I’ve watched nearly every Hendrix story on RUclips. This is the most satisfying because of this wonderful man who knew Jimi better than anyone. Everyone needs a friend like this. If this was 5 hours long I would watch every minute.
Jimi appeared to be a man in a hurry almost like a comet. Even while paying his dues, such a short period of time, he had to get to the next level. I could listen to Billy all day and what a man of class. Thanks for posting this special interview.
I've been a fan of Jimi since I was a teenager so when I clicked on this I thought there's nothing I don't already know (yeah right). But damn!! What a great interview. I didn't know squat about the very early days of Jimi and Billy's struggles in Nashville. I mean I knew that Jimi played the Chitlin Circuit but no details. I learned a lot to say the least! Billy is a great guy!
He had more. My Karate teacher lived in Greenwich Village in NYC. Aretha Franklin lived near by, and could be seen walking home with groceries. My teacher was a teacher of Self Defence for the Black Panther Movement. During this time Jimi Hendrix was playing small gigs but had no money to fall back on. He would often crash and sleep at my teachers apartment. In conjunction and verified by Biographers, Jimi was playing at a club in NYC when Ed McMahon approached him and offered a trip to England to start a band. Jimi asked my teacher David McConnell, "Dave man, what do you think I should do?" My Sensei told him, "Jimi your sleeping on my couch, what do you think?" The rest is established history.
There is an independent TV/video producer named David Kramer, who has been sitting on several key interviews from Jimi's friends/lovers...he supposedly is going to produce the definitive documentary on Hendrix..a serious collector friend of mine invited me to a private screening of these interviews...one guy in particular, was quite revelatory about his time with Jimi, when they were on the road with Little Richard...several hilarious stories, and a couple of descriptions of the various sexual encounters they had, with the low-rent groupies that would chase after them...I wonder if Janie and company bought Kramer out, or maybe he ran out of funds to make his Hendrix project...I hope his stash of insightful interviews eventually show up, somehow!
@@curbozer5006 Janie could certainly afford to buy him out at any price, being the daughter of a Fujita, on her mother's side. I'll stop right there, and let you guys figure it out.
@@criskatan I will say this....While Billy was a charming interview, you can notice that he was not about to get into serious details of Jimi's wild times, with drugs, ladies, etc...this is likely because he is an employee of that Janie Hendrix company, and Janie has tried hard to "whitewash" the seedier--yet real-aspects of Jimi's life as a traveling musician/rockstar...Billy himself had a few stories that I am sure he would not want to reveal to the public...we all have our little secrets...there certainly are some older ladies still around, that were involved with Hendrix...few of them are talking about their particular "Hendrix Experience"!
@@geetarman not according to my source. I would have never have given this a second thought had I not seem a similar story told by a Biographers, auth Henderson , a friend of Hendrix wrote the early and admittedly controversial book "Excuse me while I kiss the sky" which depicts Jimi being called to Ed McMahons table and given an offer. It's plausible first because McMahon was known to look for talent long before his own TV show. That and the fact was it was known that the mystique of any band coming from England was a good investment. But I wouldn't have based my statement of situational hear say of a biography. What impressed me was that a good friend of mine was a Black Belt in Karate during the 60s he had an apartment in Greenwich village. He use to tell us stories to illustrate other issues. He had spoke about his involvement with the Black Panthers and his knowing other people that lived in the area. This includes a neighborly friendship with Aretha Franklin. During a conversation he mentioned knowing Hendrix, and Hendrix occasionally stayed with him. This would make sense because the small amount of gig money and having to travel would make having his own place next to impossible. I was curious and respectfully asked how well he knew Jimi. He explained that Jimi was crashing on his couch and came home and asked him about the deal McMahon had offered. My friend told him, "well hell Jimi, your sleeping on my couch, what do you think." This was not related with any animosity. Understand my friend is a black man from South Carolina that we know for a fact that he stayed in NYC during the 60s studying from Peter Urban at his Chinatown Karate school, which was the first such school in the United States. It is highly doubtful that this man knew of the Henderson Biography, and yet the stories match. This is not to reject any claim by Chad Chandler or others. But perhaps he was involved after the fact.
Jimi was the sky and Billy was the earth Kept him grounded and Jimi stuck with him when he got dosed by Jefferies and had a serious episode Real Good friends
Real history. So interesting hear about the real man. Is there any proof about fbi taking him out. Now so much has come out but not enough … about monarch etc.
It's great to know that Jimi had such a great friend. I will never forget what Billy said "your true friends are the ones who stick with you when you're up and when you're down."
Such a good dude! You can tell he genuinely loved Jimi like a brother and was unaffected by all the fame related stuff...and HE was on bass during (imo) Jimi’s greatest live performance, “Machine Gun”.
Jimi was soooooo young, we all forget, he was such a young man, because he had an old soul. I’m still blown away, at 60, when I listen to him. I believe he was a kind soul who gave so much of himself. Although his,life path was short in time, it was magnificent, he was magnificent.
I met Billy . He owned a Pawn Shop called “ Capitol Pawn” . I had been reading a Hendrix book and someone told me Billy owned that Pawn Shop. So we went in and Dam there was Billy Cox. He was so cool. I was nervous , but he signed my book. I said “ do you remember when this pic was made? “ he said yeah. Billy was laughing in the picture so I asked him why he was laughing. He said “ Jimi always made everyone laugh.” This was 1996. Dam I still can’t find that book. I’m sure someone “ borrowed” it and kept it. 😩😩😩 But I will never forget that. I’ve lived in Nashville since I was born in ‘71. Nashville has grown so much since the 70s.
28:41 "Look man, if you've got a problem, I got one too" - the words of a true friend - who will stick with you no matter what - that is just wonderful xxx
oh my God, this is unbelievable. Billy Cox is a living legend. There needs to be a series of in depth interviews with him about these experiences. This is a link to a very important period of American musical history. This is seriously Alan Lomax, library of Congress level info that he's giving us.
As I have speculated, billy likely will not say too much more about his close relationship with Jimi...he is beholden to Experience Limited--Janie--and she insists on presenting Jimi as a God-fearing, Christian man who had few flaws....Hendrix was an amazing musician, but he was as flawed as anyone else who was living in the Fast Lane of super-stardom.
His kindness and humble demeanor reminds me of the legendary B.B. King! I got back stage tickets for a B.B.King show in Milwaukee WI... And B.B. was such a gentleman and signed pictures that he had made up... gave me a Lucille guitar pin and signed my back stage pass! A total class act.. And huge gold and diamond rings and a beautiful lady all dressed up on each side of him🥰...He reminds me of a down to earth type of person and class act, no matter how "famous" he gets!!👍🏻♥️🙏... Beautiful people making beautiful music 🎵🎶♥️
The thing about Billy, he supported Jimi in every way, and was supported BY Jimi, too. The thing about Jimi is that he was known as a good guy, and a friend to a number of people. There have never been any stories against Jimi, just a fine cat, all around his life. The fact that he was an amazing musician is our benefit of having shared some time on this earth to have been enriched by Jimi! Kudos to his family, for keeping his Experience alive, and on a good basis, up to the current day!
Hendrix was a complex man, essentially good, but given to fits of impulsivity--and violence towards women!...Please be more realistic when touting his legacy....a wonderful talent, but flawed like most of us!
@@cindyinnew You are dead wrong in your comments about Jimi Hendrix abusing women. There is no truth to it at all and your source of imformation is more than likely based upon that John Ridley directed film "All By My Side" which has a lot of inaccuracies about Jimi Hendrix. Even his girfriend Kathy Etchingman who is portrayed in the film as the women being beaten and abused has stated that it never happened and and she let the director of the film know that but he went ahead anyway and portrayed Jimi in that manner anyway, although he never treated her like that. Furthermore, Charles R. Cross who interviewd over 350 people who knew Jimi for his book "Room Full Of Mirrors" (and a lot those people were women who had relations with Jimi) claims that is untrue and his behaviours towards women and people in general were not violent at all. In fact, aside from his music (which by the way the Ridley film had none of) the legend of Jimi Hendrix is also based upon how well he always treated people and would even play music with people who could barely play an instrument. Get your stories straight and do your research before slandering someone who is not guilty of anything but making this world a better place!!!
@@curbozerboomer1773 Bullshit...that is not true. State your sources of information and the names of the "women that he was violent to" but you can't do that because there is no truth to your comment at all. Apparently you are the one who needs to "BE MORE REALISTIC" when making comments about others based upon nothing!!!
