Bold as Love

The Zoo Crew is spinning the psychedelic vibes of Bold as Love by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, a track that closes their iconic 1967 album Axis: Bold as Love. This song, recorded at Olympic Studios in London, was a labor of love, with the band laying down over 20 takes across October 4 and 5, 1967, before settling on a blend of takes 21 and 27 for the master. The sessions were intense, with Hendrix, Noel Redding, and Mitch Mitchell chasing perfection, and the final track features a pioneering use of phasing, making Hendrix’s Stratocaster sound like an orchestral swell. One wild story from the album’s production: Hendrix accidentally left the master tapes for side one of Axis: Bold as Love in a London taxi, forcing producer Chas Chandler and engineer Eddie Kramer to frantically remix the tracks to meet the release deadline. Fortunately, bassist Noel Redding saved the day with his own wrinkled copy of If 6 Was 9, which had to be ironed flat to be usable.

Bold as Love is a lyrical rainbow, with Hendrix painting emotions as colors in lines like “shiny metallic purple armor” and “fiery green gown.” Fans and scholars, like biographer Harry Shapiro, see it as an “Olympian battle of passions,” where love demands courage and comes in many hues. Some, like those on Songfacts, speculate Hendrix’s synesthesia—where he “saw” music as colors—shaped the song’s vivid imagery, given his comment, “I don’t play notes. I play colors. I play emotions.” There’s even a theory from scholar Tobias Churton that the song nods to the Sufi concept of the “Axis,” a perfected human who channels divine knowledge. On X, the official Hendrix account shared that Jimi wrote the song’s lyrics while staying at the Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, during a five-night gig at the Ambassador Theater in August 1967, adding a personal touch to its creation.

Jimi Hendrix, born Johnny Allen Hendrix in Seattle in 1942, was a self-taught guitarist whose journey to stardom was anything but easy. After an honorable discharge from the 101st Airborne Paratroopers, he cut his teeth playing backup for acts like the Isley Brothers and Little Richard. Struggling as a solo act in New York, Hendrix was discovered by former Animals bassist Chas Chandler, who whisked him to London in 1966. There, Hendrix formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience with Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums, blending R&B, blues, and psychedelic rock into a sound that floored audiences. Their debut, Are You Experienced, dropped in 1967, with hits like Purple Haze and Hey Joe, cementing Hendrix as a guitar god. His performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, where he famously set his guitar ablaze, made him a legend in the U.S. too.

Zoo Freaks can dive deeper into Hendrix’s world through his official website, packed with discography, news, and archival goodies. Connect with the legacy on social media via Facebook, Instagram, and X, where updates and rare photos keep the vibe alive. Fans gather on the Jimi Hendrix Fans Facebook group, sharing memories and rare finds, or the r/jimihendrix subreddit, where discussions range from favorite albums to gear talk. For a fan-run hub, Jimi Hendrix Wiki offers a treasure trove of trivia and history, perfect for any freak looking to get Experienced.