Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 poster
Repoducing a Historical Relic: The Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 Poster
Prepare to be captivated by this extraordinary print, a faithful recreation of the original Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 poster. This isn’t just a poster; it’s a direct window into a pivotal moment in rock history. The design is stark and striking, featuring bold black text set against a pale green background.
It’s a testament to the straightforward, typographical style common for concert announcements of the era, relying solely on clear text to convey the essential information. There’s no imagery to distract from the details; the power of the event itself is enough to command attention. This unadorned approach makes the Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 poster a compelling piece of historical memorabilia.
This compelling Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 poster advertises a monumental performance at the Memorial Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Interestingly, the event was organised by the Cotillion Club. Historically, a cotillion was a formal dance or ball, often marking a significant societal event, such as a debutante’s introduction.
These events were formal, focusing on teaching young attendees social skills, manners, and dance etiquette. Common in the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, their popularity waned over time.
In modern times, the concept of a cotillion has evolved. Cotillion clubs still exist as social organisations, aiming to teach young people social skills, etiquette, and dance, often including formal styles like ballroom dancing. They are designed to foster confidence and social competence.
The seemingly incongruous idea of these clubs introducing young debutantes to the raw, electrifying energy of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, as announced on the Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 poster, adds an intriguing layer to this historical event.
A Night of Legendary Sounds: Buddy Miles Express and Cat Mother
As the Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum ’69 poster proudly announces, the show took place on Wednesday, 7th May 1969, featuring support from the Buddy Miles Express and Cat Mother. The Buddy Miles Express was the brainchild of drummer and vocalist George Allen “Buddy” Miles Jr., an American rock and soul musician who rose to prominence in the late 1960s. He was renowned for his association with Jimi Hendrix, later drumming for the iconic Band of Gypsys.
The band was a pioneering psychedelic soul and funk outfit, releasing several albums during their active years. Their music, exemplified by albums like “Expressway to Your Skull” (1968), was characterised by a powerful fusion of rock, soul, and funk elements, showcasing Buddy Miles’ formidable vocals and drumming. Buddy Miles’ continued influence in the music industry cemented his legacy in the development of rock, soul, and funk.
Cat Mother, or Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys, was an American rock band formed in New York City in the late 1960s. Known for their eclectic blend of rock, blues, jazz, and psychedelic music, they gained recognition with their self-titled debut album in 1969. While their cover of “Good Old Rock ‘n’ Roll” garnered some airplay, their connection with Hendrix, highlighted by the Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 poster, brought them attention, though widespread commercial success eluded them.
Hendrix’s Whirlwind Day: Studio Jams and Southern Sojourn
Although not explicitly named on the Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 poster, concert archives reveal that Fat Mattress was the opening act that evening. Fat Mattress, an English folk-rock band, was formed in Folkestone, England, in 1968.
The group included guitarist and vocalist Noel Redding, then a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. This venture was intended to provide an outlet for Redding’s creative pursuits, allowing him to write, play guitar, sing lead, and record original material—opportunities that were rare within the Experience.
To the music press, the fact that Fat Mattress was slated as the opening act for the 1969 American tour seemed as much a concession to keep Noel in the band as a musical decision. It also intensified speculation that the Jimi Hendrix Experience was on the verge of splitting, adding a dramatic backstory to the event advertised by the Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum ’69 poster.
May 7th, 1969, the very day featured on the Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum ’69 poster, was a remarkably busy one for Jimi. Sessions for the Experience’s third album, Electric Ladyland, had begun much earlier and resumed on 18th April 1968, at the newly opened Record Plant Studios in New York City. To unwind, Jimi frequently visited New York’s vibrant bars and nightclubs, particularly Steve Paul’s The Scene on West 46th Street.
As chronicled in David Henderson’s 1978 biography, ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky, The Scene became Jimi’s sanctuary – a dark, intimate, and almost labyrinthine space where he could party, socialise, or simply relax, free from fan intrusion. Crucially, it was a place where he could play music whenever the inspiration struck, a “mini forum model for every arena he would ever play.”
In the early hours of that pivotal 7th May, Jimi returned to the Record Plant from The Scene Club with Stephen Stills and Johnny Winter. This impromptu gathering resulted in a lengthy jam session, producing tracks like “Jam #1,” “Jam #2,” and “Ships Passing Through The Night,” culminating in a rousing rendition of Guitar Slim’s “The Things I Used To Do.” This version, featuring Johnny Winter on slide guitar, was officially released in 2018 on the compilation Both Sides of the Sky.
