John Campbell - Guitar & Vocals, Mark Arnold - Bass Guitar, Kevin O'Grady - Drums & Backing Vocals
Influences
Hendrix, Hendrix, Hendrix and errrrrr oh yeah Hendrix
Sounds Like
Last Thursday we went to Leeds City Varieties to see Are You Experienced, a Hendrix tribute. There could be no half measures, this would either be awesome or awful.
My heart sank as the lights dimmed, the announcement was made and a man looking uncannily like Hendrix, complete with scarves, fringed shirt and crushed velvet loons came on stage. Plus he was holding his white Stratocaster right handed, but it had a left-handed neck, this, I thought, is taking it too far.
My spirits rose when the discordant intro of Purple Haze resounded through the theatre and stayed up there until the last wha-wha notes of encore Voodoo Chile brought proceedings to a close more than two hours later.
Yes, John Campbell looks like Jimi Hendrix and he is good enough to play like Jimi Hendrix, with a few of his own flourishes. One of my great regrets is that I never saw Hendrix play live. Last Thursday, I went with the flow and the experience was like being transported 40 years back in time and seeing the real Hendrix.Outstanding...
If John Campbell is playing anywhere remotely near you – just go and see him. Jaw-droppingly good playing, great band, great visuals - and a polite, good-natured personality as well. I saw JH back in 1969 but I have to say he didn’t sound nearly as good as John does. I went with friends and assorted kids from 12 upwards and all agreed it was a gig that easily deserved a place in our ‘top ten’ concerts list.
Shaun Skelly
In an interview in Guitarist magazine (November 2005) Are You Experienced? are described by Jon Stewart as:
"Uncannily like the real thing (if you don't believe me check their website)"
John Morgan of The Sunday Telegraph Magazine - Seven (August 2006) said of John:
"Campbell in person does not come across as an arsonist, he grins constantly, speaks with an improbably thick Birmingham accent and talks as fast as he plays the guitar... but the sound that came from his guitar was genuine talent. Nothing was beyond him"Quotes from venue owners and punters across the UK:
"I have never really rated Hendrix, but by watching these so accurately portray their heroes, it made me appreciate how ahead of his time he was.
I even bought the 'Best of' CD the next day..." - Sean Booker, Army & Navy (Chelmsford)
"...as someone who isn’t over enthusiastic about tribute bands, I didn’t expect much when I was persuaded to go and see Birmingham based “Are You Experienced”. I had heard their version of “Foxy Lady”, taken from an early album, but assumed that it was just a clever mixing job.
I thought, “surely no one can ever attempt re-create the live stage show”. Well, these lads not only attempted it, they achieved it."- Graham Stellmach, The Borderline Club (Telford)
" The power trio that is "Are You Experienced"
seriously rocked the joint. Apart from not being left handed (sorry man
- my only criticism), John and the guys were awesome. This was just like
being transported back to the late 60's, being in some cramped smokey
jazz club listened to the world's greatest rock guitarist."- Mick Champness, City Limits (Romford)BARRY MARTIN , DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH.
Are You Experienced?
at The Flowerpot
King St, Derby.
Two and a half hours of Hendrix heaven. Absolutely awesome. A.Y.E.? lit up a gloomy, damp Derby night with an amazing, pyrotech-tastic tribute to 60’s/70’s psychedelia.
Wild thing drummer Kevin O’Grady and moodily statuesque bassist Mark Arnold provided the perfect wall of sound backdrop for guitarist John Campbell to produce a phenomenal performance truly worthy of the great Jimi himself.
Campbell dressed like, looked like, sang like and played like Hendrix. Look away and listen. It was Jimi.Look up through the swirling fog of cigarette smoke. Jimi was there.
From the first note, Are You Experienced ? had the crowd happily head banging as they hammered out what seemed to be the complete works of the most inventive, iconoclastic guitarist the world has ever known.
The staccato chewing, the flamboyant gestures, playing behind the head..with his teeth , the fleet-fingered fret-work on his signature Fender Stratocaster . John Campbell had ‘em all and did ‘em all.
Soft, lilting Little Wing and Wind Cries Mary dovetailed with ear-numbing, axe- attacking, face-contorting versions of such classics as ‘Voodoo Chile, Purple Haze’ and a Gatling ‘ Machine Gun’ dedicated, tongue in cheek, to George Bush.
