Rock, pop & metal

Jimi Hendrix

Contrary to a widespread belief, Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) never played the Montreux Jazz Festival: his name appears in no programme since the festival was founded in 1967. His presence in Montreux rests on something else. The guitarist passed through the Harry’s Bar at the Montreux Palace, since renamed Funky Claude's Bar, and signed its guest book. That register, kept for ten years by Tania Gauger, also holds the signatures of David Bowie, Aretha Franklin and Herbie Hancock. It came close, though. At the end of the summer of 1970, Claude Nobs travelled to the Isle of Wight festival, where Hendrix played on 30 August. He came back with the idea of programming him in Montreux, along with the Doors. The guitarist died on 18 September 1970, less than three weeks later; Jim Morrison died in July 1971. Neither would ever stand on a Montreux stage.