A MUSICIAN and artist has brought a piece of history back to the town where Jimi Hendrix played one of his first UK gigs.

A photograph of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, taken before the band's renowned Darlington gig, was bought by Shaun Campbell when it came up for auction at Christie's, in New York, last year.

It shows Hendrix, with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell before their gig at the Imperial Hotel, on the corner of Blackwellgate and Grange Road, on February 2, 1967.

Mr Campbell, who is also a guitarist, took delivery of the photograph, for which he paid hundreds of pounds, yesterday.

He said: "I got a phone call from my brother who saw it on their website.

"With me having the shop on Grange Road, I decided to buy it.

We decided it belonged in Darlington, not in New York."

Mr Campbell is planning to frame the photo and have it on display in his shop, Drum Art Furniture, in Grange Road.

Hendrix was relatively unknown at the time, and had recorded Purple Haze in Manchester earlier that day.

The gig, which had not been advertised, was attended by a handful of people. Hendrix's guitar was stolen that night - it was never found. Mr Campbell also plans to make an original piece of art with the photograph. It will include a bust, by artist Tom Raine, and a sculpture of Hendrix, along with other pieces of memorabilia.

He said: "It will involve a number of art forms and collectable items. I want it to form a display in Darlington for people to look at and have a taste of history."

He has also offered a £500 reward for the safe return of Hendrix's guitar, in the hope it can be returned to the Jimi Hendrix Foundation.