bandgypysstory1

The Band Of Gypsys project is open to many opinions.
It will always be difficult to know the truth, but there are a lot of theories as to why The Band of Gypsys formed and broke up.
I prefer the most simplest explanation and I believe this to be the most
realistic.
We are all aware that Jimi signed an agreement with that rascal
Ed Chalpin in his early days as a musician that he had some recording
rights. Well when Jimi did make it Ed obviously wanted to cash in and
presented Jimi and Reprise records with a law suit for an album in 1969. Reprise under the parenthood of Warner Brothers recognises the
law suit was legal and agreed that Capitol could have an album.
All of the releases from 1967 had been under the bands title of
" The Jimi Hendrix Experience". Warner decided that Capitol could
have an album as long as it was nothing to do with the Experience
in name or recording!
The Jimi Hendrix Experience had officially concluded in June 69.
Jimi had appeared at Woodstock in August with a new line up.
Jimi was in an a strange situation, the band he was working with
from Aug 69 was not working out. He had Billy Cox and Mitch
Mitchell but he had no direction. He was in Limbo when the law
suit came. Mitch returned to England around late October and Jimi
recorded in various studios with Billy Cox and other musicians.
It was a very loose period in Jimi� s career. Buddy Miles was a
competent drummer who had regularly sat in Jam sessions. The
perfect solution for Jimi was to record a live album and deliver it to Capitol records. Billy Cox was aware of Jimi�s situation and as a close
friend wanted to help Jimi out of this lawsuit. He approached Miles
and they agreed that to work with Jimi was a solution to the whole
problem. So with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles the three jammed out during Nov and Dec 69 and prepared to do the album promised to Capitol.
The easiest way to deliver an album quickly was to record live and
deliver. The Dates were set that Jimi would play under the title of
Band of Gypsys four shows in two days Dec 31st 1969 and Jan 1st 1970.