Fox concert pays tribute to Jimi Hendrix

“I looked out at the crowd from the stage and couldn’t believe it,” Cox said, recalling the legendary 1969 music festival. “I hadn’t seen that many people before. Jimi looked and said, ‘See all those people out there? They’re sending a lot of energy on to the stage to us. So let’s take that energy, absorb it and send it back to them.’ And that’s just what we did.”

Cox and a laundry list of Hendrix disciples, from blues icon Buddy Guy to metal maestro Zakk Wylde, hope to channel that same energy Feb. 27 when Experience Hendrix makes a stop at the Fox Theatre, part of a 27-show excursion. A rotating roster of more than a dozen performers take turns churning out songs from the Hendrix catalog, a tip of the ax to the guitarist's music and legacy.

At any given time during the sprawling set, Guy, Cox and others might team up for a blistering version of “Hey Joe.” Or Kenny Wayne Shepherd might lead a “Voodoo Child” rave up with Chris Layton, former drummer of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, pounding the skins.

The Experience Hendrix concerts, which have been happening since 1995, continue to be special to Cox. What began as one-off performances has snowballed into full-on tours requiring a fleet of six buses to haul the talent and crew.

“It’s still fun, and I enjoy it even at my age,” Cox said with a laugh. “I thought about retiring and then I said to myself, ‘I don’t need to retire, because I’m not working.’”

Maybe it’s because the Experience Hendrix shows don’t feel like work. Cox said the revolving stage door means the performers don’t suffer from burnout. An artist takes the stage for a few songs, he or she might return later to sit in with someone else, and then some of the musicians plug in for the grand finale.

The audience wins, because not only do they get to witness a potpourri of performers, but, Cox said, the artists remain invigorated and on their A-game.

“The audience can feel the electricity, because we’re all energized,” he said. “We’re not having to stay out there for two hours and get worn out. There’s always something fresh coming out onstage and something unique when it comes to Jimi Hendrix.”

Having such a huge touring band might seem like a challenge, with stars potentially fighting over the spotlight. Cox said that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Although the participants come from varied backgrounds, they share a common bond: They’re all hooked on Hendrix.

“We’ve worked with everyone from Slash to Bootsy Collins to Joe Satriani to Ernie Isley,” Cox said. “Everyone leaves their egos at home, and we all get along like one big happy family.”

Yet, the patriarch of Experience Hendrix arguably remains Cox. Not only did he hold down the bass in two Hendrix outfits — the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys — but Cox first met Hendrix in 1961, while both were serving in the Army.

Now, more than 50 years later, Cox watches from the stage as his friend’s music continues to make its mark. The bassist isn’t surprised, however.

“I predicted that, because Jimi wrote in the now,” Cox said. “The only surprising thing is the fact that I’m still around, when he rose like the phoenix. I predicted people would discover him in 100, 200 or 300 years later. But, here it is happening in my time.”

Although the Experience Hendrix shows never fail to excite Cox, there's a certain lilt in his voice when he recollects his time onstage with Hendrix himself, especially that iconic set at Woodstock. Cox said Hendrix's rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" was completely unplanned and improvised.

“I played the first five or six notes with him,” Cox said, “and then I realized it was about to take a very serious turn. So, I just laid back. We had never heard anything like it before, and we haven’t heard anything like it since.”