Editing Jimi Hendrix (section)

=== Band of Gypsys ===
{{Main|Band of Gypsys}}

A legal dispute arose in 1966 regarding a record contract that Hendrix had entered into the previous year with producer Ed Chalpin.{{sfn|Moskowitz|2010|pp=6, 37–38}} After two years of litigation, the parties agreed to a resolution that granted Chalpin the distribution rights to an album of original Hendrix material. Hendrix decided that they would record the LP, ''[[Band of Gypsys]]'', during two live appearances.{{sfn|Shadwick|2003|pp=156, 214}} In preparation for the shows he formed an all-black [[power trio]] with Cox and drummer [[Buddy Miles]], formerly with Wilson Pickett, [[the Electric Flag]], and the [[Buddy Miles Express]].{{sfn|Unterberger|2009|pp=106–112}} Critic [[John Rockwell]] described Hendrix and Miles as [[Jazz fusion|jazz-rock fusionists]], and their collaboration as pioneering.{{sfn|Murray|1989|p=202}} Others identified a [[funk]] and [[soul music|soul]] influence in their music.{{sfn|Heatley|2009|p=118}} [[Tour promoter|Concert promoter]] Bill Graham called the shows "the most brilliant, emotional display of virtuoso electric guitar" that he had ever heard.{{sfn|Shadwick|2003|p=214}} Biographers have speculated that Hendrix formed the band in an effort to appease members of the [[Black Power]] movement and others in the black communities who called for him to use his fame to speak up for civil rights.{{sfn|Unterberger|2009|p=95}}

{{listen|filename=Jimi Hendrix performing "Machine Gun", 1 January 1970.ogg|title="Machine Gun" |description=An excerpt from the first guitar solo that demonstrates Hendrix's innovative use of high gain and overdrive to achieve an aggressive, sustained tone.}}

Hendrix had been recording with Cox since April and jamming with Miles since September, and the trio wrote and rehearsed material which they performed at a series of four shows over two nights on December 31 and January 1, at the [[Fillmore East]]. They used recordings of these concerts to assemble the LP, which was produced by Hendrix.{{sfn|McDermott|2009|pp=189–193}} The album includes the track "[[Machine Gun (Jimi Hendrix song)|Machine Gun]]", which musicologist Andy Aledort described as the pinnacle of Hendrix's career, and "the premiere example of [his] unparalleled genius as a rock guitarist&nbsp;... In this performance, Jimi transcended the medium of rock music, and set an entirely new standard for the potential of electric guitar."{{sfn|Aledort|1998|p=40}} During the song's extended instrumental breaks, Hendrix created sounds with his guitar that sonically represented warfare, including rockets, bombs, and diving planes.{{sfn|Heatley|2009|pp=118–119}}

The ''Band of Gypsys'' album was the only official live Hendrix LP made commercially available during his lifetime; several tracks from the Woodstock and Monterey shows were released later that year.{{sfn|Unterberger|2009|p=156}} The album was released in April 1970 by [[Capitol Records]]; it reached the top ten in both the US and the UK.{{sfn|Shadwick|2003|p=214}} That same month a single was issued with "[[Stepping Stone (Jimi Hendrix song)|Stepping Stone]]" as the A-side and "Izabella" as the B-side, but Hendrix was dissatisfied with the quality of the mastering and he demanded that it be withdrawn and re-mixed, preventing the songs from charting and resulting in Hendrix's least successful single; it was also his last.{{sfn|Shadwick|2003|p=221}}

On January 28, 1970, a third and final Band of Gypsys appearance took place; they performed during a music festival at [[Madison Square Garden]] benefiting the anti-Vietnam War [[Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam|Moratorium Committee]] titled the "Winter Festival for Peace".<ref>{{harvnb|Roby|2002|p=159}}; {{harvnb|Unterberger|2009|p=112}}.</ref> American blues guitarist [[Johnny Winter]] was backstage before the concert; he recalled: "[Hendrix] came in with his head down, sat on the couch alone, and put his head in his hands&nbsp;... He didn't move until it was time for the show."{{sfn|Roby|2002|p=159}} Minutes after taking the stage he snapped a vulgar response at a woman who had shouted a request for "Foxy Lady". He then began playing "Earth Blues" before telling the audience: "That's what happens when earth fucks with space".{{sfn|Roby|2002|p=159}} Moments later, he briefly sat down on the drum riser before leaving the stage.{{sfn|Roby|2002|pp=159–160}} Both Miles and Redding later stated that Jeffery had given Hendrix LSD before the performance.<ref>{{harvnb|Redding|Appleby|1996|p=142}}: Redding saw Jeffery give Hendrix a tablet; {{harvnb|Roby|2002|pp=159–160}}: Miles saw Jeffery give Hendrix [[lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]].</ref> Miles believed that Jeffery gave Hendrix the drugs in an effort to sabotage the current band and bring about the return of the original Experience lineup.{{sfn|Roby|2002|pp=159–160}} Jeffery fired Miles after the show and Cox quit, ending the Band of Gypsys.{{sfn|Moskowitz|2010|p=72}}