Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

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Biography

Jimi Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix 27th November 1942; died 18th September 1970) Jimi Hendrix is a world famous guitarist famous for hits such as 'Voodoo Child' and 'Purple Haze'.

Musical career: Jimi Hendrix had a band called the Casuals whilst in the army with bass player and fellow soldier Billy Cox. The pair formed a new band called King Kasuals after moving to Tennessee following their army discharge. It was there he learned to play guitar with his teeth. He played across Clarksville and later moved to Nashville. His first single 'Testify' was released in 1964 with the Isley Brothers but failed to chart. Later that year, he joined Little Richard's touring band the Upsetters and released the single 'I Don't Know What You Got (But It's Got Me)'. He was later fired after various disagreements and proceeded to return to the Isley Brothers for a short while. In 1965, he joined Curtis Knight and the Squires for 8 months and formed his own band, the Blue Flame, in 1966. His career really kicked off when Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards' girlfriend Linda Keith recommended him to Chas Chandler, who was just leaving the Animals, and who agreed to sign him and help him form a new band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell. In 1966, the band was signed to Track records and their subsequent first single 'Hey Joe' was released peaking at number 6 in the UK charts though it failed to appear on US charts. In 1967, they released 'Purple Haze' which reached number 3, and 'The Wind Cries Mary' which peaked at number 6 and stayed there for eleven weeks. Later that year, to gain media coverage he set fire to his guitar after a set at the London Astoria. They released their iconic debut album 'Are You Experienced' in 1967 in the UK where it spent 33 weeks at number 2. It reached number 5 in the US. A big part of their US success was their appearance at the Monterey International Pop Festival which earned them a lot more attention. They subsequently played with Big Brother and the Holding Company and Jefferson Airplane in a few concerts but replaced Jefferson at the top of the bill after outperforming them. They later accompanied the Monkees on their first American tour but quit very soon into it. They released their second album 'Axis: Bold as Love' in 1967. Hendrix lost the master tape of side one in a taxi which they had to remix overnight. He later told of his disappointment at how things turned out. After releasing it in the UK in 1968, he went to Sweden for a European tour but was arrested and later fined after getting into a drunken fight and smashing a window in the Hotel Opalen. Hendrix recorded 'Electric Ladyland' in 1968 with Chas Chandler as an initial producer. He, however, left Hendrix for good after becoming increasingly annoyed with his attitude. It was by no means a bad change though as the album topped the US charts for two weeks. The band began to fall apart later that year when Noel Redding left to form his own band and he reunited with Billy Cox to replace Noel. Mitchell soon also failed to make time for the band, putting other commitments first. The band's last concert was at the Denver Pop Festival in 1969; an event that gave the police a lot of work as they were forced to use tear gas to control the crowd. He performed at the Woodstock Music Festival in 1969 with his new band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows. His insistence on closing the festival and the heavy rain ended up with him performing in the early hours of Monday morning rather than Sunday night. It was also the event that saw his iconic performance of the US national anthem. Following his set, he collapsed from exhaustion. In 1968, he released live album 'Band of Gypsys' with one of his early producers Ed Chalpin after he pointed out that he was still under contract to record an album for him. He created an 'all-black' band during the time of Black Power organisations with Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles and they went on to perform four shows over two days for the LP which reached the top ten in the US and the UK in 1970. In 1970, Band of Gypsys played their last show at the Winter Festival for Peace at Madison Square Garden. He only played a few songs before making a rude comment at a female fan in the audience and soon leaving the stage. There were suggestions that he'd been taking drugs. Later that year he played the Cry of Love tour with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. His last public performance was at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho alongside his new band War and Eric Burdon. In 1994, his family won control of his music and set up the company Experience Hendrix. His posthumous releases include part of his unfinished 'Cry of Love' album and 1997's 'First Rays of the New Rising Sun'. Hendrix won seven posthumous Grammy awards with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The band was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Hendrix has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Jimi Hendrix: Personal life Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington. His parents were WWII soldier Allen Ross Hendrix and Lucille Jeter but they divorced when he was nine. His name was changed from Johnny Allen to James Marshall in 1946 as Al was unable to be consulted on the name at his birth. During Al's military absence, Lucille struggled to bring up Jimi and sometimes neglected him when she went out partying in the evenings. This led to Jimi almost being adopted by a family friend who Al discovered was looking after him while he was away. His childhood was tumultuous. His parents were alcoholics and had a violent relationship, his brother Leon was in and out of foster care, his other siblings got adopted and he suffered from sexual abuse. On the day of his mother's funeral when he was 15, his father gave him a shot of whisky instead of taking them to the ceremony. He attended Horace Mann Elementary School where he would be obsessed with carrying a broom around like a guitar. He then went to Washington Junior High School but failed to graduate from Garfield High School. His first instrument was a ukulele with a single string that he found in a wealthy woman's house while removing trash. He enrolled in the army under the threat of prison after being busted driving stolen vehicles. Jimi Hendrix's life was coloured by his frequent drug use and numerous allegations of violence. He used LSD, cannabis and amphetamines during his career and many of his friends and family said that his alcohol abuse transformed him into an aggressive individual. He hit one girlfriend, Carmen Borrero, in the eye with a vodka bottle causing her to get stitches and he was fined in 1968 for trashing a hotel room. He was arrested and charged in 1969 for possessing drugs at Toronto Pearson International Airport but was later acquitted after he insisted it was slipped into his luggage without his knowledge. He had one son, James Daniel Sundquist , in 1969 with a Swedish woman named Eva Sundquist. Hendrix was pronounced dead on September 18th 1970 after becoming asphyxiated with his own vomit while intoxicated with barbiturates. His girlfriend, Monika Dannemann, was asleep in bed next to him at the time.



