“He offered me Jimi’s guitar and disappeared!” How Lenny Kravitz almost got his hands on Hendrix’s Woodstock Strat

On October 24, 2024By Yukito

When Lenny Kravitz first became a star in 1990 with his debut album Let Love Rule, he revealed how Jimi Hendrix’s former drummer Buddy Miles promised to give him the famous guitar that Hendrix played at Woodstock.

It was an offer that seemed too good to be true – and unfortunately for Lenny, it was.

As Lenny recalls, Miles saw him perform the Hendrix classic “If 6 Was 9” in concert and was so impressed that he said Lenny might have Jimi’s most iconic guitar, the white 1968 Fender Stratocaster he played on festival in Woodstock on August 18, 1969.

Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze – Live Woodstock – 4K Remaster – (color corrected) – (UHD) – YouTube

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In an interview with Sounds in May 1990, Lenny said: “He (Miles) offered me the guitar in front of 30 people, my band, crew and the bus driver. He said, “I would really love for you to have this.” He came to my concert in Chicago, came on stage and raised my hand – it was like his acceptance of me.

“He said I was the best thing since Jimi or something. We were hanging out and having a great time and he had no reason to try to impress anyone.

“He said, ‘It’s in stock, I’ll take it.’ And the bastard disappeared! That’s kind of fucked up. He didn’t have to say it, no one asked him to, he didn’t have to brag.

“You just don’t tell a little kid like me who idolizes Jimi Hendrix that you’ll give him a guitar and then don’t give it to him.

“I haven’t lost anything, but this is a big joke, man. It really bothered me.”

Lenny didn’t think he would have any concerns playing this guitar. “Hell no!” he said. “I would have fucking fun with this! I wouldn’t say, “Oh my God, I can’t touch it.” I’d play for that motherfucker!”

He also revealed that he wanted Jimmy Page to play the solo on the song Fields Of Joy, but ended up asking Slash to play the solo.

Fields of Joy (2012 remaster) – YouTube

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“Slash came up to me after one of my shows and we talked,” he recalled. “We actually went to high school together, but we didn’t really know each other, we just passed each other. He said, “I really want to play on your record.” And I said, “I’ll take your number and call you.” And he said, “Call me, don’t bullshit me.”

“That was the solo I wanted Jimmy Page to play before I met him. And I couldn’t get him, so I thought Slash would be the next best cat. And he fucked it up. Incredible! It’s the best I’ve ever heard him play.”