‘Star Trek’s’ Leonard Nimoy Once Met Jimi Hendrix
While we're celebrating the 45th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's 'Are You Experienced,' we'd be remiss if we didn't pass along this strange bit of news that passed across our desk the other day. Apparently Leonard Nimoy, best known as Mr. Spock on the 'Star Trek' television series and movies, had a close encounter with Jimi Hendrix.
As part of a lengthy video interview with Geoff Boucher of the L.A. Times, the actor-director-singer-photographer talks about meeting Hendrix shortly before the rock legend's death in 1970. While in Cleveland promoting his album 'The New World Of Leonard Nimoy,' which features Nimoy's take on folk-rock and country standards such as 'I Walk the Line' and 'Proud Mary,' Nimoy was thrown a dinner with local music industry people.
“During the course of the evening, somebody came to me and said, ‘Jimi Hendrix is in the next room. He heard you were here, he would like to come and say hello,’” Nimoy said. “I thought about it for a nanosecond, and I said ‘bring him in.’”
About Hendrix, Nimoy says he was "charming," "very nice" and a "great, great artist" who "died much too young." Boucher and Nimoy then discuss how 'Star Trek' and Hendrix's music reflected the cosmic sensibilities that were prevalent at the time.
Leonard Nimoy released five albums between 1967 and 1970. As with the records released at the same time by his 'Star Trek' co-star William Shatner, the albums are more loved for their novelty value and camp appeal than for their musical merit.
For those of you who may not believe it, a picture of the meeting, which also contains bassist Noel Redding, is offered in the video below.
Watch Leonard Nimoy Talk About Meeting Jimi Hendrix