Biography by Contactmusic.com

Tainted Love, Hallelujah And Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: 10 Covers That You Probably Know Better Than The Originals


Johnny Cash Soft Cell Cyndi Lauper Blondie Whitney Houston Jeff Buckley Jimi Hendrix Joan Jett Aretha Franklin Mark Ronson Amy Winehouse

How many times in your life have you found yourself listening to a song that you think you know inside out, only to discover that that's not even the original version? We're guessing at least once; indeed, it happens to us all. Most commonly when it's a cover of a cover. Here are ten iconic songs that gained more popularity as a cover than as an original...

Johnny Cash at Glastonbury 1994 / Photo Credit: Empics Entertainment/PA ImagesJohnny Cash at Glastonbury 1994 / Photo Credit: Empics Entertainment/PA Images

Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Original: Gloria Jones
Other notable covers: Marilyn Manson

Continue reading: Tainted Love, Hallelujah And Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: 10 Covers That You Probably Know Better Than The Originals

Album Of The Week: Remembering Jimi Hendrix And His Seminal Album 'Electric Ladyland'


Jimi Hendrix

It being Black History Month in the UK, it feels only appropriate to celebrate one of the most iconic rock albums of all time, brought to us by one of the greatest black musicians in history. Electric Ladyland was the third and final album released by Jimi Hendrix before his death in 1970, and it makes for the perfect legacy to his short but distinguished music career.

Jimi Hendrix - Electric LadylandJimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland

Released by Reprise Records and Track Records, Electric Ladyland was the only album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience to be produced by Hendrix himself; a fact that must've been all the more beneficial when you consider that the album managed to reach number one in the US charts and stay there for two weeks.

Continue reading: Album Of The Week: Remembering Jimi Hendrix And His Seminal Album 'Electric Ladyland'

Celebrating Black History Month: Are These The Greatest Black Artists Of All Time?


Aretha Franklin Prince Jimi Hendrix Stevie Wonder Nina Simone

The annual celebration encourages us to honour black people and recognise their significant contributions to history, a key contributor being their extraordinary influence on the music industry.

Whether you focus on Jimi Hendrix or Aretha Franklin, there's no denying their music continues to influence artists as the years go by. We took a dive into the history of music to identify just a few of our favourite black artists (in no particular order!). Find out if your favourite is on the list!

Aretha Franklin performing in Chicago in 2018 / Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune/TNS/ABACA/PA ImagesAretha Franklin performing in Chicago in 2018 / Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune/TNS/ABACA/PA Images

Continue reading: Celebrating Black History Month: Are These The Greatest Black Artists Of All Time?

Jimi Hendrix Covers Muddy Waters' 'Mannish Boy' In Unheard Recording


Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix shares his love of the blues with a stunning cover of Muddy Waters' 'Mannish Boy', released to the public for the first time as part of a new posthumous compilation of his archival recordings which will be entitled 'Both Sides of the Sky'. 

Jimi Hendrix at Handel House Museum in LondonJimi Hendrix at Handel House Museum in London

The track was recorded at the Record Plant in New York on April 22th 1969; a momentous date which saw the first ever studio collaboration of his Band Of Gypsys. With Jimi on vocals and guitar, Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums, it's the first single released from his latest album 'Both Sides of the Sky'.

