Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix fundamentally transformed how the guitar would be played and perceived in modern music. Clapton, performing with Cream, pioneered a fusion of blues, R&B and pop that essentially created a new sound before progressive rock was formally established. Hendrix brought technical mastery alongside an unorthodox, flamboyant approach that expanded what musicians believed possible on the instrument. The two icons even crossed paths in London early in their careers, sharing an impromptu stage performance that astonished audiences.

What few observers realised at the time was that Clapton and Hendrix were simultaneously recording what would become two of the most influential guitar albums in history during 1967. Whilst Clapton's Cream worked on "Disraeli Gears" in New York, Hendrix was in London creating "Are You Experienced", with both projects emerging from the same period of creative ferment and setting the standard for guitar-driven rock music that would endure for decades.