Imagine a world where one of the greatest guitarists of all time rocked the least expected of places. Ilkley, West Yorkshire, known more for its rolling hills and spa town charm than for its rock ‘n’ roll credentials, experienced just that moment in time. On a chilly Sunday night in 1967, Jimi Hendrix, an American guitarist with a burgeoning reputation, turned the posh Troutbeck Hotel into a music venue that those lucky enough to be there would never forget. Let us take you back to that night, as we explore how Hendrix’s performance became an iconic moment in Yorkshire history and left a lasting legacy in Ilkley.
Jimi Hendrix’s Historic Performance in Ilkley: A Prelude to Stardom
In March 1967, Ilkley was buzzing for a reason other than its renowned moor. The Troutbeck Hotel, a venue accustomed to hosting more genteel gatherings, was about to welcome Jimi Hendrix, a name that was just beginning to send shockwaves through the music world. This gig, part of a mini-tour in the North of England, was not just another performance; it was a testament to Hendrix’s meteoric rise and a rare moment when the future guitar god graced a small stage in a town far removed from the usual 1960s rock ‘n’ roll hotspots.
Behind the Scenes: How Jimi Hendrix’s Legendary Yorkshire Gig Came to Be
Chas Chandler, the visionary ex-bassist for the Animals, had discovered Hendrix in a New York club in 1966 and brought him to England in September that year with dreams of stardom. By the end of the year, Hendrix’s explosive talent was impossible to ignore.
Hendrix was booked on a mini-tour of the North of England, playing Newcastle, Leeds, and Ilkley. All three dates were organised by local Yorkshire promoters Stuart Frais and Danny Pollock.
The still relatively unknown Hendrix had been spotted by 20 year old Fraise in a London nightclub.
“I’d booked The Animals before and knew bassist Chas Chandler,” Frais recalls. “By the end of 1966, Chas was managing a newcomer from the States called Jimi Hendrix, who he introduced to me when I bumped into him at the London music scene hangout of the time, The Bag O’ Nails.”
Frais continues, “I took one look at him and I thought I thought I’ve never seen anything like him. He was dressed as everybody knows what Jimi Hendrix used to dress like and I thought, I’ve got to have this guy, I’ve got to book him.”
Frais didn’t even know what Hendrix’s music sounded like, “It didn’t matter it could have been an opera singer for all I knew. He looked like nobody I’d seen before and I was intrigued.”
A few months later, Chandler telephoned Frais and the two agreed set up a few dates in the North of England. It’s worth noting that at this point, with Hendrix being unknown in the UK, the bookings were a bit of a gamble financially. The aim was simple – to introduce his emerging talent to a wider audience.
Rising Fame Meets Northern England: Jimi Hendrix’s Tour Amidst Surging Popularity
Though the tour had been arranged when Hendrix was not so well-known, by the time he and his band, The Experience, arrived in England, his first single Hey Joe, had proved a big hit; released in December 1966 the song entered the Top 10 of the UK singles chart in January 1967 and peaked at No. 6.
Despite his burgeoning fame, and to Hendrix and his management’s credit, he decided to honour the short tour of small northern gigs.
Hendrix and the band played the Club A Go Go in Newcastle then arrived in Leeds for their gig on 11th March 1967 at The International Club, a blues club in a converted synagogue in Chapeltown. The gig was poorly attended and of those that did turn up, one or two were less than impressed – one bloke is alleged to have heckled Jimi outside after the show and shouted: “Hendrix, you’re shit!”
With such an underwhelming experience in Leeds behind them, Jimi and his band then travelled to Ilkley where they stayed at The Crescent Hotel that night.
An Unforgettable Night in Ilkley: The Gig That Ended in Chaos
Sunday March 12th 1967, a night that will forever be etched into Ilkley legend.
Vince Philpotts, was a regular at the Gyro club. “Well for us it was a normal Sunday night. We came here every Sunday but it was just a bit special this time because we’d heard about this new American guitarist on his way up being booked. There were queues right down the hotel, right outside and the atmosphere was just buzzing you know as all these kids wanting to see this you know way out new guitarist.”
With the crowd crammed into the ballroom like sardines, anticipation grew. Jimi Hendrix and The Experience came on stage to a deafening roar.
Philpotts, recounted what it was like when Hendrix started to play the first song, “When he struck up it wasn’t noise it was sheer power that hit you.”
The joy, however, was short-lived. Only a few bars into Jimi’s second song and the gig was brought to a dramatic end.
The police had initially been called to the venue by local residents because cars were blocking roads and had been parked on private drives and they had gone to find the vehicle’s owners.
