BBC Gloucestershire is giving you the chance to be part of Rock History and let your band play using the first amp owned by Jimi Hendrix!
 | | The legendary Hendrix amp |
At a special concert on 29th October 2005 at the Stroud Subscription rooms you could get to plug your guitar into the unique amp and play a few classic riffs. The amp is owned by Rich Dickinson from Thrupp near Stroud. He bought it in the 1970s for £65 when he was just 15 after he'd seen it advertised as an "ex Jimi Hendrix" amp. It lay gathering dust in a wardrobe until earlier this year when Rich and his son Jamie decided to try to sell it on Ebay. There it attracted huge interest and when potential buyers started asking questions about its authenticity the local lads decided to investigate a bit further.
 | | This one goes up to eleven! (Photo: Val Wilmer) |
Marshall spotted the Amp while it was on eBay and contacted the Dickinsons. They said that they would love to see it before it was sold and ended up assisting with the three months research which followed. This resulted in confirmation that it was Jimi’s first Marshall - a Super 100, bought in 1966 and famously used on the Monterey tour which broke Hendrix in America in 1967 Since the authentication the amp has risen in value to around £1 million and has been withdrawn for sale on the internet auction site. But you could still get to play on it by entering our fab competition! How do I enter the competition? The competition is open to Gloucestershire and the surrounding area. There are three categories - 12 to 18 years, 18 to 25, and over 25's.
 | | Rich Dickinson meets Jim Marshall, next to the amp |
The overall winner will share the stage with Rich Dickinson's band Driving Force at the special concert on 29th October in Stroud, and get to use Jimi's amp for a few precious minutes. What you need to do to enter is send a demo of your band on CD, Mini Disc or by email. Ideally you should be part of a local up and coming band, or maybe a school band. The aim of the competition is to raise the profile of local talent. Your entry could be a stunning guitar based intro, a great jamming session, or even a catchy chorus - whatever you think best sums up your band. Selected entries will be made available to listen to here on this website. (Click on the links at the top right of this page to listen).
Or post your entries to: John Rockley, BBC Radio Gloucestershire, London Road, Gloucester GL1 1SW The closing date for receipt of entries is October 14th 2005. Prizes Top prize will be to play through Jimi's Amp but there are other prizes too. The best of each age group will win:
 | | Jamie and the Magic Amp... |
Rich Dickinson Driving Force T-shirts, albums and other goodies. Marshall Amplification are also providing an MG50DFX twin channel amp and t-shirts for the runners-up. Additionally finalists will win a chance to play a gig at the Queen Victoria music pub in Stroud. The night will also be covered by BBC TV so you may even get to see yourself on the telly! Profile raising Jamie Dickinson told BBC Radio Gloucestershire, "This competition is all about trying to raise the profile of new, up and coming bands based in the county. Jimi's amp is unique. This really is a once in a lifetime chance!" Click on the links of the right of this page to listen to Jamie interviewed by John Rockley on BBC Radio Gloucestershire (including a clip of Driving Force playing the Hendrix amp) and to find out more about the amp on Rich Dickinson's website. | 