This wasn’t Hendrix’s first spontaneous studio collaboration. Just five days prior, after an evening at the club, he had returned with Mitch Mitchell, Steve Winwood, and Jack Casady. This session saw the makeshift group perform three takes of a tune based on Muddy Waters’ “Rollin’ Stone,” with the final take forming the basis of “Voodoo Chile,” one of Hendrix’s most iconic songs, recorded by the Experience the following day.
In the afternoon of 7th May, after these late-night studio excursions, Hendrix, Mitchell, Redding, and their road crew flew to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They checked into the Ramada Inn before their 8 pm performance at the Memorial Coliseum, advertised by the now-legendary Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum ’69 poster.
While no reviews of the show appear to exist, and considering the Jimi Hendrix Experience was one of the most bootlegged bands of the era, we know the set included “Johnny B. Goode,” “Foxey Lady,” and “Red House.”
Experience the Legacy
Owning a replica of the Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 poster is more than just having a print; it’s owning a piece of music history. It commemorates a night where a music legend, fresh from late-night jams and studio brilliance, delivered an unforgettable performance, forever etched into the annals of rock.
Other Jimi Hendrix posters
Jimi Hendrix was just 16 years old when he made his stage debut at the Temple De Hirsch Sinai synagogue in Seattle in 1959. It didn’t go well! His bandmates at the time thought he was too flashy and tried to steal the show. It didn’t hold him back. Throughout the latter half of 1965, and into the first part of 1966, Jimmy played the rounds of smaller venues throughout Greenwich Village, catching up with Animals’ bassist Chas Chandler during a July performance at Cafe Wha?
The ex-Animals bassist, Chandler was soon to become Hendrix’s manager. Hendrix’s debut UK performance took place in a discrete little meeting place in the heart of Mayfair. It was the opening night for The Scotch Of St James and the event was attended by the elite of the British music scene including members of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Who, The Kinks, The Animals and The Hollies.
Between September 1966 and September 1970, and that first UK appearance to his final gig at the Isle of Fehmarn Festival in Germany, Jimi Hendrix played over 600 shows. Logic suggests that this means that nearly 600 posters will have been designed and printed advertising the legendary artists shows. As well as this Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 poster a few of our favourites include.
The Sun Devils Gym poster features an image of the rock god reversed out of black and printed onto bright orange paper. It was produced to promote a show that took place on February 5 1968 in Tempe, Arizona. We love that the admission price appears on the poster stating entry cost just $3. The bright, bold poster looks fabulous, especially in the larger sizes.
Another bold, bright orange poster from 1968 promoted two shows at the Fillmore East in New York City. The wonderfully psychedelic image includes cameos of Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell. The poster is considered to be one of the holy grails from the psychedelic-era. It’s an extremely rare poster in its original form. One original copy sold for $6,400 back in 2014.
A personal favorite is a 1970 Isle of Wight Festival poster. Although not strictly a Jimi Hendrix poster, his name appears in the three-day line-up along with artists including The Doors, The Who, and Jethro Tull. The poster depicts a cool image of a psychedelic drummer.
How much is an original 1969 Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum concert poster worth?
Hendrix’s short time in the limelight, tragically curtailed by his premature passing, has resulted in a scarcity of memorabilia from his extraordinary career. Despite gracing the stage in over 500 shows, the posters announcing the events were
The fact that all three band members have now passed away, contributes to the exceptional rarity of Hendrix memorabilia. As a result, collectors highly covet these items, making them incredibly valuable in the eyes of enthusiasts. And, once in private collections they rarely come to market.
This Jimi Hendrix Memorial Coliseum 69 poster is one that originally had a relatively low print run and not many of the original 1969 posters are known to have survived. The only original copy we could find was sold by auction as far back as 2017. Back then, the poster achieved a hammer price of just over $1,00. More recent auction estimates value the poster between $2000-$4000.
Undoubtedly, securing an original copy, if within your means, is a triumphant feat. Owning an authentic Jimi Hendrix poster is an unparalleled experience and often proves to be a savvy investment. It’s highly likely that in just a few years, you could sell it for a handsome profit.
For many, investing in such a prized possession, even at entry-level poster collecting prices, remains a distant dream. This is precisely where our exquisite high-quality reproductions step in. They come at a fraction of the price of an original and exude unparalleled splendor when elegantly framed and displayed in your Red House.
Don’t miss the chance to own a piece of this musical legend’s legacy. Don’t wait until tomorrow, order your copy today and bring a bit of Spanish Castle Magic into your home. You won’t be disappointed.
