Why Jimi Hendrix Got Banned On BBC

In the late 1960s, the BBC was known for its strict rules, banning musicians for even minor offenses. One of the most infamous cases was Jimi Hendrix and The Experience getting blacklisted after an unforgettable performance on Happening for Lulu. Looking back, their “crime” was simply being too cool for the script.

Hendrix Goes Off-Script for Cream

The plan seemed straightforward. Hendrix and The Experience were set to play “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” and follow it up with “Hey Joe,” where Lulu, the show’s host, would join in toward the end. Everything went smoothly at first. They played “Voodoo Child” as expected and began “Hey Joe” as planned. But then Hendrix did something no one anticipated.

Midway through “Hey Joe,” Hendrix stopped the song and addressed the audience:

“We’d like to stop playing this rubbish and dedicate a song to the Cream, regardless of what kind of group they may be in. We dedicate this to Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce.”

It was a heartfelt nod to Cream, who had recently announced their breakup. Without missing a beat, Hendrix and the band launched into an impromptu, fiery rendition of “Sunshine of Your Love.” The performance was electrifying, but not everyone appreciated the spontaneity.

The BBC Reacts

The show’s producer, Stanley Dorfman, was anything but amused. Bassist Noel Redding later described the chaos in his memoir:

“This was fun for us, but producer Stanley Dorfman didn’t take it at all well as the minutes ticked by on his live show. Short of running onto the set to stop us or pulling the plug, there was nothing he could do.”

As the band played on, ignoring time constraints and Lulu’s planned appearance, Dorfman could only silently fume. “We played past the point where Lulu might have joined us, played through the time for talking at the end, played through Stanley tearing his hair, pointing to his watch, and silently screaming at us,” Redding recalled.

The bold move earned Hendrix and his band a ban from the BBC for his reputation as a rebellious innovator.

The Legacy of Breaking the Rules

The stunt didn’t just shake up the BBC; it also inspired future musicians to defy the script. Eight years later, Elvis Costello pulled a similar move on Saturday Night Live, pausing his planned set to play an unapproved song. Costello later admitted Hendrix’s boldness influenced his decision.

For Hendrix, the ban was just another chapter in his legacy of pushing boundaries and making history.