RHYTHM and blues fans will get a chance to relive an experience from music's bygone days on the anniversary of legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix's death.

On February 2, 1967, just as his career was taking off, with Hey Joe becoming the then-unknown artist's first major chart success, The Jimi Hendrix Experience played a sell-out show at Darlington's Imperial Hotel.

Chas Chandler, former bass player with North-East band The Animals, had brought Hendrix from New York to England, and the Darlington show was witnessed by 200 people - although many more now claim to have been there.

The show is also remembered for the theft of the star-to-be's Fender Stratocaster guitar, which would have proved virtually useless to its taker, as it was merely a prop, regularly smashed as part of Hendrix's stage show.

Hendrix died on September 18, 1970, supposedly from an overdose of sleeping pills.

In December 1999, readers of Guitar magazine voted him guitarist of the millennium, reflecting his influence on musicians.

But, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his death, Hendrix tribute band Sundance, from Darlington, will perform a special show in Berlin's Bar, which is part of the old Imperial Hotel.

This will take place on the eve of the anniversary, this Sunday, starting at 7.30pm.