Jimi Hendrix hoped to make a record with legendary trumpeter Miles Davis before his untimely death and if it came to fruition the bass player on the record might have been Paul McCartney. A telegram shows that Hendrix was trying to get McCartney to join the group, but a little band known as The Beatles might have gotten in the way.
The Associated Press reports that Hendrix sent a letter to the Beatles’ Apple offices in London on Oct. 21, 1969, just after the release of Abbey Road.
“We are recording and LP together this weekend in New York,” Hendrix typed, complete with errors. “How about coming in to play bass stop call Alvan Douglas 212-5812212. Peace Jimi Hendrix Miles Davis Tony Williams.”
The supergroup would have included Hendrix on guitar, McCartney on bass, jazz drummer Tony Williams and Davis. But, it never happened. Hendrix died in September 1970 and it’s not even clear if McCartney ever saw the telegram. McCartney is the only one of these musicians still alive and he is currently on a world tour.
According to Rolling Stone, McCartney was supposed to contact manager Allan Douglas before going to New York on short notice. Beatles aide Peter Brown did get back to Hendrix, telling him that McCartney was on vacation.
The letter has been owned by the Hard Rock Cafe collection since 1995 and is one display at the Prague restaurant. As for why it’s getting attention now, the AP suggests that it’s because of the recent release of Hendrix's People, Hell & Angels.
Davis and Hendrix tried several times to find an opportunity to record in a studio, but their packed schedules made it impossible. The icon claimed in his autobiography that he was in London with arranger Gil Evans when Hendrix died.
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