Hendrix arrived in England in October 1966, and auditions were launched to find him a backing band. Noel Redding was chosen for the bass spot. Even though he had never played bass before auditioning (he was a guitarist), Hendrix liked his look and attitude. Mitch Mitchell was a seasoned London drummer who brought jazz chops and a lead style of playing to the table. He would prove to be Hendrix's most valuable musical partner.
Though initially conceived as Hendrix's backing band, The Experience soon became much more than that. Along with Cream, they were the first group to popularize the "power trio" format, which essentially strips a rock band lineup down to the essentials: bass, guitar and drums. This smaller format also encourages more extrovert playing from the players involved, often at very high volumes. In the case of The Experience, Hendrix mixed lead and rhythm guitar duties into one, while also making use of then-revolutionary guitar effects such as feedback and wah-wah.
Mitchell played hard-hitting jazz-influenced grooves that often served a melodic role as much as they did timekeeping. Redding was the eye of the storm, playing deceptively simple bass lines that helped to anchor the band's sound. Visually, they decked themselves out in matching psychedelic costumes and permed afros.
The lineup first came to prominence during the Monterey Pop Festival, one of the first major music festivals. The band delivered a stellar performance, that ended with Hendrix famously setting his guitar on fire. The moment was immortalized in a photograph which was used as a cover of Rolling Stone[1] magazine. The appearance was also filmed and put into the documentary film Monterey Pop. This brought them to the attention of North American audiences. They were then asked to go on tour with The Monkees as the opening act. They abruptly left the tour after only a few dates. It was later revealed by Chas Chandler as being a publicity stunt.
With the band, Hendrix recorded his three most successful albums, Are You Experienced?, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland. In June of 1969, he decided to break up the group. Deteriorating relations with Redding had come to a head, and he also felt stilted by the trio format. He used a larger band lineup for his Woodstock concert in August 1969.
Hendrix would revert back to the trio format with Buddy Miles on drums and Billy Cox on bass and called themselves the Band of Gypsys. A live self-titled album was released in March 1970. This line up only lasted a couple of months. From early 1970 they were back to the original The Jimi Hendrix Experience, except Noel Redding was replaced by Billy Cox on bass.
This line up continued until Jimi Hendrix died in London, England from a drug overdose on the 18th September 1970.
Like a Rolling Stone
The Jimi Hendrix Experience Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you
Peopled called you, said 'beware the doll, you're bound to fall',
You thought they were all kidding you
You used to laugh about
Everybody else that was hanging out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
In no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone
The Jimi Hendrix Experience's song, Like a Rolling Stone, is about a former wealthy and influential lady who has now lost everything and forced to live a life of poverty. The song opens with reminiscing of her glory days when she used to dress well and throw money around. In her prime, she would even give money to beggars on the street. However, now, she has fallen from grace and has become a complete unknown. People once warned her to be cautious and not fall from her grace, but she ignored them thinking they were joking around.
The lady used to laugh at people who were from lower social classes or hanging out on the streets. But now that she is in the same position, she has become humble and muted. She is now forced to beg for money to survive and no longer talks loud nor appears to be proud. How does it feel to be a complete unknown, to be on your own with no direction home, and to be like a rolling stone? These lyrics are a rhetorical question to the woman who has lost everything she once had in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Back in the day, you used to care about looking good
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you
You were once generous with your money
Peopled called you, said 'beware the doll, you're bound to fall'
People warned you that your excessive pride would lead to your downfall
You thought they were all kidding you
You didn't take their warnings seriously
You used to laugh about
You used to make fun of
Everybody else that was hanging out
Other people who were less fortunate than you
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't brag about your success as much
Now you don't seem so proud
You're not as proud of your accomplishments anymore
About having to be scrounging around for your next meal
You're now struggling financially
How does it feel
How does it feel to experience this hardship
To be on your own
To be without the support of others
In no direction home
To not know what direction your life is going in
Like a complete unknown
To feel like no one recognizes or cares about you
Like a rolling stone
To be constantly moving and not have a stable home or life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anna Tariska
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People call say 'beware doll, you're bound to fall'
You thought they were all kidding you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hanging out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging your next meal
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ahh you've gone to the finest schools, alright Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
Nobody's ever taught you how to live out on the street
And now you're gonna have to get used to it
You say you never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
A complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ah you never turned around to see the frowns
On the jugglers and the clowns when they all did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discovered that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal
How does it feel, how does it feel?
To have on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
Ahh princess on a steeple and all the pretty people
They're all drinking, thinking that they've got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you better take your diamond ring, you better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him he calls you, you can't refuse
When you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you've got no secrets to conceal
How does it feel, ah how does it feel?
To be on your own, with no direction home
Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone
James Anderson
How in the hell did I miss this version??? Omg YES
Heracles Sakalis
@James Anderson I don't remember, I might have got it online. Three nights at Winterland 6 cdd box. The recording quality is not as good as this but some real raw emotion like I haven't heard on Jimi's other recordings.
James Anderson
@Heracles Sakalis Thanks so much! I want that set. I have the Winterland CD release Live At Winterland and thought THAT was the only one. I MUST get the expanded version. Btw, where did you purchase yours?
BIG BIG THANKS!!!
Heracles Sakalis
The Winterland 6 cd box set has versions I like more than this one.
RaphL707
Ditto
dimeghost
I would have if I hadnt decided to be lazy just one minute ago
Ryan Mosher
Dude wtf. This version is INCREDIBLE. For someone that really only knew the Monterrey Pop one. Fuckin Jimi. I love the guy so much.
James Anderson
Hell YES!!!
SilentHotdog28
Imagine if Dylan and Hendrix were in a band together.........God damn......A match made in paradise.
Dylan has a way with lyrics and setting up a song and Hendrix has a way with performing songs and giving them that something extra.
the wasted one
such a complete musician at such a young age. Rest easy Jimi