Jimi Hendrix Experience

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  • Year:
    1992
  • Inducted by:
    Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield)
  • Category:
    Performers

Introduction

Jimi Hendrix was the most gifted instrumentalist of all time, a self-taught electric guitarist whose fluid, immersive style was perfectly suited to embrace—and then revolutionize—the late '60s psychedelic rock movement.

The Seattle-born musician always paired awe-inspiring tone and feel with incomparable songs which struck a balance between experimentation and tradition.

Hall of Fame Essay

1992

David Fricke

When Jimi Hendrix sent his Fender Stratocaster up in flames at the end of his historic performance at the 1967 Mon­onterey Pop Festival in 1967, it was a  brilliant grandstand play by  a consummate psychedelic showman well-schooled in the showstopping hijinx of T-Bone Walker and Little Richard, it was also a profound gesture of affection  and gratitude.

“I could sit up here all night and say thank you, thank you, thank you…I just wanna grab you, man,” Hendrix told the adoring crowd. ‘‘But, dig, I just can't do that. So what I wanna do, I’m gonna sacrifice something here I really love...There is nothing more I can do than this.”  

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Program Cover 1992
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1992 Inductees The Jimi Hendrix Experience Receiving Their Induction Awards
when you play guitar, you can play or you can transcend, Jimi showed me that.
Neil Young

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Collection

Movie Ticket, 1973
Movie Ticket, 1973

Photography: Kevin Mazur, WireImage