The music world was stunned today by news that the last known recording
by the rock'n'roll great Jimi Hendrix has turned up, and of all places
in a Craigyhill ice-cream van !!!!
"For years everyone just thought ma van was rookied, but that's how it's
supposed tae soond" explained the nonplused mobile confectioner
Stewartie. Stewartie and Jimis paths crossed in July '70 when Jimi,
then experimenting heavily with LSD, had inadvertently ended up in the
hilltop estate believing it to be the mystical mountain kingdom of
Kashmir, India, where he had hoped to join John Lennon of the Beatles on
the path to spiritual enlightenment. As it turned out all Hendrix found
was local fruit shop owner Tommy Lennon and the muddy track across the
"big green".
"I foond this black american fella in flamboyant clothing hangin' roond
ootside the wool shap between Jerrys an McGreggors, something, call it a
sixth sense, told me that he wasnae frae Craigyhill" Stewartie told a
throng of enthralled music "journos". "He seemed lost so I offered tae
take him around the estate in my van so that he could get tae know the place"
At that time Stewartie had no music to herald his vans approach, he
simply shouted out the window " 99s, sliders, Quenchers, single cigarettes
sold tae children nae questions asked" Jimi it seems was unimpressed and
offered to specially record a theme song for Stewarties van. "He came
roon ma hoose and set up his amps, I got ma tape recorder oot". Jimis
first attempt didn't exactly "freak out" the monocular mobile munchie
monger. "He kept playing the American national anthem and it just wasnae
working. So I suggested that he try something mare appropriate for an
icecream van, like Greesleves" Jimi knocked out a wild, distorted,
feedback laced rendition of the medieval classic and Stewartie knew
instantly that he had the tune that would carry him into the icecream
van history books one day. Stewartie offered to set Jimi up with a job,
delivering groceries by bicycle for Davy McGregor, and a flat in Shanlea
Drive, but Jimi wanted to move on. " I waved him off as he boarded the
Antiville Direct bus at the intersection of the Linn and Killyglen
roads, how could I have known that only 2 months later he would choke
tae death on his ain boke" said a tearful Stewartie, then added "It
wasnae because of anything he bought oot o my van, mind!!!"
 

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