Flag on the Purina building, seen through a power substation.
Back in the late 60s, when I was in college, there was a famous group called the Electric Flag, led by guitarist Mike Bloomfield, formerly of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. I went home during summer vacations at St. Louis University and caught some performances at the Fillmore East in NYC with high school friends. We saw the EF in June 1968. The second half of the program started very late. The kids started yelling and booing. Eventually Bill Graham came on stage. "Shut up!" he yelled back. "I've got bad news and good news. The bad news is that Mike Bloomfield is sick. He's not gonna make it." BBBOOOOO! "The good news is that we got someone good to play the set. You're gonna like it so sit down."
Another long delay. BBBOOOOO! Eventually, while the stage lights were down, someone with a guitar came onstage, back to the audience. He started playing a rhythm track. What's going on? Then he started playing wilder and wilder.
The stage lights went up and the guitarist turned around. It was Jimi Hendrix. The crowd, as you can imagine, went wild.
Down to the Big Easy today for a business meeting. First pix probably tomorrow.
Back in the late 60s, when I was in college, there was a famous group called the Electric Flag, led by guitarist Mike Bloomfield, formerly of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. I went home during summer vacations at St. Louis University and caught some performances at the Fillmore East in NYC with high school friends. We saw the EF in June 1968. The second half of the program started very late. The kids started yelling and booing. Eventually Bill Graham came on stage. "Shut up!" he yelled back. "I've got bad news and good news. The bad news is that Mike Bloomfield is sick. He's not gonna make it." BBBOOOOO! "The good news is that we got someone good to play the set. You're gonna like it so sit down."
Another long delay. BBBOOOOO! Eventually, while the stage lights were down, someone with a guitar came onstage, back to the audience. He started playing a rhythm track. What's going on? Then he started playing wilder and wilder.
The stage lights went up and the guitarist turned around. It was Jimi Hendrix. The crowd, as you can imagine, went wild.
Down to the Big Easy today for a business meeting. First pix probably tomorrow.
OMG what treat.. Mimi Hendricks, what a treat! Super urban image here Bob, and just right in B&W..
ReplyDeleteYou know I meant Jimi right :)
ReplyDeleteNice story and nice pic.
ReplyDeleteGreat story and wonderful picture Bob.
ReplyDeleteSeems like we all have moments from our youth like that. You had to be willing to be out and about in order for that to happen. Much like finding/noticing the framing of a fairly pedestrian image as the flag flying. Good Catch!
ReplyDeleteNow that is a memory worth keeping. What an experience.
ReplyDeleteYou've made me want to listen to Jimi Hendricks... The photo is brilliant as usual.
ReplyDeleteAnd here I've never heard of The Electric Flag!
ReplyDeleteFull marks for this one Bob.
ReplyDeleteOh, and it would have been great to see Hendrix of course.
ReplyDeleteYou lucky son of a gun.
ReplyDelete