Third Stone From the Sun

Third Stone From the Sun: Hendrix’s Alien Riff Manifesto

“Third Stone From the Sun” is arguably the boldest track on The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s 1967 debut, Are You Experienced. It is a sprawling, six-minute instrumental epic that serves as a genre-defying bridge between psychedelic rock and free-form jazz, directly inspired by Hendrix’s love of science fiction. Recorded intermittently between January and April 1967 at De Lane Lea and Olympic Studios in London, the piece is a masterclass in early studio wizardry. The track makes revolutionary use of tape manipulation, speed alteration, and dense multi-tracking to craft an immersive sonic environment, complete with the famous slowed-down, whispered spoken word segment between Hendrix and producer Chas Chandler—a parodic alien commentary on Earth.

Far from a simple jam, the composition is highly structured, built around a complex, repeating chord sequence that showcases the trio’s exceptional interplay. Drummer Mitch Mitchell drives the action with a kinetic, improvisational pulse, while Noel Redding provides a grounded, steady foundation. The track’s enduring influence lies in its use of the studio as an instrument; engineer Eddie Kramer pushed sound imaging and stereo panning to evoke the sensation of a spaceship landing. This commitment to sonic exploration places “Third Stone From the Sun” alongside Hendrix’s more lyrical masterpieces like “Little Wing” and his later funk-infused experiments like “Dolly Dagger”—each revealing a different facet of his cosmic musical vision.

Performance Details

🎵 Genre: Rock | 🎤 Performance Type: Studio