anti-war song never thought of it this way, but I like it. Both my brothers, a cousin (wounded) and may family friends were there. One friend is MIA, one got agent orange. My oldest brother died there in 68. I was 11 yrs old. The rest suffer with PSTD.
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Bosco
Hendrix loved America, his pride of America even as a black performer is very obvious. He loved music to the very depth of his soul. and loved his fans. Otis Redding couldn't keep him still. He had to be free. Hendrix version is my favorite version of all time.
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Hendrix loved America, his pride of America even as a black performer is very obvious. He loved music to the very depth of his soul. and loved his fans. Otis Redding couldn't keep him still. He had to be free. Hendrix version is my favorite version of all time.
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Debbra
I got to know a few musicians in the day.
Even Jimmy Hendrix used his guitar to communicate. His ability to manipulate the guitar gave a special delivery to the song. Not a political statement in a manner some want to slam him with
Jimmy you are loved
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I got to know a few musicians in the day.
Even Jimmy Hendrix used his guitar to communicate. His ability to manipulate the guitar gave a special delivery to the song. Not a political statement in a manner some want to slam him with
Jimmy you are loved
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Wendy
Im not sure he wanted others to interpret his rendition in a specific way. whatever the response: it is what it is. I think Hendrix cares most about what he thought about it. his experience of playing it. He seems ambivalent to provide further commentary.
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Im not sure he wanted others to interpret his rendition in a specific way. whatever the response: it is what it is. I think Hendrix cares most about what he thought about it. his experience of playing it. He seems ambivalent to provide further commentary.
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Chris
What I think he was saying was this: I love this country, but we need to put right what is wrong with it. A lot of people at the time were associating rock and roll and the protests with communism. Hendrix was saying that he was not in the communist camp.
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What I think he was saying was this: I love this country, but we need to put right what is wrong with it. A lot of people at the time were associating rock and roll and the protests with communism. Hendrix was saying that he was not in the communist camp.
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Nathan
Art is truth or he got to speak a truth through his art a truth convention couldnt handle. But his worth and celebrity afforded him some insularity from instantaneous repercussion. being experienced eats at you and catches up with you. eventually.
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Art is truth or he got to speak a truth through his art a truth convention couldnt handle. But his worth and celebrity afforded him some insularity from instantaneous repercussion. being experienced eats at you and catches up with you. eventually.
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Forgiveness
Johnny Allen Hendrix playing the national anthem wasn't controversial and nobody cared that he was black, it's unfortunate people always go for low hanging fruit like so called racism right away.
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Johnny Allen Hendrix playing the national anthem wasn't controversial and nobody cared that he was black, it's unfortunate people always go for low hanging fruit like so called racism right away.
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Rodney
Why was it ever controversial? Jimi's rendition of the anthem is amazing, powerful and beautiful. Playing it the way he did at Woodstock is the most patriotic thing he could have done at that moment.
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Why was it ever controversial? Jimi's rendition of the anthem is amazing, powerful and beautiful. Playing it the way he did at Woodstock is the most patriotic thing he could have done at that moment.
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hedeviltazz
that was just the way hendrix saw the anthem in 1970. if it were 20 yrs later it may have been way different. and hendrix is the greatest of all time. this brian may crap has to stop.
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that was just the way hendrix saw the anthem in 1970. if it were 20 yrs later it may have been way different. and hendrix is the greatest of all time. this brian may crap has to stop.
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