| "Machine Gun" | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Machine_Gun_promo.jpg) 1999 promo single cover | |
| Song by Jimi Hendrix | |
| from the album Band of Gypsys | |
| Released | March 25, 1970 |
| Recorded | January 1, 1970 (second show) |
| Venue | Fillmore East, New York City |
| Genre | |
| Length | 12:38 |
| Label | Capitol |
| Songwriter(s) | Jimi Hendrix |
| Producer(s) | Jimi Hendrix (as Heaven Research) |
"Machine Gun" is a song written by American musician Jimi Hendrix, and originally recorded for the 1970 Band of Gypsys album, with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. It is a lengthy, loosely defined (jam-based) protest of the Vietnam War.[3]
At a performance in Berkeley, California, Hendrix introduced the song:
I'd like to dedicate this song to soldiers fighting in Berkeley—you know what soldiers I'm talking about—and oh yeah, the soldiers fighting in Vietnam too ... and dedicate [it] to other people that might be fighting wars too, but within themselves, not facing up to the realities.
Hendrix's 12-minute performance of "Machine Gun" for the Band of Gypsys is often lauded as his greatest, and is considered a stunning display of guitar virtuosity.[3][4] Hendrix's long guitar solos and percussive riffs combine with controlled feedback to simulate the sounds of a battlefield, such as helicopters, dropping bombs, explosions, machine guns, and the screams and cries of those wounded or grieving. Although a proper studio recording was never realized, several live recordings exist.
- ^ Greene, Doyle (2014). The Rock Cover Song: Culture, History, Politics. McFarland. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-7864-7809-5.
- ^ "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s". Pitchfork. June 23, 2004. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Moriarty, Frank. "Reloading Machine Gun". Guitar Shop. Port Chester, New York: Cherry Lane Magazines. ISSN 1071-8494. Archived from the original on December 20, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
- ^ Westergaard, Sean. "Band of Gypsys - Jimi Hendrix | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 17, 2011.