Hanging out with Hendrix
Jimi puts the kettle on at 34 Montagu Square
Amanda Uren
1967
34 Montagu Square, in Marylebone, London, is a part of music history. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr leased the ground-floor and basement apartment in the mid-1960s, and Paul McCartney created several Beatles demos there in 1965, including "I'm Looking Through You" from the album Revolver.
Jimi Hendrix also lived in the apartment, subletting it from Ringo beginning in December 1966. He lived with his girlfriend, Kathy Etchingham, and also with his manager, Chas Chandler, and his girlfriend, Lotta Null. The monthly rent was £30.It was a seminal time in Jimi's career. He released "Purple Haze" in March 1967, the same year he played at the Monterey Pop Festival after Paul McCartney recommended him. It was at this festival that Jimi famously set his guitar on fire at the end of his performance.He also wrote "The Wind Cries Mary" at the apartment, following an argument he had with Kathy (her middle name was Mary) over her ability to cook. Kathy stormed out. The song was released in May 1967 and reached No. 6 on the British charts.But Jimi's time at 34 Montagu Square came to an abrupt end in 1967, when Ringo evicted him for throwing whitewash over the walls while on an acid trip.Later, a third Beatle, John Lennon, rented the apartment for three months in the latter half of 1968 with Yoko Ono. The cover photograph of their album Two Virgins was taken at the address.These photographs, from photojournalist Petra Niemeier, capture Jimi at the famed 34 Montagu Square.
Individual is unable to conform to military rules and regulations. Misses bed check: sleeps while supposed to be working: unsatisfactory duty performance. - US Army report on James Hendrix
He could be grumpy, and he could be terrible in the studio, getting exactly what he wanted – but he was fun, he was charming. - Kathy Etchingham
