The Unlikely Catalyst: How Mike matthews Helped Jimi Hendrix launch His Solo Journey
Jimi Hendrix’s emergence as a solo artist marks a transformative chapter in the evolution of electric guitar music. In an eye-opening discussion with Guitar World, Mike Matthews, the visionary behind Electro-harmonix, reveals that hendrix’s iconic career may not have taken flight without his influence.
A Fortuitous Encounter
Their paths crossed during hendrix’s tenure with Curtis Knight and the Squires, while Matthews was busy organizing performances at the Highway Inn in Long Island. It was a pivotal moment in music history.
Matthews had secured a booking for the legendary Chuck Berry, whose agent insisted that the Squires also perform. “I had no idea who they were,” Matthews reminisces. “Chuck would play two shows a night, and after the first, I went backstage to tally the ticket sales while Curtis Knight and the Squires took the stage.”
During this time,Steve knapp,the guitarist supporting Berry,rushed to Matthews with an urgent message: “You need to hear this guitarist. He’s phenomenal—his name is Jimmy James.”
As it turns out, Jimmy James was none other than the young jimi Hendrix. “I was impressed by his talent,” Matthews recalls modestly.
Building a Friendship
The two quickly formed a bond, with Matthews frequently visiting Hendrix in New York, where the future guitar legend was residing in a modest hotel. “he had his hair in pink curlers,and we would chat about band dynamics,” Matthews shares. “One night, during a break at a gig, he confided in me, ‘Mike, I need to leave. I want to start my own band and be the primary songwriter.’”
Matthews offered crucial advice: “If you want to be the main songwriter, you need to take on the role of vocalist.”
“That’s the issue, Mike. I can’t sing,” Hendrix reportedly replied. Matthews encouraged him to reconsider, pointing out, “Look at Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger. They may not have customary singing voices, but they know how to deliver their lyrics in a captivating way.”
“You make a valid point,” Hendrix acknowledged.
Overcoming Doubts
Despite his initial reservations about singing, Hendrix eventually stepped up to the microphone, producing some of the moast influential albums in rock history. It’s likely that Matthews’ encouragement played a important role in this pivotal decision.
Influencing Gear choices
In addition to his vocal encouragement,Matthews also impacted Hendrix’s equipment choices. He sold his first Electro-Harmonix Big Muff fuzz pedals to Manny’s Music in New York,where he later learned from henry Goldrich,Manny’s son,that Hendrix had purchased one.
Although Hendrix never used the pedal in live performances, Matthews asserts, “Hendrix always invited me to the studio, and I noticed a Big Muff on the floor during one of my visits.”
Legacy Lives On
Hendrix’s legacy continues through the Experience Hendrix tour,featuring guitar legends like Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Eric Johnson,who have performed with the iconic ‘Izabella’ Stratocaster that Hendrix played at Woodstock.
In other recent developments, Matthews has shared insights into the challenges faced by Electro-Harmonix due to tariffs imposed during the Trump management.
