Marshalls chippy in Tynemouth still proudly displays a plaque in its window commemorating the day rock legend Jimi Hendrix ate fish and chips there in March 1967. The Front Street shop, a favourite among locals and visitors for decades, marks the visit nearly 59 years on.
Hendrix's 1967 visit
The Purple Haze star, regarded as one of the greatest performers and guitarists of all time, ended up tucking into fish and chips from Marshalls after delighting a packed crowd at the Club A'gogo venue on Percy Street in nearby Newcastle. Like many a tourist, American megastar Jimi, who died at the age of just 27 in 1970, wanted to enjoy his fish and chips with a great view of the sea, so, as the story goes, took himself to a nearby bench to look out into the North Sea as he got stuck in.
The plaque reads: 'Jimi Hendrix. Legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix ate fish and chips from this shop while overlooking the sea after playing the Club A'gogo nightclub in Percy Street, Newcastle on Friday 10th March 1967.'
Club A'gogo connections
Club A'gogo was owned by Michael Jeffery, who was one of Jimi's managers at the time, along with The Animals' Chas Chandler. There was even a rumour that Jimi, who went on to play Newcastle City Hall in December '67, busked on Chillingham Road in Heaton, where he lived for a time with Chas' parents.
Modern-day praise
Nearly 60 years after Jimi's visit, Marshalls was talked about in high regard earlier this summer by chart-topping singer Sam Smith, who named it as their 'ultimate' place to go for fish and chips. During an appearance on Waitrose's Dish podcast in July, Sam told hosts Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett: 'My family are from Whitley Bay and my favourite fish and chip shop is called Marshall's, which is amazing. When people are talking about fish and chips, they aren't talking about the same fish and chips I am.'
