British Work Permit Issued to Jimi Hendrix, December 16, 1968

This British work permit was issued to Jimi Hendrix on December 16, 1968 and remained valid until the following February. During this time, Hendrix returned to London after spending much of the previous year touring the United States. His British performances included a January 4, 1969 appearance on a BBC television program hosted by pop singer Lulu (b. 1948). Hendrix was originally scheduled to sing a duet with Lulu on the live broadcast, but instead performed an unrehearsed version of Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love,” much to the annoyance of the show’s producer. The band spent the rest of the month on the road in Europe, with dates in Sweden, Germany, Austria and Denmark. 

Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who gained mainstream prominence in the late 1960s with hits such as “Hey Joe,” “Purple Haze,” “All Along the Watchtower,” and “Fire,” and is now celebrated as one of the most influential electric guitarists of all time.