@@tyronesmith8250WORD! The ladies loved Jimi and he ❤ loved & respected them. NEVER EVER heard anything that supports the incorrect comment. He has ALWAYS been described as humble & soft spoken. Don't get it twisted! Fr!!
I had the good fortune to meet Billy Cox in approx 2010. I was employed at The Florida Theater in Jacksonville Florida. I was just walking around the house about an hour before the show and Billy was alone in the lobby area. I approached him, respectfully, and spoke to him for a few minutes. I didn't ask questions about Jimi. I was aware the Billy had problems dealing with the past, so I simply thanked him for being in town and he was nice enough to autograph a business card and give me a few of them. Nice guy.
"Love what you're doing and Love the people you're doing it with." Words to remember and to live by. Billy said in the early days people were more friendly. It may have seemed like a circus, but people were friendly. Musicians have never much cared about what color you are, but who you are; how well you played. That is respect for the person...the soul. It seems so few understand that simple truth.
This is GOLD! I've only seen/heard Billy on the Hendrix DVD and Band of Gypsies and afterward but this is the real essence of Hendrix's early days/years. They sound like they were a real genuine pair back in the day. Glad Hendrix kept his word to Billy.
Booker T. & the M.G's. I remember them, Billy. (Wow, back in the days.) I had the pleasure of seeing Jimi at Berkeley Community Center in 1970. I was 17. Fell in love with Jimi. Miss him so much. He said, " just keep playin' my music after I'm gone." So, I surely do. Great to see you well, my Bro'. Love, Bu.
Billy. What a beautiful man. You can tell he was a good friend to Jimi, somebody he could trust in a world where people were often trying to get something from him. Thank you Billy for being such an awesome human being!
What an awesome guy! The joy and pride that he felt about what he's accomplished just shines through while he's reminiscing is absolutely beautiful. He was a true friend to all the people he played with. I hope to get a chance to meet him, one day.
What a lovely, interesting Billy Cox is. A pleasure to watch with my eye now, and a pleasure to “watch”, with my imagination, 2 Army buddies’ friendship grow. What a happy man to be around. 🎸🎶
I like to think it is because Billy wtayed away from the various drugs that so many, including Hendrix, were messing with...but we know that he was "dosed" with LSD during that final tour, and it put him on a bad trip...he became paranoid, delusional, and went silent for days!...Jimi had to send him back to the states, to recover....Billy never seems to talk about that difficult situation.
What a lovely man. You can see why Jimi wanted to reconnect with him when things got a bit crazy in his career. He was a wise, solid friend, like a brother that, Jimi needed.
What a beautiful man. His humility and groundedness really shine here and I'm sure Jimi felt blessed to have him play such a big part in his formative years. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Sir!
I don't know when this was recorded but it sure is refreshing to hear a man speak of his history and society without all the big tears. It's pretty obvious he enjoyed his life and his history with Jimi.
Worked with Billy many times. He is one of the nicest, kindest musicians (humans) I have ever worked with. I can see why Billy was such a good friend of Jimi's.
I was at Jimi's last show with The Experience, Denver Pop Festival June 29 1969. I was next to the stage a few feet from Jimi for the last song "Voodoo Child". A cast iron tweeter horn was at my left leg and Jimi's guitar was piercing right through me. Then Noel just tossed his bass down and walked off. Noel quit the band. Mitch kept going and Jimi did too. Mitch eased off and Jimi kept playing . 3 guys came out and one grabbed the Strat and the other 2 physically picked Jimi up and carried him to the back off the stage. I went to the back area in time to see Jimi and the guys carry him down the steps. This was on the field were the Broncos played football. They literally tossed jimi into the back of a U-Haul truck where two guys caught him. There was a sofa in there and Mitch and Noel were sitting on it. The door was pulled down quickly, latched and a guy put a padlock on it. Fans were coming around and climbing on that truck as it slowly moved away... Jimi's next gig was 6 weeks later at Woodstock and there was Billy. I saw the film, I was not there. The DVD that is Jimi's entire show is great and I could see on top of a speaker cab was a cast iron tweeter! About 25 years a ago I met Rick Danko and became a friend for a short time. I will tell you that Rick WAS the nicest guy in rock music, seriously, Anyone who knew him and was interviewed will say the same. I would love to meet Billy and jam a little. It was great to be alive for all the music at that time. I was devastated to hear Jimi was gone. Over the years we've lost just about all of them. Nobody will ever come close to what Jimi created on electric guitar and rock was never the same. Sing on brother play on drummer....
@@cravinbob Great story...it should be said, that the band members were told to "escape" the stage, as the crowd was semi-rioting at that point...Noel was afraid for his life!...He did not quit the band, until a little later, when some journalist informed him that Jimi was planning to expand/replace the group!...He got pissed off, and flew back to England ASAP....Imagine his anger, when, in January of 70, he was cajoled in to coming back to NYC...Manager Mike Jeffery had leaned on Hendrix, to reform the original group!....but, Jimi insisted that he could not work with Redding anymore, so they sent him away again! So Billy entered, once again.
@@curbozer5006 I saw Noel's account of that night on a video and he was completely wrong. There was no riot but the only frightening thing was the roof of the truck was made of fiberglass and fans on it were causing it flex. (The fiberglass helps one to see in those trucks without using lights.). There was no minor rioting just enthusiasm. Roadies got Jimi into the truck quickly as they knew if they had let him walk he would have been surrounded by fans and he would have started chatting. I stood there backstage and there was nobody within 10-12 feet of me except for the band and crew. When the truck started to move away then fans appeared and some hearty sould climbed on it but the truck continued slowly to the hotel which was a few hundred yards from the stadium. Both those are long gone now with the new stadium. The hotel was home to the bands that weekend. I will add more if you wish. No offense to Noel but he was exaggerating or mistaken. He did quit that night and threw his bass down as I recall and walked off during the last song. He flew home to England that night. Jimi flew to New York.
As someone who’s just learning Guitar it’s humbling to hear that Jimi played literally all day and night until he fell asleep with the Guitar on his stomach. That goes to show you how much you need to practice to be good like him. I’ve got work to do lol Love this, these stories are important for history before these guys are gone.
@@ScottHillsmusclecargarage that aspect always made me feel that jimi had a good side he had a friend that was compatible and loyal after jimi made the bigtime . He also had many types of friends and hangers on. But friends who he could bring in to his working band as an extension of his musical vision I find interesting. Like noel Redding who was as close as one could be with the master playing gigs recording i the studio vacationing socializing during those 2vyrs of the EXPERIENCE. he eventually lost his patience and clashed openly wit h jimi over the creative style and hangerons and his own ambitions unfulfilled. Big mistake at least he had decency to walk away..Mitch was more on Hendrix wavelength and would have stayed in the picture had not for the coming tragic events. Hendrix set himself up as a new age guitar wizard for a lot of fans of maybe it was the fans themselves who annointed him. But something was going on a seismic event in the youth culture. I personally felt it and jimi was at the epicenter. He took you for a ride with the music the lyrics the image wearing clothes that few men could carry off and speaking in riddles trying to explain what the hell he was doing. I cant think of anybody any public figure that I connected with on so many levels I never lost my confidence is musical vision that's for sure. He fell just like the movement would soon lose steam leaving a void. I remember that realization hit me about a year after jimi passed this youth scene I was part of had dissipated here I was drafted into the army and I sucked into the war machine. It was a nightmare and ya know I became army paratrooper like jimi and in a way it led to me getting through this unscathed and an early out. I've played electric guitar for all these years. I get jimi hendrix and the music more deeply than anybody I've ever met and now with youtube I occasionally see a glimmer of jimi musicianship in guitar players posting video. I see it's still ALIVE never equaled but inspire those are in tune with the universe
@@markr.devereux2713 as a youngster (14), I wish I was younger back in the day and older now. I can’t believe the impact he left. I knew who he was but I just started listening to him, sometime last year and it was the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. I was just listening to his album, Are You Experienced and the guitar sounds were out of this world. I can imagine hearing that back in the 60s and being flabbergasted. He knew music and music chose him to change the industry forever. He’ll forever be remembered.
Ive got the Hendrix movie they made a few years back.. but the Hendrix estate didnt allow the producers to use any of Jimis music .. SHITTY... only covers that he had covered... It didnt really come across the way it should have
Yeah, the real movie (or series of films) has yet to be made.Hopefully a French director or someone like Michelangelo Antonioni(Zabriski Point/Blow Up).
