Hendrix tape sold for nearly double expected price

A recording of an interview with rock star Jimi Hendrix, made by a former EastEnders star, has been sold at auction for £3,380.

The recording was made backstage at a concert in Central Hall, Chatham, Kent, in December 1967 by John Altman, later to find fame as Nick Cotton in the BBC soap opera.

The tape, which also contained an interview with Pink Floyd keyboard player Richard Wright, was expected to fetch between £1,000 and £2,000.

It was sold, along with several other items of Mr Altman's rock memorabilia, at Ewbank's in Send, Surrey, on Thursday.

Then aged 15, Mr Altman had played truant to attend the gig, along with his two best friends.

The collection included autographs and rare 7-inch singles.

In the recording, the copyright of which was included in the sale, Jimi Hendrix talked about recently having to leave a US tour with the Monkees, while Richard Wright described the different reactions to Pink Floyd's music from UK and American audiences.

Mr Altman said he recorded the interviews in breaks between the afternoon and evening shows, after he and his friends helped the musicians unload their equipment.

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