Frank Marino, the leader of Mahogany Rush, has shared his experience attending a Jimi Hendrix concert, revealing that he was quite “unimpressed” by the performance.
Throughout Marino’s career, there have been numerous comparisons between his playing style and Hendrix’s, along with a persistent rumor about a supposed supernatural encounter with Hendrix’s spirit during a hospital stay induced by an acid trip.
In a recent interview with Guitar World, Marino debunked the myth, clarifying, “[What was true is that] I went to the hospital, learned how to play guitar in the hospital, and then emerged to play the music of the time: Hendrix, the Beatles, the Doors, and other late ‘60s influences.”
He further explained, “Perhaps I imitated Hendrix a bit too well because a writer created a fantastical story about it, which marked the bizarre start of my association with Hendrix.”
Marino admitted that his first experience with Hendrix’s music was not as impactful as one might expect: “In ’68, before I became a guitar player and before my hospital stay, I attended a Jimi Hendrix concert.”
“I ended up leaving, thinking it was just a bunch of noise. I was the only one who walked out. Later, as Hendrix’s name seemed to follow me everywhere, it felt almost like Hendrix was saying, ‘I’ll ensure you never forget my name.’ It was challenging.”
Discussing Mahogany Rush’s 1972 debut album, Maxoom, which he recorded at age 16, Marino reflected, “My goal was simply to play rock guitar in a band. It was straightforward. Not many 16-year-olds were doing that back then.”
“I was 13 when I went into the hospital and 14 when I started playing guitar. By 16, I had recorded an album, which wasn’t released until two years later.”
