The Rome Guitar Strap - The Bologna Roses...2


26-05-1968 Palazzo dello Sport, Bologna/Italy

Jimi Hendrix was over 90 minutes late for his concert in Bologna, which caused the promoters and staff to panic. Rumors were circulating that Jimi was either “very tired” or “very drunk”. Both were incorrect.




















A few hours before the time the concert was supposed to begin, Jimi went out of his hotel room and went for a walk in the area of Bologna’s Central Station. In a park nearby (Parco della Montagnola, perhaps?), Hendrix was recognized by a group of fans that had just got off the train from Lucca and were headed for Jimi’s concert. One of them – we only know his first name, Gabriele – told us almost thirty years ago what happened that very hot afternoon.

Jimi was staying at the Alexander Hotel, which was near the train station and had some small gardens in front. When they saw Jimi Hendrix walking around the flowerbeds, this group of fans seemed to recognise him. At first they could not believe their own eyes, as they had no idea that Jimi was staying at that hotel in front of them. Then, however, they approached him and started to talk. Someone passed some joints around and time flew by.

Later, an out-of-breath staff member arrived. He was looking for Jimi and he took him away in a hurry. A moment before Jimi left, one of the members of the group picked some roses from a bush nearby and gave them to Jimi, who used them as decoration on his white Stratocaster’s head.
In the meanwhile at the Alexander Hotel everybody was panicking, since Jimi had gone missing and nobody knew where he was! Finally, Jimi (who was notorious for his tendency to lose the sense of time) arrived at the hotel. That’s the reason why the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s afternoon show started about ninety minutes late.

Someone on stage tried to buy time and told the audience that Jimi was late because of a car accident. Luckily, the opening acts kept the crowd entertained as numerous bands had been playing since 4.30pm that afternoon.

















As we will see, the combination of this strap with this white Strat with the Bologna roses attached to the headstock , will last for quite some time.

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