Jimi Hendrix – Star Spangled Banner At Woodstock 1969 [Video]
Woodstock was a memorable music festival, but this particular performance may be the most famous part of the entire thing.
As the story goes, the weather wasn't cooperating on the Sunday of the festival. Jimi Hendrix, fresh with his new band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, was scheduled to close out the weekend.
As the rain came down, the crowds thinned. At peak there was an estimated half a million people there. By the time Hendrix came on stage, the herd was down to around 30,000-40,000 people.
They were all rain soaked, muddy, and tired. It was now 8am on Monday.
Hendrix and his band played some hits, went into some jam sessions...and then it happened.
Hendrix played "The Star Spangled Banner."
Nowadays, people are used to hearing varying versions of our nation's anthem. Back then, that wasn't the case. Whether you liked this version, didn't like it, were offended by it, or absolutely loved it, you were, with out a doubt, struck by it. It hit you, and it stayed with you.
Today, this is one of the most iconic versions of the song. To that we say, Happy Birthday, America!