British guitarist analyses Jimi Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner in 1969!

Tonight we're taking a look at Jimi Hendrix and his stand alone version of the Star Spangled Banner back in 1969!

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[velocita]

What Jimi accomplished in just 4 years is mind blowing. He was like a comet he came illuminated the sky and left us saying Wow!

[VeryUsMumblings]

I'm glad you made the case that Jimi is not just 'just making noise' in this song, and how he is generating feedback on purpose. I would like to add some points: He is playing to an audience of Americans, who all know the words to the song. He's deliberately timed the 'sound effects of bombs and ambulances' to the part of the anthem when the lyrics should 'And the rockets red glare The bombs bursting in air' Later, At 3:29 Jimi interrupts 'oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave' part of the anthem to plays Taps, which is traditionally played by a bugle to signify the death of a soldier before he finishes. This performance was clearly a statement against the Vietnam War.

[mmccartney]

I am a Veteran, and served around the same years as Jimi (early to mid '60's for me). I was Navy, Jimi was Army, and, after 8 months of paratrooper trainng with the 101st Airborne Division, Jimi was awarded his well earned, and prestigious Screaming Eagles patch. So, when I initially heard him play his (this) version of the Star Spangled Banner, I said to myself, as far as I'm concerned he can play it any damn way he wants! He earned that right! Great review, yet again, Fil! Cheers, mate! :)

[kemperboyd]

One man with one guitar saying more in three minutes about America’s catastrophic involvement in Vietnam than all the films, books and memoirs combined. I’m never sure whether it’s Jimi playing the guitar, or the guitar playing him. Appallingly beautiful.

[JerisEve]

He will be remembered in the same way that Van Gogh and Michaelangelo are remembered. His creativity was mind-blowing.

[gawross]

From the opening bars, this version is so violent and distorted - just like America at the time. His rendition is unbelievably powerful.

[wrdguy]

One should never fail to mention: Jimi lived with his guitar, 24/7, for six years before he got any great success. He played on the train, the bus, in the bathroom, in his bed, at the dinner table.... in other words, drugs didn't make him. He made himself, through grueling hard work!

[patrickcrowther]

In just a few short minutes, Hendrix compresses the struggles of the 1960s into howls of anguished feedback. Legendary.

[NoName-jucs]

He simulated the machine gun and cries of pain. At one moment he simulated a gun shot. I was there in the 60's when it all happened and he passionately hated war.

[DjNikGnashers]

Jimi was more than a guitarist, & singer. He was a once-in-a-lifetime spirit, the likes of which we will never see again. My personal favourite was his Red House from Live at Winterland.

[rpminc]

Still gives me chills. A unparalleled classic moment Your statement about being an artistic event is spot on !!

[Cherr]

One of the greatest regrets of my life is the fact that I left Woodstock a few hours before Jimi did this performance (my friend, whose car we had driven up in, wanted to leave--I still haven't forgiven him). For my money, this is the greatest electric guitar performance of all time. An artistic, political, and technical achievement that is one of a kind that can never be duplicated or equaled. Your analysis is wonderful--so nice to hear a young man who understands what this is about.

[bwc]

What's amazing is, Jimi had only been playing 10 or 11 years at this point! Can you imagine had he lived another 50 years? Which would be now, what he would have sounded like?

[julieford]

As an American, this makes me so proud! A beautiful sight to see indeed. 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[thiosemicarbizidebenzoylal]

Hendrix was a genius, and this is only part of the ridiculously unbelievable display of mastery of guitar he performed on that day. From voodoo child all the way to Villanova junction the display was in many ways too much to fathom even to this day. Jimi could do so much musically on a guitar that he was literally creating landscapes of sound waves that people either embraced or simply couldn't. Its still like that, and to this day there is nothing like him or seemingly never will be.

[johnbovay]

The 'Guernica' electric guitar solo...

[feedwinnie]

I'll take this over any Super Bowl performance or any performance of The Stars and Stripes. ANYTIME. 🇺🇸🎸✌💜 🌼🙂
Thank you Fil.

[jesmarluk]

Brings me to tears every time as I reflect on the state and history of our war-machine-nation. Jimi was definitely ahead of his time.

[tmage]

IMO this is a perfect rendition of the song given the context of the times. It reflects the turmoil and sociopolitical upheaval of late 60's America in a way only a few songs can match

[markcook]

This performance made him at the time the uncontested best guitarist in the world... hand's down.No other guitarist could have conceived or played our national anthem in this way. THIS genius is what will forever separate him from everyone else. Nuff said