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60 years ago, Jimi Hendrix recorded ‘Stone Free’. Four years later, Ritchie Blackmore stole it
Jimi Hendrix recorded ‘Stone Free’ in 1966, a track that showcased his blend of hard rock, funk and distinctive guitar playing. Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore later acknowledged that Hendrix’s music influenced him, saying he borrowed from ‘Stone Free’ and ‘Fire’ when creating ‘Speed King’.
The article presents ‘Speed King’, released four years after ‘Stone Free’ was recorded, as an unusually direct example of that influence: Blackmore said it was based on Hendrix’s songs. It also recalls guitarist Jeff Beck’s astonishment at seeing Hendrix perform, illustrating the impact Hendrix had on fellow musicians.
In short
- ‘Stone Free’ was recorded in 1966.
- Blackmore said ‘Speed King’ drew on two Hendrix songs.
- He openly described Hendrix as a major influence.
Explained simply
Jimi Hendrix was an American guitarist and songwriter whose recordings helped shape the sound of late-1960s rock. “Stone Free”, recorded in 1966, was an early track that combined forceful rock rhythms with elements of funk and Hendrix’s distinctive guitar style.
Ritchie Blackmore was the guitarist in Deep Purple, a British rock band that became known for its loud, hard-driving sound. The band’s “Speed King” appeared four years after “Stone Free”; Blackmore said Hendrix’s songs, including “Stone Free” and “Fire”, influenced its creation. Such accounts offer a way to trace how musicians heard and adapted one another’s work.