Zayn Malik Performs a Cover of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Angel’ To Commemorate The Late Guitar Legend’s 80th Birthday

In honour of what would have been the late guitar legend’s 80th birthday, Zayn Malik released a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Angel’.

Hendrix’s original, signature guitar from the song was used with Malik’s own deep vocals in the cut. The song, which was initially released posthumously by Hendrix’s estate in 1971, breathes fresh life, thanks to the former One Direction vocalist, whose voice perfectly fits in with its 70’s-sounding surroundings.

Listen to the cover below

In an interview, Hendrix’s estate, Experience Hendrix, said: “We are pleased that Zayn has been inspired to use original music from Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Angel’ in his recording of the song.”

“We’re hopeful that this version of a Hendrix classic will enlighten a new generation of listeners about Jimi’s genius and further propel his continuing legacy.”

Hendrix, who was born on 27th November, 1942, in Seattle, started playing the guitar at the age of 15. His guitar career didn’t really take off in the public eye until 1966 after he relocated to England and started performing with the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Before releasing his final album, ‘Band Of Gypsys,’ in 1970, he went on to release three albums with the group, including ‘Are You Experienced’ (1967), ‘Axis: Bold As Love’ (1967) and ‘Electric Ladyland’ (1968). He won several posthumous accolades and was admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. More than ten years later, in 2005, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. In 2015, Rolling Stone named him ‘the best guitarist of all time,’ stating that, “Jimi Hendrix exploded our idea of what rock music could be: He manipulated the guitar, the whammy bar, the studio and the stage.”

–Sikha Sohan