It has taken many years, and a few bio books, to piece together what happened to Hendrix, from his first Seattle bands in 1959 to 61, and then during and after his 13mo stint in the Army, and then his 3 years or so on the Chitlin Circuit, backing other groups...and then his days in Harlem, 1965-66, then briefly in Greenwich village, and then his steep climb to being a superstar!
Fantastic interview. Billy Cox seems to be a real nice person full of talent, kindness, and love. Thank you very much for sharing your experience and the great interview. This should be aired on a Arts and Entertainment television channel or a PBS Special on television. I sincerely hope they put this interview in the Jimi Hendrix Experience Museum and the Musician’s Hall Of Fame. Thank you.
Awesome interview, my dad introduced me to Jimi Hendrix several years after his passing. He inspired me to pick up a guitar I was 15 I'm 44 now and still jam Hendrix thank you Mr. Billy Cox you're such a humble gentleman and thank you musicians hall of Fame sharing
Funny, many friends of mine have met Billy Cox and they've all said what a gracious, down-to-earth guy he is. This interview says all that and more. Easy to see why he and Jimi would have been friends. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one in Nashville who hasn't met him!
I knew virtually nothing about this part of Jimi Hendrix story of his formative years. How amazing. If Billy Cox did not take the time for this interview I still would not know. Inspiring story for all of our lives. Keep going and be open minded. It's never too late until you take your last breath.
Just a special human being, this Billy Cox. He's always gracious, humble, articulate and an entirely endearing story teller. And he's a killer bass player.
The definition of best friend on wiki is “see Billy Cox”. The definition of outstanding content of character is “see Billy Cox”. What an amazing gentleman.
During his time with Jimi, he seemed almost invisible...few photos exist of him in the company of crazy groupies--although he did know Jimi's harem of skanks!...He actually was married at that time, and I guess he took his vows seriously...I think he had Jimi's love and respect.
I saw a guy get hooked on guitar once...i realized he was on a different level when he climbed a ladder one day with a cup of coffee and his guitar...he came down seven hours later and made another cup of coffee. He was a fan of Jimi Hendrix...i can only imagine the level that Jimi took 24 hour guitar to over 5 years.... and in Nashville !!! and Billy Cox is not only his best friend but his bass player as well... That is some powerful guitar mojo right there. You don't need to sell your soul to the Devil if you can master putting your joy into the guitar...
Band of Gypsies live at the Fillmore East is one of my favorite albums. I wore out two of them playing it. Billy Cox did a fantastic job laying down the groove. I must have played along with that album hundreds of times on my bass, especially “Who Knows”, which has great bass lines.
that was the first jimi record i ever bought! i was 15 and it was '78. it was warped and i had to put a penny or 2 on the stylus so it wouldnt jump. i used to jam along to that record all the time
Billy's bass took Jimi soooo much farther than Noel Redding's Brit guitar background EVER would. Jimi actually plays the bass on many of the Electric Ladyland tracks. You don't think Noel Redding played bass on (Have You Ever Been To) Electric Ladyland, do you? 1983??
Thanks to the Hendrix tributes, I have seen Billy twice now. They come to Clearwater every year, and is a must see show. He gives it the credibility it deserves.
Until today, I only knew that Billy Cox played on the Band of Gypsies album (which I still have on vinyl). Now I know what genuine friend he was to Jimi. His ability to remember in such detail is a gift to us fans.
I luv BAND OF GYPSYS album. At the time it came out the hendrix mystique was still big. And then this live filmore concert was released and it was super good. Even david lee roth commented how influential that record was to him. Jimis guitar tone was incredible almost industrial sounding pre digital just 3 or 4 pedals cranked up. And although I'm sure it was cut and pasted later in the studio from i think 3different shows it showcased the raw mastery of guitar playing a tour de force of new material barely rehearsed and put on live record amazing spiritual at times and kickass. Yeah an underrated record.
I saw Billy Cox play with Jimi @ The Mid South Coliseum in Memphis in 1970. This was about 4 months before Jimi passed. He was the BEST ever!!! I saw Jimi play with The Experience in 1969 as well!!! Blew my mind indeed!!!
This is a great interview - Billy really speaks beautifully, really takes us back to that time in the 60's. One thing that comes across strongly is the respectfulness Billy has for everyone.
One thing I wish Billy would clear up....Jimi got discharged early from the Army(unsuitability!) on July 1, 1962, serving 13 months...Billy apparently got out a month or so later...but how long was he in the Army?...He says he was 19 when he met Jimi, Hendrix was eighteen and a half, when he joined the Army on May 31, 1961....Billy, if he had been drafted, must have gone into the service in 1960....draftees had to serve two years...so I guess he was maybe a year older than Jimi?....kinda confusing, how they both managed to get out at almost the same time.
@@curbozer5006 According to all the stuff I have read and seen on the internet Jimi broke his ankle in a parachute jump and got invalid out of the paratroopers, he also says he had close to 30 jumps from a plane.
This interview is so amazing. I met Billy and his wife a couple of years ago on the Experience Hendrix tour. I bought a b/w 8x10 and Billy autographed it to me. I thanked Billy and his wife for coming to Houston and she said I want to give you a hug. Their such nice people and I wish I could get his band down here again for a concert. God Bless “The Last Gypsy standing”
Love the sound of that train in the background when Billy's talking about " that crystal radio" he's tuning in Jimi's spirit: hear my train a coming! Seen my train...or something like that...🔥
This interview with Mr. Billy Cox is nothing but top shelf. Billy Cox is articulate and speaks just like he jams bass , very well. Billy is easy to listen to and obviously has a heart of gold. Thank you Mr. Cox, I thoroughly enjoyed these life stories. Billy, you sir have truly inspired myself and many others with your great attitude accompanied by a ton of class. This interview left me with a smile on my face and in my heart. G.P. 3
Jimi WAS stable. He had ONE night where he had very bad luck, that sadly killed him. Could've happened to anybody given the set of circumstances that night.
He was stable but manipulated by the forces controlling the world..his Mgr at the end was MI6 scumbag Mike Jeffries....Billy was so cool positive a true friend!.....pioneers of a musical future now hijacked
@@rikk7041 He was not stable...it was not his fault.....but his very hurtful childhood pre-dispositioned him to retreat into himself...fortunately for us, he took his guitar with him...clearly, he could not handle the fortune and fame that came his way...his self-destructive tendencies played a part in his impulsivness with wine, women and song.
Fantastic interview. Have been a die hard fan and stealing licks from Jimi Hendrix for nearly 40 years and had never knew any of this. What an absolutely amazing human being Mr. Cox is. Thanks for this video.
Super cool interview! Jimi's brother from another mother! No nonsense gossip backstabbing crap talking. Billy Cox has great memory, too. Just great stories! :D
I've been a fan of Jimi since I was a teenager so when I clicked on this I thought there's nothing I don't already know (yeah right). But damn!! What a great interview. I didn't know squat about the very early days of Jimi and Billy's struggles in Nashville. I mean I knew that Jimi played the Chitlin Circuit but no details. I learned a lot to say the least! Billy is a great guy!
It is great to hear Billy talk about those times...but, actually, there are now a few very good bios of Jimi, that cover his travails during this time.
This is the first interview I've heard/seen from Mr. Cox. What a great story teller & gentleman. He is honest, humble & all class. I could listen to his stories for hours. You were a true & great friend to Jimi. Oh yeah, & a great bassist too.
Wow!!! What a hidden gem of an interview! Jimi taking his guitar into the movie theater! Thank you for this interview. I learned more about Jimi during this than I have in a long time.
I have seen several hours of interviews with other fellow musicians that were on the road with Hendrix and Billy, and others...Billy is not telling much of the down and dirty aspects of life on the road...and he probably never will...it is not his nature, and he works for Janie now anyway, so forget about the many small details that others know about.
What a lovely person, interesting and revealing interview. The first timed I heard Jimi, I was smitten. My first reaction is that this guy is as great as Bach. Since he had already passed through the mortal coil when I first heard him, I only knew the myth, not the man. For me, Jimi was a God, A legend beyond us mere mortals. I first heard Jimi more than 45 years ago and he was the one who inspired be to play the guitar on the level of a master. I have never lost my love for his music.
That was incredible. Billy Cox is an incredible talent and gentleman. Never knew Jimi lived in Nashville. I travel tfrom Texas to Nashville / Brentwood / Franklin to visit friends. God, would I love to take this guy out for dinner and cocktails.
I’ve given positive comments on this video before and I’m watching again. You are the best interviewer I’ve ever come across. You get so much awesome information without taking over. Fantastic! Thumbs up!!
