Music:
Member Since: 11/3/2007
Band Website: http://www.weplayjimi.com
Band Members:
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On Bass and Lead Vocals, Derrick Grayson has been keeping Jimi‘s flame alive for over 32 years and brings a renewed soulfulness and sincerity to the haunting lyrics of Jimi’s own compositions and to the vocals of tunes by other authors that Jimi covered during his career. He has wooed audiences with the music of Jimi in High School, the US Navy and the Streets of Atlanta GA, a passion not just for money, but to keep the soul and spirit of Jimi burning for others to see and hear. Rainbow Bridge was the first Hendrix Tribute Band founded by Derrick in 1983 to express the music. The Axis Experience born 2006, is the last and his Best. Derrick also plays and writes not only original rock songs, but some very good rocking gospel music as well. His latest gospel band is called Contradiction.
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On Lead Guitar, Michael Jamsmith, with his award winning group "The Flame", could be found churning out high energy performances in the Florida club circuit. Of course the highlight of the evening was always his Hendrix renditions complete with wild feedback coaxed out his vintage Plexi Marshall and Strat - playing behind his back, and picking with his teeth. In the 90s, Jamsmith moved to Atlanta and played in the Rap-Metal outfit Psycho Pimps. He took time off to compose and record an number of fusion songs. Itching to get back out on the stage, he started seeking out other musicians to perform his new works. In the process, he stumbled upon a recording of a performance by Derrick Grayson's "Rainbow Bridge" and inquired about seeing the band play live. Derrick informed him that he did not currently have a guitar player. Jamsmith decided it was high time he - literally - paid tribute to the Master who influenced him so much.
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On Drums, Michael Davis comes from a nearly life-long pursuit of musical endeavors, including full-time pop bands, funk and jazz bands, and labor-of-love fusion bands. One of the earliest rock bands that influenced his play was the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Jimi's drummer, Mitch Mitchell brought talent and "chops" to Jimi's sessions that were extremely rare in the rock genre. Other drummers of the period, like Ginger Baker, BJ Wilson and Bill Kreutzman lent their influences as well. Michael recreates the percussive artistry of Mitch Mitchell, one of the most influential drummers in all of rock history, fusing jazz and rock sensibilities to energize this unique Axis Experience.
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Influences: Jimi Hendrix
Prince
The Time
Parliment / Funkadelics
The Eagles
Eric Clapton
38 Special
Heart
Queen
Stevie Ray Vaunghn
ZZ Top
Led Zepplin
Mothers Finest
Rolling Stones
Bad Company
AC/DC
Eric Johnson
Van Halen
Sounds Like: Jimi Hendrix
Record Label: Web World Records
Type of Label: Indie
