The Blue Flames | |
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Also known as | The Rainflowers |
Origin | New York City, New York, USA |
Genres | Rock, blues, rhythm and blues |
Years active | 1966 |
Associated acts | The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Spirit |
Past members | |
Jimi Hendrix Randy California Randy Texas Danny Casey |
The Blue Flame usually mistakenly called The Blue Flames or Jimmy James and the Blue Flames by third parties, later and sometimes even the members, much later, though the band never went by those names, was an American rock band that was formed in New York City in 1966 by Jimi Hendrix. The band was actually billed as 'The Blue Flame' in the only surviving advert for them, and as they were referred to by John Hammond in interviews, a Crawdaddy! 1967 issue, and also by Hendrix himself in his 1969 interview with Nancy Carter. 'Jimmy James' was merely his alias at this time, as was the earlier 'Maurice James' i.e. not part of the band title. The band consisted of Hendrix - lead guitar & vocals; Randy Wolfe - 2nd guitar (also slide guitar); Randy Palmer - bass & Danny Casey - drums (both from 'Clouds' a band originally from Houston, Texas).
Since there were two musicians named "Randy" in the group, Hendrix dubbed Wolfe "Randy California" (as he had recently moved from there to New York City) - the name which he held until his death - and Palmer (a Tejano) "Randy Texas". Randy California would later co-found the band Spirit with his stepfather, drummer Ed Cassidy. Jeff Baxter claims to have occasionally stood in on bass. The band played together for only three months before Hendrix left the US in September and arrived in England to form The Jimi Hendrix Experience .
Hendrix (alias 'Jimmy James') formed The Blue Flame (which he said was also called The Rainflowers in one BBC interview - "either name will do.") in June 1966. He recruited 15-year-old guitarist Randy Wolfe (California couldn't recall ever hearing the name 'Rainflowers') after seeing him playing in Manny's Music Store on 48th Street. Hendrix invited him to play with him at the Cafe Wha? that night. At the Cafe, the guitarists spent fifteen minutes in the boiler room, where Jimi taught Wolfe a few songs, namely "Hey Joe", "Like a Rolling Stone", "Wild Thing" and "Shotgun".
The band ended up playing six nights a week at the Cafe Wha? California recalls that "the band made about $60 a night and Jimmy split it equally four ways", though Carol Shiroky (Jimi's girlfriend at the time) thinks differently, claiming the band used to get paid only $7 per night. The band was left behind after Jimi was approached by Chas Chandler and his now business partner (and soon to be former manager) Mike Jeffery, who took him to England and formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Jimi apparently wanted to bring California with him to England to be a member of what became the 'Jimi Hendrix Experience', but Chandler was against the idea as he only wanted Hendrix, who would be the only guitarist in the band, and, anyway, California was too young and his parents were not willing. Jeff Baxter (of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers fame) also claims to have sat in (as have others) on bass for The Blue Flame on a few occasions. Danny Taylor, future drummer for the Silver Apples, also has claimed to have played drums with the Blue Flame.[1]