Burning Down the House: The Iconic Guitar Fire of Jimi Hendrix
Backstage at the Finsbury Park Astoria on March 31st, 1967, the Jimi Hendrix Experience was gearing up for their first tour date. With their debut album, "Are You Experienced?", still two months away, there was uncertainty about how the British psychedelic rock fans would react to the Black American musician. Hendrix's manager, Chas Chandler, feared that the audience might not react at all and decided that Hendrix needed a gimmick to captivate them.
NME journalist Keith Altham jokingly suggested that Hendrix should light his guitar on fire, and before anyone could object, road manager Gerry Stickells was sent to get some lighter fluid. During the performance of "Wild Thing," Hendrix set his guitar ablaze, creating a spectacle that involved him twirling the burning instrument around his head. However, the first attempt didn't go smoothly, as Hendrix sustained a burned hand and had to run off stage, leaving the guitar dangerously close to the curtains.
Despite the mishap, the image of Hendrix setting his guitar on fire became iconic. While some accounts suggest that he burned his guitar on three separate occasions, the most famous incidents were at the Finsbury Park Astoria and the Monterey Pop Festival in the same year. The act of burning his guitar became a defining moment in Hendrix's performances, showcasing his wild and innovative approach to music.