Request time ! and the boys blasted out for me a storming version of the special one’s ‘Fire’ which near took the roof and rafters off of the building.
Finishing the set with a touchingly respectful, blazing lighter-fluid flourish and ceremonial burning of his white Strat., John and co. exited the stage leaving the whooping and a’ hollerin’ Flowerpot faithful in an exhausted afterglow of musical nostalgia.
Are You Experienced?
I am now.
Are You Experienced? are THE No.1 Tribute to Jimi Hendrix and are now in their 11th year! They have played throughout Europe and Dubai as well as constantly touring the UK.
Founder member John Campbell has been critically acclaimed as first choice for a Jimi sound and look-alike. In his Jimi persona he has appeared in numerous TV programmes, magazine / newspaper aticles and radio interviews.
Are You Experienced? bring to life the explosive stage show that Jimi Hendrix's audiences witnessed first hand in the late sixties. With John's flamboyant guitar style (playing with his teeth and behind his head!!!) and bearing a striking resemblance to the man himself, a new audience are discovering something of what Jimi Hendrix's live show was all about.
During their 2 hour set, the band will take you on a rollercoaster ride of Jimi classics such as Little Wing, All Along the Watchtower, Voodoo Chile, Foxy Lady, Red House, Fire and many more as well as playing some of the lesser known tracks (Axis Bold as Love, Freedom, Dolly Dagger, Manic Depression...) culminating in a magnificent guitar burning finale (John stopped smashing the guitars up on the advice of his accountant...)
Having just signed to a management company, 2007 will see the band embarking on their first theatre tour of the UK.
We shall leave the last words to an unknown enthusiast who signed our guestbook on our website with the following little gem...
"I was the guy who invaded the satge" (yes that's what he wrote) and signed off his comment with "Peace & Love man... Trippin' in the Triops!!!" ... don't ask...!
You should create your own MySpace Layouts like me by using nUCLEArcENTURy.COM's MySpace Profile Editor!
hi John!!!! i'm in 3rd place right now... dont forget to vote everyday!! tell all your friends!! my mom says to tell you hi and how are you doing and all that...
NOVEMBER 27TH JIMI HENDRIX BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE SHOW W/ROSA LEE BROOKS/BROOKSPROJECT BAND @ THE WORLD FAMOUS "WHISKEY A GO-GO".. 8901 SUNSET BLVD HOLLYWOOD CA
FRIDAY NIGHT 7PM. BEST TO ARRIVE BY 6:30 BRING COINS FOR PARKING METERS
WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE LEGENDARY JIMI HENDRIX''S BIRTHDAY.
THE SHOW WILL INCLUDE JIMI'S AND MY SONG "MY DIARY" AND ALL HIS WONDERFUL MUSICAL LEGACY..
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A VERY ENCHANTING EVENING...
THANK YOU,I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE...... ROSA LEE BROOKS/GOLDENROSE/JIMI'S GIRL
RSVP.GOLDENROSE
TICKETS $10:00
IT WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW,PLEASE PLAN EARLY,ROSA LEE..
hi john... i'm trying to win a new gibson sg but i need votes.. will you vote for me ....if this link doesnt work the contest is on the gibson sg girls page..
i will get the link and send you another comment
hi john my world rocks like hell . but it will rock abit brighter in april when you guys come back to the yardbirds . thanks for the vid its like seeing a ghost .. is it john or jimi .. love you guys xxxx
Our UK autumn tour has now started and our show incorporates the whole range of classic Pink Floyd from Barrett, through Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here, to The Division Bell This year's dates celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Wall as well as featuring a special performance of the iconic tracks Echoes. Next Saturday 10th October we're playing at The Robin 2 in BILSTON. Tickets are available from the Robin box office: 01902 401 211 or online through our website. It should be a really great night so we hope to see you there! All the atmosphere, visual magnitude and musical excellence of Pink Floyd, re-created live onstage by THINK FLOYD - THE DEFINITIVE PINK FLOYD EXPERIENCE!
For full tour listings as well as soundclips, photos and new Merchandise please visit www.thinkfloyd.net
HEY UP GUYS HOWS MY FAVOURITE HENDRIX BAND DOING ??? HOPE YOUR GONNA GROOVE OVER TO THE YARDBIRDS SOON COS I'M MISSING YA . ENJOY YOUR MARSHALL STACK ....XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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