Eric Clapton’s Final Gift To Jimi Hendrix Makes Us Cry
Eric Clapton's Final Gift To Jimi Hendrix Makes Us Cry
Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix’s friendship was a very important part of rock history. They became friends when they jammed together at Regent Street Polytechnic in the mid-1960s. Clapton was with Cream at the time, and he was blown away by Hendrix’s amazing guitar skills. Their musical session turned into hours of talking and getting to know each other, which led to the start of a close friendship.
A Guitar Meant for Jimi
On September 18, 1970, Jimi Hendrix died suddenly at the age of 27 from asphyxiation while high on barbiturates. His death shocked the music world. Clapton was profoundly affected by the loss. He had planned to meet Hendrix that very night at the Lyceum to watch Sly Stone perform. In anticipation, Clapton had purchased a unique left-handed Fender Stratocaster as a gift for Hendrix, a token of his admiration and friendship. Tragically, he never got the chance to present it.
Reflecting on that night, Clapton shared his feelings:
“The night that he died I was supposed to meet him at the Lyceum to see Sly Stone play, and I brought with me a left-handed Stratocaster. I just found it, I think I bought it at Orange Music. I’d never seen one before, and I was gonna give it to him.”
Coping with the Loss
The unexpected passing of Hendrix left Clapton in a state of anger and sorrow. He found it difficult to engage with Hendrix’s music or discuss him, as it intensified his sense of loss. Clapton expressed his turmoil:
“After Jimi died, I was angry. I was incredibly angry. I thought it was, not selfish on his part but just erm, a lonely feeling—to be left alone. And after that, I kept running into people who kept shoving him down my throat ‘Have you heard this one he did, this one’s never been on record before.’”
A Lasting Memory
The left-handed Stratocaster stayed with Clapton and was a sad memory of his friend. The fact that this promise wasn’t kept showed how close they were and how Hendrix’s death left a void. The guitar was a sign of how much they respected each other and how music brought them together.
