Standing out in the vibrant music scene of 1967 was no easy feat.

Simply being a highly innovative and thrilling guitarist wasn’t sufficient for Jimi Hendrix.

He had to take it a step further by literally setting his guitar ablaze.

As recounted by manager Chas Chandler, formerly of The Animals, the saga of Hendrix’s guitar destruction began during a European tour early in 1967.

After accidentally damaging his beloved instrument while returning to the stage, Hendrix decided to follow in Pete Townshend’s footsteps and smash it, a move that would become a recurring act depending on his mood and the atmosphere.

In March of that year, when the Jimi Hendrix Experience joined a jam-packed British tour, sharing the stage with the likes of the Walker Brothers, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Cat Stevens, Hendrix and Chandler devised a new attention-grabbing strategy involving a new song in their setlist: “Fire.”

Prior to the tour’s kick-off show on March 31 at London’s Finsbury Park Astoria, Chandler, Hendrix, and rock writer Keith Altham brainstormed a daring idea.

Altham suggested that it would be impressive if Hendrix performed “Fire” while incorporating actual flames into his act.

Chandler swiftly organized the logistics, sending a roadie to purchase lighter fluid to bring the plan to life.

Upon concluding their initial set with “Fire,” Hendrix casually placed his guitar near the amplifiers and strolled to the front of the stage as his bandmates continued playing.

While Hendrix engaged the audience, Chandler discreetly drenched the Stratocaster in lighter fluid.

With a few ignited matches, Hendrix knelt by the guitar and set it ablaze.

The flames soared up to four feet due to the substantial amount of fuel, resulting in burns on Hendrix’s hands during the fiery spectacle.

The emcee, rushing to extinguish the blaze, also sustained minor injuries.

Despite his injuries, Hendrix managed to finish the performance with another guitar before seeking medical treatment for his burns.

Notably, the headlining Walker Brothers were displeased by being overshadowed by the young guitarist and reportedly treated Hendrix and his entourage poorly for the remainder of the tour.

Although Hendrix refrained from setting more guitars on fire during that tour, he would later repeat the stunt at the renowned Monterey International Pop Music Festival a few months down the line.

In 2008, the scorched 1965 Fender Stratocaster that had been in storage for decades since that fateful night was auctioned for over $450,000.

This hefty sum reflects the value enthusiasts place on owning a piece of Jimi Hendrix’s fiery legacy.

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