Con Artist, my dad, Joe, passed September 28th, but I know he would have really appreciated your very kind comments & support for the channel. Thanks for coming back again. If you haven’t been to the museum, I know you would love to visit. Best, Britt
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum I’d love to visit. I’d be coming from Australia though so it will be a little while. Take care, Con Samuel 😊🙏🦋 Ps, My sincere condolences on your father passing away. He’d very a very proud father for the fantastic job his son is doing on this great channel. God bless bro🙏🦋👍🏼
Con, that’s great to hear. My husband is from Tasmania. I lived in Perth during University.. we lived in Melbourne for 2 years before moving back to be with my family in Nashville. It’s a long flight, but let me know when you do make it to the museum! Best, Britt
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum Awwww I get it now, Joe the interviewer was your father. I had no idea. You dad was a really really nice fellow and awesome interviewer. I live in NSW now. I was born in Ulverstone Tasmania, lived in Melbourne up to 14, moved to Adelaide and now 4 hours north of Sydney. I loved Australia but one of my dearest friends lives in North Carolina. Her son works as a sound engineer in Nashville. I don’t know much about you dad, only his show. I’m happy to learn more. God bless 💜
“ I really didn’t concern myself with the money it was about the art and the freedom”..What a great interview Joe.. Billy is such a genuine soul. Jimi was fortunate to have a friend like Billy. God Bless ya both.
Billy's recollection is phenomenal! Seems like such a humble man, considering most of his interviews are in regards to Jimi. Off to find some more info on Billy's own career. Thanks for the upload!
Billy's one of the top 10 bass players ever!!! Solid as a rock his playing style is so distinctive and heavy, standing there next to Jimi unleashing these heavy heavenly sound wall into the air always in perfect synch with Jimi. You could tell they were best friends reading each other's tune and groove blindly. Just amazing to watch. Three gigs that come to mind are Isle of Wight, Woodstock and of course the legendary A Band of Gypsys. Such a gentle, humble person too.
I just loved listening to Billy such a warm human being , how he remembered all that detail shows how much he loved his art and the people he was with. Not a big Hendrix fan but was attracted by the photo of him in the service and now I'm so glad I took the time out to find out - I'll come back for you Billy and he kept his promise - treasure 💕 Thanks again Joe , the way you just let Billy tell his story without interrupting you just created a masterpiece of Music History 💖
What an incredible human being you are Billy! The part at 28 mins about friendship and supporting each other is truly humble, yet remarkable. Your storytelling makes me feel I was right there at every venue, and it cuts right to the happiness you guys gave us all. Even 50+ years later....
@Dave State-61 I know right? Minorities were being hosed and murdered by the authorities because they demanded equal rights; women were barely starting to have rights, even when it came to their own bodies. The old had no retirement. But right ok "people were nicer to each other". Not. lol. That's a lie each previous generation tells to the next ones.
Jimi Hendrix did a concert 50 years ago in Evansville, Indiana at Robert's Stadium and I got to hang out with Billy Cox. Such a handsome and very nice young man. Awesome concert!
@@curbozer5006 only because I didnt interact directly with Hendrix. Once the concert was over he was somewhat upset about something that happened on the set and went straight to his room. Billy said that Jimi always found something wrong and they paid him no mind because he was somewhat of a perfectionist. Anyway the after party continued without him. Lol. I can say that Jimi was somewhat peculiar in his own way and if you didnt know him personally one would think he was strange. Lol. His style was quite different and he seem to be a very deep person (mentally).
You probably could do another 8 hours of interviews with Billy. He's a time machine. And still alive. Just like the guy that wishes he didn't erase those tapes, get it from the horse's mouth while you can.
Can you imagine, going out to your local club to hear another club band in 1963, expecting to hear the usual covers of the time, maybe some new Motown, or Stax, Chuck Berry, then, Jimi throws down some "Third Stone from the sun?!"........Lol, "y'all might not be ready for this...But your kids are gonna love it!"
Except that in real life, Jimi did not play his own stuff in 1963...but he did indeed freak people out, with his powerful style and stage moves...he frequently got fired for doing that stuff!
“Jimi put 25 years of guitar practice into 5 years.” Always playing day and night and falling asleep with the guitar. Very cool
I’ve watched nearly every Hendrix story on RUclips. This is the most satisfying because of this wonderful man who knew Jimi better than anyone. Everyone needs a friend like this. If this was 5 hours long I would watch every minute.
Thanks Eric...Joe
I agree!
Agree
Everyone needs a friend like this: Godsend
Awsome
so glad Jimi and Billy became friends, grateful he shares his stories here
25 years in 5 years the feeling Jimmy has and accomplished his dream in music that will live for ever . Thank you Jimmy
They were brothers...you listen to Billy, you can imagine Jimi listening, smiling and nodding. And laughing! Joe - thanks for this.
Thanks Billy
This was great i wish it could have went on and on
Jimi appeared to be a man in a hurry almost like a comet. Even while paying his dues, such a short period of time, he had to get to the next level. I could listen to Billy all day and what a man of class. Thanks for posting this special interview.
Yeah same here, i felt the same way. You can tell billy had a strong friendship with Jimi and Mitch. Especially how happy he gets to talk about them.
I've been a fan of Jimi since I was a teenager so when I clicked on this I thought there's nothing I don't already know (yeah right). But damn!! What a great interview. I didn't know squat about the very early days of Jimi and Billy's struggles in Nashville. I mean I knew that Jimi played the Chitlin Circuit but no details. I learned a lot to say the least! Billy is a great guy!
This is the most legitimate account of Jimi’s early days, and it’s so nice to know he had one really true friend. Thanks Billy!
He had more. My Karate teacher lived in Greenwich Village in NYC. Aretha Franklin lived near by, and could be seen walking home with groceries. My teacher was a teacher of Self Defence for the Black Panther Movement. During this time Jimi Hendrix was playing small gigs but had no money to fall back on. He would often crash and sleep at my teachers apartment.
In conjunction and verified by Biographers, Jimi was playing at a club in NYC when Ed McMahon approached him and offered a trip to England to start a band. Jimi asked my teacher David McConnell, "Dave man, what do you think I should do?"
My Sensei told him, "Jimi your sleeping on my couch, what do you think?"
The rest is established history.
There is an independent TV/video producer named David Kramer, who has been sitting on several key interviews from Jimi's friends/lovers...he supposedly is going to produce the definitive documentary on Hendrix..a serious collector friend of mine invited me to a private screening of these interviews...one guy in particular, was quite revelatory about his time with Jimi, when they were on the road with Little Richard...several hilarious stories, and a couple of descriptions of the various sexual encounters they had, with the low-rent groupies that would chase after them...I wonder if Janie and company bought Kramer out, or maybe he ran out of funds to make his Hendrix project...I hope his stash of insightful interviews eventually show up, somehow!
@@curbozer5006 Janie could certainly afford to buy him out at any price, being the daughter of a Fujita, on her mother's side. I'll stop right there, and let you guys figure it out.
@@criskatan I will say this....While Billy was a charming interview, you can notice that he was not about to get into serious details of Jimi's wild times, with drugs, ladies, etc...this is likely because he is an employee of that Janie Hendrix company, and Janie has tried hard to "whitewash" the seedier--yet real-aspects of Jimi's life as a traveling musician/rockstar...Billy himself had a few stories that I am sure he would not want to reveal to the public...we all have our little secrets...there certainly are some older ladies still around, that were involved with Hendrix...few of them are talking about their particular "Hendrix Experience"!
@@geetarman not according to my source. I would have never have given this a second thought had I not seem a similar story told by a Biographers, auth Henderson , a friend of Hendrix wrote the early and admittedly controversial book "Excuse me while I kiss the sky" which depicts Jimi being called to Ed McMahons table and given an offer. It's plausible first because McMahon was known to look for talent long before his own TV show. That and the fact was it was known that the mystique of any band coming from England was a good investment. But I wouldn't have based my statement of situational hear say of a biography. What impressed me was that a good friend of mine was a Black Belt in Karate during the 60s he had an apartment in Greenwich village. He use to tell us stories to illustrate other issues. He had spoke about his involvement with the Black Panthers and his knowing other people that lived in the area. This includes a neighborly friendship with Aretha Franklin. During a conversation he mentioned knowing Hendrix, and Hendrix occasionally stayed with him. This would make sense because the small amount of gig money and having to travel would make having his own place next to impossible. I was curious and respectfully asked how well he knew Jimi. He explained that Jimi was crashing on his couch and came home and asked him about the deal McMahon had offered. My friend told him, "well hell Jimi, your sleeping on my couch, what do you think."
