Jimi Hendrix Was in His Backup Band

After Jimi Hendrix’s death, some people would exaggerate the ties between Little Richard and Hendrix to sell what were billed as collaboration albums. But Hendrix really did play with Little Richard’s band.

Graham Nash recounted in 2012 playing a show in 1965 when Hendrix was still in the backup band — but was a little too showy for Little Richard’s tastes.

“One night I heard this argument before they went on: ‘Don’t you ever f—ing do that again! I’m Little Richard, the king of rock ‘n’ roll, you f—ing guy! Stop playing your f—ing guitar behind your f—ing head!’ And he was yelling at Jimi. It was this argument as they got in the elevator to go up. The volume decreased as they went, but you could still hear them arguing. I can hear it now. So that was Jimi. It was obvious he was a talented guy.”

In a 1973 documentary, Little Richard said of Hendrix: “He was a star. When I got him he was a star. … Jimi Hendrix could play that rock n roll. … At times he used to make my big toe shoot up in my boot, he did it so good.”

Little Richard added: “He didn’t mind looking freaky, like I don’t mind it, because I was doing before he was and I knew when he saw me it gave him confidence…”