Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French and legendary producer Eddie Kramer discussed Jimi Hendrix on a new French Connection podcast, and how Jimi was ‘drugged’ at a concert.
Jay Jay: I remember seeing Jimi for the first time at Madison Square Garden. It was not a good show. He walked off stage after about six songs, he was frustrated, he asked people to stop flashing lightbulbs – it was in his eyes. The stage was – before they built the stage at the end of the arena, it was in the middle, which means that the amp stacks crossed the entire circular stage, and the only way you could hear Jimi is if you actually walked around the arena and to stay in front of the stage, and he got very upset and left. Is my memory correct about that show?
Eddie: Yeah, you’re correct. There were two performances, that one, which, unfortunately… I believe something happened backstage.
Who knows who did what, but his drink was spiked with acid. It was a bad acid thing, and he was very upset.”
Jay Jay: That’s why he asked people to stop with the flashbulbs, correct? So you’re saying he was probably high on acid at the time.
Eddie: Yes, but it wasn’t of his own doing. I don’t think he would’ve sabotaged his own show. Who knows who did it, but that’s part of the historical sort of information.”