This was not related with any animosity. Understand my friend is a black man from South Carolina that we know for a fact that he stayed in NYC during the 60s studying from Peter Urban at his Chinatown Karate school, which was the first such school in the United States. It is highly doubtful that this man knew of the Henderson Biography, and yet the stories match.
This is not to reject any claim by Chad Chandler or others. But perhaps he was involved after the fact.
This gentleman is the real deal. Great friends like him make life worth living. Thanks
Jimi was the sky and Billy was the earth Kept him grounded and Jimi stuck with him when he got dosed by Jefferies and had a serious episode Real Good friends
Real history. So interesting hear about the real man. Is there any proof about fbi taking him out. Now so much has come out but not enough … about monarch etc.
It's great to know that Jimi had such a great friend. I will never forget what Billy said "your true friends are the ones who stick with you when you're up and when you're down."
True friends never leave or forsake you. They are Rt beside you making them memories ❤
Respect.
You can tell Billy was enjoying himself reliving old times. Old times are always better than nowadays.
Billy is a truly compelling storyteller - his love and respect for his friend comes through in waves
Such a good dude! You can tell he genuinely loved Jimi like a brother and was unaffected by all the fame related stuff...and HE was on bass during (imo) Jimi’s greatest live performance, “Machine Gun”.
Yes, the Band of Gypsies recording is one of the greatest ever
Jimi was soooooo young, we all forget, he was such a young man, because he had an old soul. I’m still blown away, at 60, when I listen to him. I believe he was a kind soul who gave so much of himself. Although his,life path was short in time, it was magnificent, he was magnificent.
Hendrix knew what he was on the planet to do, and money had NOTHING to do with it.
I met Billy . He owned a Pawn Shop called “ Capitol Pawn” . I had been reading a Hendrix book and someone told me Billy owned that Pawn Shop. So we went in and Dam there was Billy Cox. He was so cool. I was nervous , but he signed my book. I said “ do you remember when this pic was made? “ he said yeah. Billy was laughing in the picture so I asked him why he was laughing. He said “ Jimi always made everyone laugh.” This was 1996. Dam I still can’t find that book. I’m sure someone “ borrowed” it and kept it. 😩😩😩 But I will never forget that. I’ve lived in Nashville since I was born in ‘71. Nashville has grown so much since the 70s.
The great & wonderful Billy Cox. What an incredible interview. God Bless you Brother Billy 🎸 🎶 💫
28:41 "Look man, if you've got a problem, I got one too" - the words of a true friend - who will stick with you no matter what - that is just wonderful xxx
These cats are all we have remaining of Jimi. There's nothing like a good friend that has your back.
@Talkin Bout Nawlins Buddy isn't as good on licks and his songs are okay.
Billy Cox, so humble and a gentleman - even showed how honorable he was by not leaving his band to play with Little Richard(RIP) on short notice!
oh my God, this is unbelievable. Billy Cox is a living legend. There needs to be a series of in depth interviews with him about these experiences. This is a link to a very important period of American musical history. This is seriously Alan Lomax, library of Congress level info that he's giving us.
True.
FACTS!!!
I agree 100% with you !
I play some bass guitar. I'd give anything for Billie Cox to give me some tips.
As I have speculated, billy likely will not say too much more about his close relationship with Jimi...he is beholden to Experience Limited--Janie--and she insists on presenting Jimi as a God-fearing, Christian man who had few flaws....Hendrix was an amazing musician, but he was as flawed as anyone else who was living in the Fast Lane of super-stardom.
Billy is such a great story teller. He's got a contagious, jolly laugh and gratitude in his heart. Thank you for producing this!
His kindness and humble demeanor reminds me of the legendary B.B. King! I got back stage tickets for a B.B.King show in Milwaukee WI... And B.B. was such a gentleman and signed pictures that he had made up... gave me a Lucille guitar pin and signed my back stage pass! A total class act.. And huge gold and diamond rings and a beautiful lady all dressed up on each side of him🥰...He reminds me of a down to earth type of person and class act, no matter how "famous" he gets!!👍🏻♥️🙏... Beautiful people making beautiful music 🎵🎶♥️
It must be heartbreaking for Billy to tell this story, but it’s pure gold hearing first hand. Bless you Billy Cox.
The thing about Billy, he supported Jimi in every way, and was supported BY Jimi, too. The thing about Jimi is that he was known as a good guy, and a friend to a number of people. There have never been any stories against Jimi, just a fine cat, all around his life. The fact that he was an amazing musician is our benefit of having shared some time on this earth to have been enriched by Jimi! Kudos to his family, for keeping his Experience alive, and on a good basis, up to the current day!
Hendrix was a complex man, essentially good, but given to fits of impulsivity--and violence towards women!...Please be more realistic when touting his legacy....a wonderful talent, but flawed like most of us!
Well said...and accurate by my estimation.
@@cindyinnew You are dead wrong in your comments about Jimi Hendrix abusing women. There is no truth to it at all and your source of imformation is more than likely based upon that John Ridley directed film "All By My Side" which has a lot of inaccuracies about Jimi Hendrix.
Even his girfriend Kathy Etchingman who is portrayed in the film as the women being beaten and abused has stated that it never happened and and she let the director of the film know that but he went ahead anyway and portrayed Jimi in that manner anyway, although he never treated her like that.
Furthermore, Charles R. Cross who interviewd over 350 people who knew Jimi for his book "Room Full Of Mirrors" (and a lot those people were women who had relations with Jimi) claims that is untrue and his behaviours towards women and people in general were not violent at all. In fact, aside from his music (which by the way the Ridley film had none of) the legend of Jimi Hendrix is also based upon how well he always treated people and would even play music with people who could barely play an instrument.
Get your stories straight and do your research before slandering someone who is not guilty of anything but making this world a better place!!!
@@curbozerboomer1773 Bullshit...that is not true. State your sources of information and the names of the "women that he was violent to" but you can't do that because there is no truth to your comment at all. Apparently you are the one who needs to "BE MORE REALISTIC" when making comments about others based upon nothing!!!
@@tyronesmith8250WORD! The ladies loved Jimi and he ❤ loved & respected them. NEVER EVER heard anything that supports the incorrect comment. He has ALWAYS been described as humble & soft spoken. Don't get it twisted! Fr!!
So much win in this interview with Billy Cox. So glad he's still with us.
That last band....Jimi , Billy Cox and Mitch Mitchell was the best combo ......powerful and swung like jazzers
I had the good fortune to meet Billy Cox in approx 2010. I was employed at The Florida Theater in Jacksonville Florida. I was just walking around the house about an hour before the show and Billy was alone in the lobby area. I approached him, respectfully, and spoke to him for a few minutes. I didn't ask questions about Jimi. I was aware the Billy had problems dealing with the past, so I simply thanked him for being in town and he was nice enough to autograph a business card and give me a few of them. Nice guy.
"Love what you're doing and Love the people you're doing it with." Words to remember and to live by.
Billy said in the early days people were more friendly. It may have seemed like a circus, but people were friendly. Musicians have never much cared about what color you are, but who you are; how well you played. That is respect for the person...the soul. It seems so few understand that simple truth.
Thanks Matt............ Joe
I must say that is VERY WELL SAID!!!!
This is GOLD! I've only seen/heard Billy on the Hendrix DVD and Band of Gypsies and afterward but this is the real essence of Hendrix's early days/years. They sound like they were a real genuine pair back in the day. Glad Hendrix kept his word to Billy.
Booker T. & the M.G's. I remember them, Billy. (Wow, back in the days.) I had the pleasure of seeing Jimi at Berkeley Community Center in 1970. I was 17. Fell in love with Jimi. Miss him so much. He said, " just keep playin' my music after I'm gone." So, I surely do. Great to see you well, my Bro'. Love, Bu.
Billy. What a beautiful man. You can tell he was a good friend to Jimi, somebody he could trust in a world where people were often trying to get something from him. Thank you Billy for being such an awesome human being!
The best interview about Jimi I ever saw or heard. We're able to see Jimi through the eyes of an pardner and good guy.
Billy is just a nice guy. Top Professional, humble and unapologetic. Played on the best ever recorded live. All respect.
Yes! Billy played on Band of Gypsies live as i remember. A totally amazing monster album. And Billy is just a beautiful soul. Beautiful man.
