David Bowie sees Jimi Hendrix live

On 7 May 1967 David Bowie saw the Jimi Hendrix Experience perform at London’s Saville Theatre.

The theatre was run by Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Supporting Hendrix on the bill were, in order of appearance, Denny Laine with Strings Attached, the 1-2-3, and Garnet Mimms.

The 1-2-3 were a Scottish band who performed a version of Bowie’s song ‘I Dig Everything’. Bowie became friendly with organist and band leader Billy Ritchie around this time.

Laine, meanwhile, had left the Moody Blues in October 1966. Strings Attached was an iteration of his next band, the Electric String Band.

I’m pretty sure David came backstage to see us that night like he always did. We shared our dressing room with Hendrix so they may have met. I went for a drink with David afterwards. He was with Jane, who he had chatted up at our agents, NEMS. David always had attractive women with him.