Jimi Hendrix Experience 1966 French Tour

NOW AVAILABLE

It was recently the 55th anniversary of the Jimi Hendrix Experience's very first performance in France, so we asked Coby Schultz of the dynamic duo of Ames Bros to create a limited edition screenprint commemorating the iconic event for us!

When Jimi Hendrix first arrived in Europe in 1966 it wasn’t long until this American import was soon everything everyone ever wanted. The name on everybody’s lips was Jimi’s and he quickly became the talk of the musical world, engrossing every column writer and reader alike. It was only a week after the Jimi Hendrix Experience formed when they would set out on a short run of dates in France—and their first performance was a triumph.

Their first show saw them perform at Cinéma Novelty in Évreux on October 13, 1966, before completing the run in Paris on October 18, 1966. They were quite the performances from the band and it showcased the power of the artist at the helm of the band. The setlist still remains unknown, however, from what audience members have said it is clear that the Experience aired their first single ‘Hey Joe‘. 

Soon after, the band went on to debut in the U.K, and quickly rose as one of the most popular rock acts in the world, with the band's legacy and strong influence remaining untouchable and growing to this day.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience band debuted on 10/13/1966. To create a poster for that show 55 years later? Daunting. What eased the mind was to simplify and put myself in the position of an artist commissioned to create a poster for the show, at the time. The the limited tools, colors, imagery, and even graphic abilities of the time. 

Often two colors was topping out. To make the most of that, using two colors alone to create motion and electricity in the art was imperative. The design follows the flow and expansion of Jimi’s effect on all of us. We hear him today, like he was heard then. Inspirational. Complex. Simple. Timeless. - Coby Schultz