What an awesome guy! The joy and pride that he felt about what he's accomplished just shines through while he's reminiscing is absolutely beautiful. He was a true friend to all the people he played with. I hope to get a chance to meet him, one day.
For a man who is 80, Billy is so youthful!!
What a lovely, interesting Billy Cox is. A pleasure to watch with my eye now, and a pleasure to “watch”, with my imagination, 2 Army buddies’ friendship grow. What a happy man to be around. 🎸🎶
I like to think it is because Billy wtayed away from the various drugs that so many, including Hendrix, were messing with...but we know that he was "dosed" with LSD during that final tour, and it put him on a bad trip...he became paranoid, delusional, and went silent for days!...Jimi had to send him back to the states, to recover....Billy never seems to talk about that difficult situation.
WoW i would have never guessed, he looks like early 70’s
What a lovely man. You can see why Jimi wanted to reconnect with him when things got a bit crazy in his career. He was a wise, solid friend, like a brother that, Jimi needed.
It doesn’t get much better than this 🎸
Rock Hard Riffs no sir it doesn’t
Totally agree 💪🤠
It Certainly......Does NOT!!
Sometimes you'll see
Charlie Daniels on a
television commercial.
He's 80, and he is so youthful!!
What a gentleman. What a fortunate friendship for both. And Jimi needed someone so close when he found his fame.
What a beautiful man. His humility and groundedness really shine here and I'm sure Jimi felt blessed to have him play such a big part in his formative years. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Sir!
I don't know when this was recorded but it sure is refreshing to hear a man speak of his history and society without all the big tears. It's pretty obvious he enjoyed his life and his history with Jimi.
Worked with Billy many times. He is one of the nicest, kindest musicians (humans) I have ever worked with. I can see why Billy was such a good friend of Jimi's.
Redplanetfilms1 did you know Jimi?
I was at Jimi's last show with The Experience, Denver Pop Festival June 29 1969. I was next to the stage a few feet from Jimi for the last song "Voodoo Child". A cast iron tweeter horn was at my left leg and Jimi's guitar was piercing right through me. Then Noel just tossed his bass down and walked off. Noel quit the band. Mitch kept going and Jimi did too. Mitch eased off and Jimi kept playing . 3 guys came out and one grabbed the Strat and the other 2 physically picked Jimi up and carried him to the back off the stage. I went to the back area in time to see Jimi and the guys carry him down the steps. This was on the field were the Broncos played football. They literally tossed jimi into the back of a U-Haul truck where two guys caught him. There was a sofa in there and Mitch and Noel were sitting on it. The door was pulled down quickly, latched and a guy put a padlock on it. Fans were coming around and climbing on that truck as it slowly moved away...
Jimi's next gig was 6 weeks later at Woodstock and there was Billy. I saw the film, I was not there. The DVD that is Jimi's entire show is great and I could see on top of a speaker cab was a cast iron tweeter!
About 25 years a ago I met Rick Danko and became a friend for a short time. I will tell you that Rick WAS the nicest guy in rock music, seriously, Anyone who knew him and was interviewed will say the same.
I would love to meet Billy and jam a little. It was great to be alive for all the music at that time. I was devastated to hear Jimi was gone. Over the years we've lost just about all of them. Nobody will ever come close to what Jimi created on electric guitar and rock was never the same.
Sing on brother play on drummer....
@@cravinbob Great story...it should be said, that the band members were told to "escape" the stage, as the crowd was semi-rioting at that point...Noel was afraid for his life!...He did not quit the band, until a little later, when some journalist informed him that Jimi was planning to expand/replace the group!...He got pissed off, and flew back to England ASAP....Imagine his anger, when, in January of 70, he was cajoled in to coming back to NYC...Manager Mike Jeffery had leaned on Hendrix, to reform the original group!....but, Jimi insisted that he could not work with Redding anymore, so they sent him away again! So Billy entered, once again.
@@curbozer5006 I saw Noel's account of that night on a video and he was completely wrong. There was no riot but the only frightening thing was the roof of the truck was made of fiberglass and fans on it were causing it flex. (The fiberglass helps one to see in those trucks without using lights.).
There was no minor rioting just enthusiasm. Roadies got Jimi into the truck quickly as they knew if they had let him walk he would have been surrounded by fans and he would have started chatting. I stood there backstage and there was nobody within 10-12 feet of me except for the band and crew. When the truck started to move away then fans appeared and some hearty sould climbed on it but the truck continued slowly to the hotel which was a few hundred yards from the stadium. Both those are long gone now with the new stadium. The hotel was home to the bands that weekend. I will add more if you wish. No offense to Noel but he was exaggerating or mistaken. He did quit that night and threw his bass down as I recall and walked off during the last song. He flew home to England that night. Jimi flew to New York.
cravinbob thanks for sharing the behind the scenes moments. I love hearing this type of info. Please share more when you led to.
A master musician saying to "play music because you love it!" That's very inspirational.Thanks for a great interview.
As someone who’s just learning Guitar it’s humbling to hear that Jimi played literally all day and night until he fell asleep with the Guitar on his stomach. That goes to show you how much you need to practice to be good like him. I’ve got work to do lol Love this, these stories are important for history before these guys are gone.
Thanks for watching JL.... Joe
Jimi was a real man for coming back for his friend. Not everyone who shoots up at the stars comes back.
That was really cool. You don't see that type of loyalty today, by any stretch of the imagination.
He was low-key and mellow off stage
"JIMI" was a real man long before he called his army buddy.
@@ScottHillsmusclecargarage that aspect always made me feel that jimi had a good side he had a friend that was compatible and loyal after jimi made the bigtime . He also had many types of friends and hangers on. But friends who he could bring in to his working band as an extension of his musical vision I find interesting. Like noel Redding who was as close as one could be with the master playing gigs recording i
the studio vacationing socializing during those 2vyrs of the EXPERIENCE. he eventually lost his patience and clashed openly wit
h jimi over the creative style and hangerons and his own ambitions unfulfilled. Big mistake at least he had decency to walk away..Mitch was more on Hendrix wavelength and would have stayed in the picture had not for the coming tragic events. Hendrix set himself up as a new age guitar wizard for a lot of fans of maybe it was the fans themselves who annointed him. But something was going on a seismic event in the youth culture. I personally felt it and jimi was at the epicenter. He took you for a ride with the music the lyrics the image wearing clothes that few men could carry off and speaking in riddles trying to explain what the hell he was doing. I cant think of anybody any public figure that I connected with on so many levels
I never lost my confidence is musical vision that's for sure. He fell just like the movement would soon lose steam leaving a void. I remember that realization hit me about a year after jimi passed
this youth scene I was part of had dissipated here I was drafted into the army and I sucked into the war machine. It was a nightmare and ya know I became army paratrooper like jimi and in a way it led to me getting through this unscathed and an early out. I've played electric guitar for all these years. I get jimi hendrix and the music more deeply than anybody I've ever met and now with youtube I occasionally see a glimmer of jimi musicianship in guitar players posting video. I see it's still ALIVE never equaled but inspire those are in tune with the universe
@@markr.devereux2713 as a youngster (14), I wish I was younger back in the day and older now. I can’t believe the impact he left. I knew who he was but I just started listening to him, sometime last year and it was the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. I was just listening to his album, Are You Experienced and the guitar sounds were out of this world. I can imagine hearing that back in the 60s and being flabbergasted. He knew music and music chose him to change the industry forever. He’ll forever be remembered.
God bless Billy Cox, he's a national treasure. Jimi knew he was the genuine article! Pals like that come along once in a lifetime.
Next time they make a Jimi Hendrix movie they need to include some of these early gigs with Billy..
Ive got the Hendrix movie they made a few years back.. but the Hendrix estate didnt allow the producers to use any of Jimis music .. SHITTY... only covers that he had covered... It didnt really come across the way it should have
Yeah, the real movie (or series of films) has yet to be made.Hopefully a French director or someone like Michelangelo Antonioni(Zabriski Point/Blow Up).
It has taken many years, and a few bio books, to piece together what happened to Hendrix, from his first Seattle bands in 1959 to 61, and then during and after his 13mo stint in the Army, and then his 3 years or so on the Chitlin Circuit, backing other groups...and then his days in Harlem, 1965-66, then briefly in Greenwich village, and then his steep climb to being a superstar!
Jimi bye your side iis shitty movie , jimi and Andre 3000 deserve better
If they make a movie about him, it better be a good one. No such thing exists at the moment.
