Watch Red Hot Chili Peppers’ manic cover Jimi Hendrix song ‘Purple Haze’
The Red Hot Chili Peppers offering their own reinterpretations of Jimi Hendrix’s iconic tracks stands as a testament to their reverence for Hendrix’s musical legacy, one that continues to echo the halls of rock and roll history to this very day.
While infusing their unique style and energy into Hendrix’s timeless classics, Red Hot Chili Peppers delivered a short but emphatic live performance at a charitable event in 2018. The show was organised to raise money in support of the nonprofit Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a foundation close to the heart of the Chili Peppers.
Their admiration for Hendrix is palpable, showcasing their deep appreciation for his groundbreaking contributions to rock music. Their cover of ‘Purple Haze’ serves as a bridge between generations, introducing a new audience to Hendrix’s timeless artistry while simultaneously honouring his enduring impact on their own musical journey.
The song, which was originally released as the second record single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience on March 17th, 1967, propelled the now-iconic guitarist to international stardom as the song hit the number one spot in charts around the world. “I dream a lot and I put my dreams down as songs,” Hendrix once said when asked about how he came up with the track.
The guitarist added: “I wrote one called ‘First Look Around the Corner’ and another called ‘The Purple Haze,’ which was about a dream I had that I was walking under the sea.”
At its core, ‘Purple Haze’ embodies the essence of the psychedelic era. The track’s hypnotic guitar work, coupled with Hendrix’s distinctive vocals, transported listeners into a realm where the boundaries between reality and imagination blurred – a domain not too dissimilar to the one Red Hot Chili Peppers attempt to build with their own material.
In the hazy blaze of 1960s counterculture, amid swirling weed clouds and a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours, ‘Purple Haze’ would emerge as the psychedelic anthem of a generation – a track that is arguably now remembered as Hednrix’s very best.
The Chili Peppers paid homage to Hendrix as part of their seven-song set in LA a few years ago. The band has been affiliated with Silverlake Conservatory of Music for years after bass player Flea helped found the organisation in 2001. “Every time I walk in this place, my heart swells with joy,” Flea told the small, intimate crowd.
“If you ever had a good idea, a music school or something else that can uplift people, do it,” he added. “I’m a dundering moron. If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
See the clip below.
