'Sensitive' Jimi Hendrix tape surfaces

A quarter-inch tape of lo-fi demos by Jimi Hendrix recorded in 1968 will be auctioned next month, it has emerged.

The tape includes 14 songs which mark the period of time when Hendrix was working on his classic third album Electric Ladyland, The Independent On Sunday reports.

Fame Bureau executive Ted Owen said: "This tape shows his very sensitive, creative side. The wild man of rock is not there at all."

Hendrix gave the tape to Carl Niekirk, who worked as a photographer below his flat in Brook Street, London, after Niekirk lent him some milk and sugar.

Niekirk said: "It was a constant stream of people coming and going and partying. Because I asked him, he just gave it to me. As simple as that."

The tape was passed on to Niekirk's sister before being sold to Cafe Music Studios bosses Mark Sutherland and Paul Jackson for a nominal sum a decade ago.

It is expected to fetch between £50,000 and £100,000 when it goes on sale in April.