“I just walked in and I was met with all these people,” Sgt Tommy Chapman of the West Riding Constabulary told ITV. “The manager said that there was over 900 there. There should have been 250. When I looked into the ballroom they were shoulder to shoulder and I had to push my way through to get to the edge of the stage and I’d spoke to the chap playing the guitar, I didn’t know who he was, but he didn’t stop playing.”
Philpotts described Hendrix’s reaction. “Jimmy in his haste had whopped it up to full volume and just kept backing into the amp slowly so hence voluminous feedback.”
With the band noncompliant, Sgt Chapman felt that he had no choice and cut the power. Hendrix took the abrupt stop with good grace. “He just obeyed it,” recalls Frais, “He was a very well mannered nice guy.”
The crowd didn’t take the sudden halt quite so well. There were reports of pictures being torn from walls and chairs being thrown onto the stage. A local newspaper later ran a headline that read: ‘Pop Fans Ran Amok in Hotel.’
Fans received a five shilling refund, despite paying ten shillings for their tickets, though some cheeky opportunists were said to have queued up twice to receive two refunds. In the end, it took two hours to clear the hall.
When asked if he ever felt like a bit of a spoil sport for shutting down the gig, Sgt Cooper said, “No, no, because I had visions that if a fire started or there was a fight started or some incident started they could have been panic and people could have got injured.”
Jimi Hendrix: The Man Behind the Music – A Glimpse into His Humble Side
After the gig, Hendrix stopped off for fish and chip supper at Harry Ramsdens in Guiseley.
One woman, Sheila Lilley, who had been to the gig was also there and spotted him in the queue. “I ripped off a piece of fish and chip paper and went over and asked for his autograph.” On the scrap of greasy paper, Hendrix wrote, “Love to you Jimi Hendrix.”
Sheila’s tatty piece of paper could now be worth a tidy sum. One Hendrix signature has been recently uncovered in Scunthorpe. Sold at auction in February 2024, it fetched £5,800.
Then the band’s party went back to stay at Frais’ flat in Hyde Park, Leeds. Frais remembers Hendrix as being a really nice man:
“He was a sensitive, sweet guy – a really lovely bloke. Perhaps that was why he ended up as he did – maybe he couldn’t say no to people!”
Jimi Hendrix’s Legacy: From Ilkley to Iconic Status
Jimi Hendrix, went on to become a true legend in the music world. Five days after his gig in Ilkley, Hendrix’s second single, Purple Haze, came out on Track Records; the new label’s very first release. Purple Haze peaked at No. 3 in the charts and went on to sell over 400,000 copies in the UK, posthumously earning Hendrix a Gold certification by the British Phonographic Industry in 2022
Hendrix left an indelible mark within a short span. Before his sudden passing in 1970, he climbed to the pinnacle of success over just four years. He was the top-earning artist of his time and he headlined two of the most iconic festivals of all time, Woodstock and the Isle of Wight Festival.
Over half a century later, Hendrix’s tunes haven’t just survived; they’ve thrived, echoing through the ages. His unique sound continues to resonate, weaving its way into the fabric of today’s diverse musical landscape.
The Enduring Legend of Hendrix in Ilkley: Myth, Memory, and Music
The gig Hendrix played that night at Ilkley’s Gyro Club has also passed into legend.
After the sensationalism of the gig had died down, the night quietly entered into local folklore. For many years, “The night that Hendrix played Ilkley” was thought to have just been an urban myth, known only to locals but over the last 20 years or so, the truth of that night’s amazing events has garnered wider recognition.
The iconic gig has been featured on TV with segments by Ian Clayton for ITV’s “I Was There” and Andy Kershaw for the BBC’s One Show.
A paper flyer advertising the rock star’s gig at the ballroom of the former Troutbeck Hotel on March 12, 1967 has been sold for £625 by an American dealer in 2002.
In 2008, Lancashire brewery Moorhouse’s named a special beer “Jimi” to commemorate the event, on the suggestion of the Crescent Hotel in Ilkley.
The Troutbeck closed as a hotel and was converted in a nursing care home, with the old ballroom converted into residents bedrooms at some point in the early 2000s. In January 2024 the home announced its voluntary closure following the publication of a damning inspection report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The home’s future is uncertain at this point in time.
Discovering More About Ilkley
The town of Ilkley itself is a blend of history and modern charm. A long-established spa town, it boasts a history that stretches back to the Roman era and beyond. With its Victorian-era architecture, broad tree-lined streets, and a range of shops and restaurants, Ilkley is the perfect place to unwind after a day on the moors. Don’t miss the chance to visit the Ilkley Manor House, a historic site now serving as a museum and art gallery.
You can discover all about Ilkley with our travel guides:
Ilkley – Facts and History
Ilkley – Attractions and Activities
Ilkley – Accommodation and Food and Drink
