portrait of this blog's author - by Stephen Blackman 2008

Monday, May 13, 2024

THE NIGHT JIMI HENDRIX SAVED ENGELBERT'S SHOW! 1967

 

Jimi with Cat Stevens, A Walker Brother, and Engelbert

On this month in 1967, Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Engelbert Humperdinck (far right in photo) and Cat Stevens ALL appeared at the Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire, England. WHAT A LINEUP!


One night of this UK tour, Humperdinck's guitar player didn't show and the singer was in a panic. "Don’t worry, man, I’ll play for you." said Jimi Hendrix, and play he did, FROM BEHIND A CURTAIN to not upset Engelbert's straight laced fans. 

"It felt as though there were three guitars behind me that night. That’s how great he sounded. He was so solid and made everything sound massive," 

Humperdinck said later. "He was a gentle man, a great person to be around." The two would sometimes hang out on tour!


INTERESTING NUGGET: 

Hendrix offered Englebert one of his military jackets and the singer DIDN'T accept.  "I was such a fool not to have taken it. I’m sick to this day that I didn’t say yes!”

#jimihendrix #engleberthumperdinck 

4 comments:

Dell said...

I was aware of the tour mentioned but not this story - Amazing, thanks. Now if I could only find a soundboard of Engleberts set!

Andy Swapp said...

Always welcome Dell

Love the story about Jimi and Englebert! Always one to try and confound expectations I reckon . . . Did you ever get to hear him? Jimi [not Engelbert so much but either would do!?!?!?]

Thanks as always for dropping by

Dell said...

Englebert..No
Jimi, Yes on no less than 4 times, including the 1970 Isle of Wight!

Andy Swapp said...

Wow Dell that is staggering! Look people I get visits from folk who saw our Jimi four 4 FOUR TIMES!
I always missed out somehow (it’s a long and self indulgent story and could have seen him twice but failed miserably!)
so I am always envious of those that did!