Title: The Lost Guitar: The Day Hendrix Rocked Spalding
Revised Content:
On 29 May 1967, a remarkable event occured in the tranquil town of Spalding in Lincolnshire. This event, known as Barbeque 67, has since been recognised as the precursor to future rock festivals in the United Kingdom. Amidst the subdued setting of the Tulip Bulb Auction Hall, the event featured rock music legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, and The Move.
Alan Barnsdale, owner of a local record shop, paints a picture of the unpretentious location: ‘It was essentially just a shed—an auction house dedicated to selling bulbs and goods without even a single window.’ It was in this venue, faced with audio issues and rare ridicules from the audience, that Hendrix impulsively set his guitar on fire in clear irritation and irresponsibly abandon it. Regrettably, this invaluable instrument was subsequently thrown away at a council rubbish tip, losing its prospective claim to fame and fortune.
The festival had its peculiar incidents. Only a few hundred people managed to witness Pink Floyd perform live as massive crowds outside endeavoured to gain entry through the inadequate turnstiles. Those packed inside the auction hall resorted to sneaking peaks through the floorboard cracks for glimpses of their favourite performers. Singer Geno Washington, notwithstanding these obstacles, recalls the event as a high point in his career, expressing regret that the event did not become a tradition.
Around 4,000 to 6,000 people attended Barbeque 67, but the event was largely overlooked due to the monumental release of The Beatles’ ‘Sgt Pepper’ album. Today, the site where this historical event took place is home to commercial businesses, and not many Spalding inhabitants are aware of its musical past. While a Blue Plaque commemorates Hendrix’s time in a local hotel, the narrative of the Barbeque 67 has faded into obscurity, mirroring the fate of the incinerated guitar.
This narrative has been adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reportage found on www.bbc.com.
