John Campbell has led a double life as Jimi Hendrix for 23 years.

He only expected it to last for two or three.

He was persuaded to launch his tribute act to the great man by former Climax Blues Band guitarist Derek Holt.

But even with his support, John wasn’t sure.

“I love Jimi Hendrix and used to play some of his songs in a covers band,” he explains.

“We got despondent because we would play these pubs and there would be no charge and only a quarter of the people would be listening.

“Derek said that if he looked like me and played like me, he would do a Hendrix tribute and that gave me confidence.

“But I can remember the very first gig, I had got the clothes on and scarves and I looked in the mirror and thought ‘God, what are you doing?’

“But it went down really well.”

He brings the swagger and genius of arguably the greatest rock guitarist ever to The Brickyard, Carlisle, on Saturday, June 15 in a fundraiser for Carlisle Mencap.

He isn’t trying to copy the legendary guitarist. He insists it is a tribute to Hendrix and not a precise impression of how he played.

He says: “I have heard people copy him note for note, which is not what it is about. It is a feel for the music.

“People have asked me how to play Hendrix. You can play the notes but not have the feel.”

Now 63, he says he’ll keep doing it until no one is interested. He loves to play guitar and he loves the music.”Young ones ask if I’ve got acid in my headscarf because Hendrix used to. I say the only drugs I take are ibuprofen!”

The act ends with him setting fire to a guitar using lighter fluid, just as Jimi did at Woodstock.

And he admits he’s had problems in the past, setting fire to his hand and also burning his fingers on red hot strings.

n Are you Experienced? is at The Brickyard, Carlisle, June 15. Go to thebrickyardonline.com for tickets.