Saturday, June 06, 2015

Isle of Wight Festival Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
By A County Press reporter
Friday, June 5, 2015

ISLE of Wight Festival boss John Giddings has revealed a special tribute to legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix at this year's event.

To mark 45 years since Hendrix's set at the Isle of Wight Festival at Afton Down, witnessed by a young John Giddings, he has renamed the main stage at this year's event The Electric Church.

Hendrix's performance was his last at a UK festival, before his death in September 1970. He played several other concerts on the European mainland until Sept. 6. He died under mysterious circumstances on Sept. 18 in London.

John Giddings said: "Jimi’s contribution to both the Island and the festival has been immense.  By naming our main stage 'The Electric Church’ we hope to build on his legacy at the festival as well as paying tribute to his unique contribution to music which will always be remembered by the festival and the artists we have on our stage."

It is not the first time John Giddings has paid tribute to the star.

In 2006 he commissioned the creation and installation of a life-sized statue of Hendrix at Dimbola, as a permanent reminder of his cultural significance on the Isle of Wight.

Organisers hope revelers will pay their own tribute this year, by dressing up as Hendrix over the weekend, or by coming up with their own ways of marking the occasion.

A spokesman said there would be more announcements to come about how the anniversary would be marked.

This year’s festival will be headlined by Blur, Fleetwood Mac, The Black Keys and The Prodigy.

• Anyone who bought tickets from the Isle of Wight County Press Shop can now collect their wristbands. They must present their ticket and photographic ID.

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