“Behind us all the way”: The band Jimi Hendrix always wanted to join
In every story from Jimi Hendrix’s life, one thing rings true – the man was a huge music fan. Though more often talked about as a musical hero in his own right, which he was, Hendrix’s deep love for the music of others feels just as vital to his legacy. Regularly found at a gig, always being clued up on new releases and eager to jump at the chance to support others – this story is just one bit of evidence of Hendrix being truly in love with the art form.
It’s one of many. At every turn in Hendrix’s tragically short life and career, more stacks up. This was a man who once covered a Beatles track on stage the day after it came out, already obsessed and already caring enough to learn it. This was a man who was liberal with his praise, leaving behind a lot of information on his favourite artists simply because he talked about them openly and often. This was a man who, despite his own career keeping him incredibly busy, still made time to mess about at jam sessions or watch others play.
On this night, Hendrix was on the Sunset Strip. Despite now being a rundown tourist trap, back in the 1960s, the Los Angeles landing strip was a hot spot for rock and roll. Some of the best bands in history started out as house bands in the various clubs as those venues became hallowed halls, playing a role in launching music-changing careers. Hendrix was a frequent visitor, dropping into one spot or another to see what was going on.
In one place, Brothers Vegas were playing. At the centre, there was Lolly Vegas, the band’s guitarist. As Hendrix walked in, his eyes and ears immediately settled there as the historic player was blown away. In an instant, Vegas became one of his all-time favourite players.
It was a scene so thrilling that Hendrix immediately wanted to not just watch but be involved in it. “One day, he walked (into a club) and heard us. He threw off his jacket and ran up onstage, plugs in his guitar and started playing with us, and we jammed for an hour,” Pat Vegas, the band’s vocalist, said. Even that wasn’t enough for Hendrix. He was so amazed by the band that he seemed genuinely ready to give up his own solo efforts and join them instead, “Afterward, he said, ‘I’m joining the group’”, Vegas remembered.
That’s something to brag about. Not only having the praise of Hendrix but also having him want to join your band is the stuff of dreams. But even while the player couldn’t quite commit to that, part of him stayed with them forever. During their conversations, Hendrix swayed the band in a whole new direction, encouraging them to lean more into their Native American heritage. He suggested a name change and floated the idea of Redbone, a Louisiana term used to describe a mixed-race person. It stuck. From then on, that’s what they were called.
Hendrix would die before the band even got to release their second album. But from the moment they met to long after the legend was lost, the guitarist’s influence on Redbone remained as Vegas said, “He was behind us all the way.”
