“My producer Mickie Most said, ‘We can’t let a wild boy like Hendrix in there. We have to control the song, Don’”: ’60s icon Donovan tells the story of the “heavy metal folk” song that connects him to Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles

In 1968, folk singer Donovan was in India, studying transcendental meditation with The Beatles, when he finished writing a groundbreaking song that would become one of his biggest hits.

He named it Hurdy Gurdy Man, and for many years it was said that Donovan was backed on this song by three of the musicians who went on to form Led Zeppelin.

In fact, Donovan had originally wanted Jimi Hendrix to play on Hurdy Gurdy Man – and would have given the song to Hendrix if producer Mickie Most hadn’t stopped him.