LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — A five week long, cross-country tour featuring some of the best known and
most respected figures in rock and blues has been set to celebrate the
legacy and music of Jimi Hendrix. Presented by Experience Hendrix, LLC, the
Hendrix family-owned company founded by James A. "Al" Hendrix, Jimi's
father, entrusted with preserving and protecting the legacy of Jimi Hendrix
together with musical instrument giant Gibson Guitar, this year's Experience
Hendrix Tour represents an expansion beyond last year's seven sold
out performances.
Featured artists who will be performing music written by and associated with
Jimi Hendrix include blues giant Buddy Guy, contemporary guitar greats Jonny
Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Eric Johnson, Cesar Rosas and David Hidalgo
of Los Lobos and Aerosmith's Brad Whitford.
Hubert Sumlin, the Mississippi-born guitarist who worked with both Howlin'
Wolf and Muddy Waters as well as the Memphis-based Eric Gales, Mato Nanji of
Native American roots band Indigenous are also part of the tour as is Chris
Layton, the legendary Double Trouble drummer who rose to fame backing Stevie
Ray Vaughan.
Mitch Mitchell (drums) and Billy Cox (bass), the same Jimi
Hendrix Experience rhythm section that played behind Hendrix at such
landmark rock festivals as Woodstock and the Isle of Wight will return again
to celebrate the guitarist's enduring legacy.
Experience Hendrix has promised that special guests will also appear
throughout the tour. The first artist to be announced is Doors guitarist
Robby Krieger who will appear on five of the dates along with other surprise
guitarists expected to join during the course of the tour.
Various combinations of these artists will perform such Hendrix signature
songs as "Purple Haze," "Hey Joe," "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" and "Red
House.” This year's Experience Hendrix tour is an exciting prospect for Billy Cox
whose history with Jimi Hendrix dates back to their days in the Army
together. He commented, "It's a thrill for me to play Jimi's music for
audiences now as it was in the early 1960s. The Experience Hendrix tours
have shown how timeless this music really is."
Addtionally guest of this year's tour will see the exclusive Gibson tour
buses, experience Gibson instruments and take part in special events along
the stops presented by Gibson Guitar.
Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix noted, "Everyday, we see how Jimi's
musical legacy continues to transcend generational and cultural boundaries.
This tour is our way to give live audiences a concert experience that
reflects the genius of his unifying spirit. Part of our mission is to share
Jimi's music with audiences of all ages and these tours continue to play a
key role in fulfilling that vision."
"The influence Jimi Hendrix has had on rock music is immeasurable. His
iconic status in the world of music is as strong today as it was in the late
1960s. Gibson Guitar is honored to present the celebration of his legacy
and the music behind his distinctive guitar techniques through the
Experience Hendrix Tour. Along the way, guests of the tour will be treated
to surprise guests, Gibson exclusive announcements and special promotions,"
said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar.
"The tour will give fans the priceless opportunity to enjoy music from one
of the best guitarists of all time."
The first Experience Hendrix Tour featured Guy, Shepherd, Sumlin, Paul
Rodgers, Santana as well as Mitchell, Cox and others and launched in
2004 and playing three sold-out performances in Seattle, Portland and San
Francisco. The success of these performances led to a seven city
2007 tour that concluded with two sold out performances at New York's Beacon
Theater. John McDermott, who manages the Jimi Hendrix music catalog on
behalf of Experience Hendrix LLC also serves as the producer of the
Experience Hendrix tours, remarked, "With each successive tour, we've been
able to showcase some of the most accomplished musicians in the world. The
concerts bring together Buddy Guy and Hubert Sumlin, two legendary blues
artists that Jimi admired together with the finest young guitarists
performing today. We're proud to bring Jimi's music back to the concert
stage in such an exciting context."
Tour dates:
10/14 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino
10/16 – Albany, NY – Palace Theater
10/17 – Providence, RI – PPAC
10/18 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theater
10/19 – Waterbury, CT – Palace Theater
10/21 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom
10/22 – New York, NY – United Palace Theatre
10/23 – Philadelphia, PA – Tower Theater
10/24 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theater
10/26 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theater
10/27 – Louisville, KY – Whitney Hall KY PAC
10/29 – Omaha, NE – Orpheum Theatre
10/30 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theater
11/01 – Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl
11/02 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theater
11/03 – San Francisco, CA – Nob Hill Masonic
11/06 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater
11/07 – Portland, OR – Schnitzer Hall
–by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