Fantastic interview. Billy Cox seems to be a real nice person full of talent, kindness, and love. Thank you very much for sharing your experience and the great interview. This should be aired on a Arts and Entertainment television channel or a PBS Special on television. I sincerely hope they put this interview in the Jimi Hendrix Experience Museum and the Musician’s Hall Of Fame. Thank you.
Thanks Bluesman.... Best... Joe
Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum Thank you.
Axxis TV
Very cool guy
I've had the pleasure of talking to him a few times. He's a GREAT guy!!
Awesome interview, my dad introduced me to Jimi Hendrix several years after his passing. He inspired me to pick up a guitar I was 15 I'm 44 now and still jam Hendrix thank you Mr. Billy Cox you're such a humble gentleman and thank you musicians hall of Fame sharing
True words of History about a man we all loved, from a dear friend of his... Thanks Billy for the Golden Memories. "We miss you Jimi❤"
What a pure human being billy is. I could sit for hours and listen to him talk about jimi
Funny, many friends of mine have met Billy Cox and they've all said what a gracious, down-to-earth guy he is. This interview says all that and more. Easy to see why he and Jimi would have been friends. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one in Nashville who hasn't met him!
I knew virtually nothing about this part of Jimi Hendrix story of his formative years. How amazing. If Billy Cox did not take the time for this interview I still would not know. Inspiring story for all of our lives. Keep going and be open minded. It's never too late until you take your last breath.
Thanks for watching Zen…. Joe
Mr Billy Cox is the most excellent speaker out of anyone relating to Jimi Hendrix . Live long and I hope I meet you some day .
Dude this is GOLD! It’s like a history book that reads itself! I was both amazed and entertained. Thanks for sharing, brother.
This had to be one of the best, most enjoyable and informative interviews I've ever seen. Billy Cox was incredible, G*d bless him.
Just a special human being, this Billy Cox. He's always gracious, humble, articulate and an entirely endearing story teller. And he's a killer bass player.
@Swampdaddy Deluxe: 👍👍👍
My favorite lineup was Billy Cox, Mitch Mitchell and Jimi Hendrix. I just always liked what they were doing.
The definition of best friend on wiki is “see Billy Cox”. The definition of outstanding content of character is “see Billy Cox”. What an amazing gentleman.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
During his time with Jimi, he seemed almost invisible...few photos exist of him in the company of crazy groupies--although he did know Jimi's harem of skanks!...He actually was married at that time, and I guess he took his vows seriously...I think he had Jimi's love and respect.
I saw a guy get hooked on guitar once...i realized he was on a different level when he climbed a ladder one day with a cup of coffee and his guitar...he came down seven hours later and made another cup of coffee. He was a fan of Jimi Hendrix...i can only imagine the level that Jimi took 24 hour guitar to over 5 years.... and in Nashville !!! and Billy Cox is not only his best friend but his bass player as well... That is some powerful guitar mojo right there. You don't need to sell your soul to the Devil if you can master putting your joy into the guitar...
Wow that’s amazing. I’m always playing the guitar just because of jimi. He’s my biggest inspiration
Band of Gypsies live at the Fillmore East is one of my favorite albums. I wore out two of them playing it. Billy Cox did a fantastic job laying down the groove. I must have played along with that album hundreds of times on my bass, especially “Who Knows”, which has great bass lines.
I played that record more then any other Hendrix's records
Richard Douglas
It was my fav as well.
that was the first jimi record i ever bought! i was 15 and it was '78. it was warped and i had to put a penny or 2 on the stylus so it wouldnt jump. i used to jam along to that record all the time
Billy's bass took Jimi soooo much farther than Noel Redding's Brit guitar background EVER would. Jimi actually plays the bass on many of the Electric Ladyland tracks. You don't think Noel Redding played bass on (Have You Ever Been To) Electric Ladyland, do you? 1983??
Billy Cox, a great class act. Wealth of information!
Thanks to the Hendrix tributes, I have seen Billy twice now. They come to Clearwater every year, and is a must see show. He gives it the credibility it deserves.
@IT'SME Florida, Pinellas county....best beach in the country.
Until today, I only knew that Billy Cox played on the Band of Gypsies album (which I still have on vinyl). Now I know what genuine friend he was to Jimi. His ability to remember in such detail is a gift to us fans.
Yes indeed it is...
Don't forget Buddy Miles
@@jonesy2111 come on with it Mr. Jones you know he don't get the proper prop's right on.......
I luv BAND OF GYPSYS album. At the time it came out the hendrix mystique was still big. And then this live filmore concert was released and it was super good. Even david lee roth commented how influential that record was to him. Jimis guitar tone was incredible almost industrial sounding pre digital just 3 or 4 pedals cranked up. And although I'm sure it was cut and pasted later in the studio from i think 3different shows it showcased the raw mastery of guitar playing a tour de force of new material barely rehearsed and put on live record amazing spiritual at times and kickass.
Yeah an underrated record.
I saw Billy Cox play with Jimi @ The Mid South Coliseum in Memphis in 1970. This was about 4 months before Jimi passed. He was the BEST ever!!! I saw Jimi play with The Experience in 1969 as well!!! Blew my mind indeed!!!
WoW!
He would be an awesome Grandpa stories after stories he seems like a genuine happy loving man. What a legend
This is a great interview - Billy really speaks beautifully, really takes us back to that time in the 60's. One thing that comes across strongly is the respectfulness Billy has for everyone.
Thanks Julian..... Joe
One thing I wish Billy would clear up....Jimi got discharged early from the Army(unsuitability!) on July 1, 1962, serving 13 months...Billy apparently got out a month or so later...but how long was he in the Army?...He says he was 19 when he met Jimi, Hendrix was eighteen and a half, when he joined the Army on May 31, 1961....Billy, if he had been drafted, must have gone into the service in 1960....draftees had to serve two years...so I guess he was maybe a year older than Jimi?....kinda confusing, how they both managed to get out at almost the same time.
@@curbozer5006 I heard Jimi broke his ankle and was discharged. Don't know about Billy.
@@curbozer5006 According to all the stuff I have read and seen on the internet Jimi broke his ankle in a parachute jump and got invalid out of the paratroopers, he also says he had close to 30 jumps from a plane.
I don't hear too many elderly men speak as gentlemanly as Billy does anymore.
you're right he is a real gentleman and he loves his friend Jimi very much
This interview is so amazing. I met Billy and his wife a couple of years ago on the Experience Hendrix tour. I bought a b/w 8x10 and Billy autographed it to me. I thanked Billy and his wife for coming to Houston and she said I want to give you a hug. Their such nice people and I wish I could get his band down here again for a concert. God Bless
“The Last Gypsy standing”
Saw Hendrix in the summer of 1967 in Charlotte, NC. The opening act was Chicago. Amazing!
OK, but not 1967...a year too early for Chicago to even exist....Hendrix was impressed with Terry Kath!
Love the sound of that train in the background when Billy's talking about " that crystal radio" he's tuning in Jimi's spirit: hear my train a coming! Seen my train...or something like that...🔥
This interview with Mr. Billy Cox is nothing but top shelf. Billy Cox is articulate and speaks just like he jams bass , very well. Billy is easy to listen to and obviously has a heart of gold. Thank you Mr. Cox, I thoroughly enjoyed these life stories. Billy, you sir have truly inspired myself and many others with your great attitude accompanied by a ton of class. This interview left me with a smile on my face and in my heart. G.P. 3
Thanks for watching Gordon……..Joe
Jimi had a true friend, very rare in this world. I wish he was more stable like Billy maybe he might still be around
Jimi WAS stable. He had ONE night where he had very bad luck, that sadly killed him. Could've happened to anybody given the set of circumstances that night.
Joe Cosgrove by who? Why?
@@millerbz Do not listen to these pathetic conspiracy dudes...there is no evidence that he was murdered!...Just speculation, and a few lies.
He was stable but manipulated by the forces controlling the world..his Mgr at the end was MI6 scumbag Mike Jeffries....Billy was so cool positive a true friend!.....pioneers of a musical future now hijacked
@@rikk7041 He was not stable...it was not his fault.....but his very hurtful childhood pre-dispositioned him to retreat into himself...fortunately for us, he took his guitar with him...clearly, he could not handle the fortune and fame that came his way...his self-destructive tendencies played a part in his impulsivness with wine, women and song.
Fantastic interview. Have been a die hard fan and stealing licks from Jimi Hendrix for nearly 40 years and had never knew any of this. What an absolutely amazing human being Mr. Cox is. Thanks for this video.
