Paul McCartney joins a press reception for the Jimi Hendrix Experience

On this day, the Jimi Hendrix Experience – the band formed by Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell – were at the Bag O’NaiIs club in London, for a press reception. In attendance were Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Brian Epstein, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Donovan…

Paul McCartney had seen the Jimi Hendrix Experience on October 25, 1966, and saw them again on January 11, January 29 and June 4, 1967.

I had six guitars and I sold five of them to pay for a reception at the Bag O’Nails.

Chas Chandler – Manager of the Jimi Hendrix Experience – From “Eyewitness: Jimi Hendrix” by Johnny Black, 2004

It was a lunch-time reception and I remember going down into the cellar thinking, ‘Do I really want to be down here with it being such a beautiful day outside?’ They came on and played at considerable volume for a small club like that. But Jimi was, I think, almost too much, to be absolutely honest. He was overwhelming in that small space. You knew something special was going on, you knew the guy was obviously a brilliant guitarist but I kept thinking that maybe this was just a bit too clever, this guy should be in an avant-garde jazz group or something, although what he was playing was fearsome in its delivery and obviously rock-oriented.

Keith Altham – Journalist for New Musical Express – From “Eyewitness: Jimi Hendrix” by Johnny Black, 2004

My girlfriend Winifred managed to get two tickets and we were the only people present who weren’t part of rock’s hierarchy: Donovan, John Mayall, The Beatles plus Epstein, and Clapton sitting opposite Pete Townshend. No one was more gobsmacked than Clapton — I was torn between watching his face and Hendrix’s performance.

Charles J. Holley – Fan – From “Eyewitness: Jimi Hendrix” by Johnny Black, 2004

We were all hanging out in Carnaby Street, at the Bag O’NaiIs — Keith, Mick Jagger. Brian (Jones) comes skipping through, like, all happy about something. Paul McCartney walks in. Jeff Beck walks in. Jimmy Page. I thought, ‘What’s this? A bloody convention or something?’

Terry Reid – From “Eyewitness: Jimi Hendrix” by Johnny Black, 2004

Afterwards, in the dressing room, Lennon walked in; which freaked me out. he was saying, ‘Fuckin’ grand.’ He loved it, but I was like 20 years old, John Lennon had walked into our dressing room and said ‘That’s grand, lads.’ And McCartney then walked in and that freaked me out even more.

Noel Redding – Bassist of the Jimi Hendrix Experience – From “Eyewitness: Jimi Hendrix” by Johnny Black, 2004

The performance earned Jimi Hendrix his first interview, published in Record Mirror with the headline: “Mr. Phenomenon“.

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