Billy sounds like a legend. The dude is a genuine , easy going, down to earth good friend. Solid as they come.
Thanks again for watching 75....Joe
Super cool interview! Jimi's brother from another mother! No nonsense gossip backstabbing crap talking. Billy Cox has great memory, too. Just great stories! :D
I've been a fan of Jimi since I was a teenager so when I clicked on this I thought there's nothing I don't already know (yeah right). But damn!! What a great interview. I didn't know squat about the very early days of Jimi and Billy's struggles in Nashville. I mean I knew that Jimi played the Chitlin Circuit but no details. I learned a lot to say the least! Billy is a great guy!
It is great to hear Billy talk about those times...but, actually, there are now a few very good bios of Jimi, that cover his travails during this time.
This is the first interview I've heard/seen from Mr. Cox. What a great story teller & gentleman. He is honest, humble & all class. I could listen to his stories for hours. You were a true & great friend to Jimi. Oh yeah, & a great bassist too.
Wow!!! What a hidden gem of an interview! Jimi taking his guitar into the movie theater! Thank you for this interview. I learned more about Jimi during this than I have in a long time.
I can’t get enough of hearing the small details of jimi. Thank you Billy much love to you brother
Thanks Bill.... best, Joe
Incredible interview of the Legend by his brother Bill Cox. It should be is book. Thank you Bill and Joe.
I have seen several hours of interviews with other fellow musicians that were on the road with Hendrix and Billy, and others...Billy is not telling much of the down and dirty aspects of life on the road...and he probably never will...it is not his nature, and he works for Janie now anyway, so forget about the many small details that others know about.
I thurst for Hendrix knowledge.... listening to Billy is so special. He brings the essential Jimi , to all of us.... Awesomeness !!!!
There's actually a group of people out there somewhere that can say Jimi Hendrix played their prom, unreal!
Sixty years ago though. Most have probably died never knowing that they had experienced THE Jimi Hendrix.
I love Billy Cox, not only a great bass player, but also a great man. I could listen to him talk all day.
What a classy gentleman. Great insight to the Nashville days.
Built a crystal radio set, knew impedance of guitar cords, smart man! Joe also asks the most salient questions, riveting memories from Mr. Cox.
Does anyone know what a crystal set.Is today.It was a crude radio,that you put together yourself.You needed headphones in order to listen.
Billy Cox is a Genius!
@@nigelstansfield1644 Yes no batteries required.... Its the magic of crystals in the detector.
What a lovely person, interesting and revealing interview. The first timed I heard Jimi, I was smitten. My first reaction is that this guy is as great as Bach. Since he had already passed through the mortal coil when I first heard him, I only knew the myth, not the man. For me, Jimi was a God, A legend beyond us mere mortals. I first heard Jimi more than 45 years ago and he was the one who inspired be to play the guitar on the level of a master. I have never lost my love for his music.
That was incredible. Billy Cox is an incredible talent and gentleman. Never knew Jimi lived in Nashville. I travel tfrom Texas to Nashville / Brentwood / Franklin to visit friends. God, would I love to take this guy out for dinner and cocktails.
I’ve given positive comments on this video before and I’m watching again. You are the best interviewer I’ve ever come across. You get so much awesome information without taking over. Fantastic! Thumbs up!!
Con Artist, my dad, Joe, passed September 28th, but I know he would have really appreciated your very kind comments & support for the channel.
Thanks for coming back again.
If you haven’t been to the museum, I know you would love to visit.
Best,
Britt
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum I’d love to visit. I’d be coming from Australia though so it will be a little while. Take care, Con Samuel 😊🙏🦋
Ps, My sincere condolences on your father passing away. He’d very a very proud father for the fantastic job his son is doing on this great channel. God bless bro🙏🦋👍🏼
Con, that’s great to hear.
My husband is from Tasmania. I lived in Perth during University.. we lived in Melbourne for 2 years before moving back to be with my family in Nashville.
It’s a long flight, but let me know when you do make it to the museum!
Best,
Britt
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum Awwww I get it now, Joe the interviewer was your father. I had no idea. You dad was a really really nice fellow and awesome interviewer.
I live in NSW now. I was born in Ulverstone Tasmania, lived in Melbourne up to 14, moved to Adelaide and now 4 hours north of Sydney. I loved Australia but one of my dearest friends lives in North Carolina. Her son works as a sound engineer in Nashville.
I don’t know much about you dad, only his show. I’m happy to learn more.
God bless 💜
“ I really didn’t concern myself with the money it was about the art and the freedom”..What a great interview Joe.. Billy is such a genuine soul. Jimi was fortunate to have a friend like Billy. God Bless ya both.
Thanks Steve... Joe
The "Band of Gypsys" one of the greatest LP ever made.
Thanks for watching EM... Joe
PERIOD!!!!!
Billy's recollection is phenomenal! Seems like such a humble man, considering most of his interviews are in regards to Jimi. Off to find some more info on Billy's own career. Thanks for the upload!
Billy's one of the top 10 bass players ever!!! Solid as a rock his playing style is so distinctive and heavy, standing there next to Jimi unleashing these heavy heavenly sound wall into the air always in perfect synch with Jimi. You could tell they were best friends reading each other's tune and groove blindly. Just amazing to watch. Three gigs that come to mind are Isle of Wight, Woodstock and of course the legendary A Band of Gypsys. Such a gentle, humble person too.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts 68.... best..........Joe
I just loved listening to Billy such a warm human being , how he remembered all that detail shows how much he loved his art and the people he was with. Not a big Hendrix fan but was attracted by the photo of him in the service and now I'm so glad I took the time out to find out - I'll come back for you Billy and he kept his promise - treasure 💕
Thanks again Joe , the way you just let Billy tell his story without interrupting you just created a masterpiece of Music History 💖
Thanks Nick......Joe
What an incredible human being you are Billy! The part at 28 mins about friendship and supporting each other is truly humble, yet remarkable. Your storytelling makes me feel I was right there at every venue, and it cuts right to the happiness you guys gave us all.
Even 50+ years later....
i remember those days.people were much nicer and friendlier
Lee poepping For one, NO Internet or Cellphones!!
It depends; don't be simplistic.
@Dave State-61 Did you even listen to the interview? Billy Cox said that himself.
@Dave State-61 I know right? Minorities were being hosed and murdered by the authorities because they demanded equal rights; women were barely starting to have rights, even when it came to their own bodies. The old had no retirement. But right ok "people were nicer to each other". Not. lol. That's a lie each previous generation tells to the next ones.
Come to Ireland Lee, folks there are as good as folks get.
Jimi Hendrix did a concert 50 years ago in Evansville, Indiana at Robert's Stadium and I got to hang out with Billy Cox. Such a handsome and very nice young man. Awesome concert!
Seen you on Instagram!...why do you not talk more about Hendrix?
I was 9 yrs old and it was my 1st concert...still the BEST...luv u Jimi..always
@@curbozer5006 only because I didnt interact directly with Hendrix. Once the concert was over he was somewhat upset about something that happened on the set and went straight to his room. Billy said that Jimi always found something wrong and they paid him no mind because he was somewhat of a perfectionist. Anyway the after party continued without him. Lol. I can say that Jimi was somewhat peculiar in his own way and if you didnt know him personally one would think he was strange. Lol. His style was quite different and he seem to be a very deep person (mentally).
Wonderful to see and hear Billy Cox. Good interview. Absolutely fascinating.
You probably could do another 8 hours of interviews with Billy. He's a time machine. And still alive. Just like the guy that wishes he didn't erase those tapes, get it from the horse's mouth while you can.
That was awesome! Billy seems like the kind of friend everyone needs..
Thanks for watching Bobby... Joe
Can see why him and Jimi hit it off, beautiful soul brothers
Billy Cox what an honor to hear this man !
Thank you so much.
Thanks Joe. What a wonderful interview with a great musician and a true gentle-man.
The first two albums I ever owned were the Band of Gypsies and Sgt Peppers. i still get chill bumps listening to my Gypsies.
Billy Cox is an amazing bass player. I love his bass playing on the song "Machine Gun".
Can you imagine, going out to your local club to hear another club band in 1963, expecting to hear the usual covers of the time, maybe some new Motown, or Stax, Chuck Berry, then, Jimi throws down some "Third Stone from the sun?!"........Lol, "y'all might not be ready for this...But your kids are gonna love it!"
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Except that in real life, Jimi did not play his own stuff in 1963...but he did indeed freak people out, with his powerful style and stage moves...he frequently got fired for doing that stuff!