Continue reading: Jimi Hendrix Covers Muddy Waters' 'Mannish Boy' In Unheard Recording

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? 50th Anniversary Album Review


It is often easy to forget that there was indeed more than just one member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Perhaps it is a pity that Hendrix has eclipsed the formidable talent of his rhythm section, in terms of their fame and acclaim. Then again, the fact Hendrix the guitarist and vocalist managed to do so in spite of the greatness of Noel Redding (bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums) could well be a testament to his own genius. Many have followed in Hendrix's footsteps but, arguably, few have had both the versatility and the significance of Hendrix in the realm of music, and not only in rock but in general. But surely Hendrix's rhythm section were not just there to add footnotes. Furthermore, the song-writing and singing on display does more than just make up the numbers (check out the pop-rock gem, 'Stone Free'). Even the production - on, say, the title track somehow became a voice itself, wrestling for recognition amid the many strands of this awesome tapestry.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? 50th Anniversary Album Review

Few drummers at the time in the world of rock rivalled Mitchell, and songs like 'Foxy Lady', despite excelling in general, would suffer without his input. Similar praise can be given regarding to the value of Redding's contribution on the likes of 'Purple Haze'. Then there are songs like the monumental single 'Hey Joe' on which the collective shine as one, but there are moments of nuance rather than a constant sameness that mean the song has many layers and different colours to it, unlike, say, the relentless and tiresome drum track on 'Manic Depression'.

Although the debut album by the group is not perfect - see, for another example, the sprawling, tedious-at-times 'Third Stone From The Sun' - 1967's Are You Experienced? is a brilliant introduction to those seeking to understand why the guitarist's stature granted by fans, players and historians is so grand. It is also a superb gateway to those experiencing the many shades of rock and rhythm-and-blues for the first time, a cultural landmark that was drawn from, or influenced in future, styles such as jazz, Indian-rock fusion, dub, grunge, metal and folk.

Continue reading: The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? 50th Anniversary Album Review

Jimi Hendrix - Freedom: Atlanta Pop Festival Album Review


When it comes to the late Jimi Hendrix, there is only one thing to know. Hendrix is one of the most named and influential people in classic rock and not only does his guitar playing epitomize the meaning of cool, he's also technically one of the best of all time. Each and every one of his recorded live performances, which include Woodstock, Monterey and the Atlanta Pop Festival, are legendary.

Jimi Hendrix - Freedom: Atlanta Pop Festival Album Review

Until now, Hendrix's performance at the Atlanta Pop Festival was never available on vinyl, though some excerpts have been featured in different documentaries and albums.
For the first time, Freedom: Atlanta Pop Festival explores this rare gem. The concert featured bassist Billy Cox (who took over from longtime Experience bassist Noel Redding), and drummer Mitch Mitchell.

The album features Hendrix in his prime. His performance of "Purple Haze," particularly his guitar solo on that track, showcases his true musicianship, and leaves no question as to why he is a rock legend. "Freedom" is another standout track that demonstrates the greatness of Hendrix's live essence. The vibe Hendrix gives the crowd during this performance leaves one to wonder, what would Jimi Hendrix be like if he were still alive and playing today?

Continue reading: Jimi Hendrix - Freedom: Atlanta Pop Festival Album Review

Jimi Hendrix's London Home To Become Public Exhibition


Jimi Hendrix

A London property at which the late guitar legend Jimi Hendrix lived in the late 1960s is to be opened to the public in early 2016, along with a neighbouring property once occupied by the great baroque composer George Frideric Handel.

‘Handel and Hendrix in London’ will open on February 10th next year, with tickets going on sale on November 2nd. The two properties have been restored as part of a £2.4 million project which lasted two years, with Hendrix’s bedroom on the top floor of 23 Brook Street previously being used an office by staff from the Handel House Trust. Now, it has been re-decorated to look as it would have done when the guitarist lived there from July 1968 to the end of 1969.

Jimi HendrixThe London flat at which Hendrix resided from 1968-1969 will become an exhibition

Continue reading: Jimi Hendrix's London Home To Become Public Exhibition

Isle Of Wight Festival Sees World Record Attempt In Honour Of Jimi Hendrix


Isle of Wight Festival Jimi Hendrix Black Keys Prodigy Blur Fleetwood Mac

On the 45th anniversary of his legendary set at the venue, the organisers of the Isle of Wight Festival 2015 have honoured Jimi Hendrix by attempting to break a world record.

Amid the fun of four massive headliners over three nights – The Black Keys and The Prodigy sharing the slot on Friday, Blur on Saturday and Fleetwood Mac on Sunday – the IoW chiefs had been encouraging the 50,000 festival-goers to buy cut-out Jimi Hendrix masks in order raise money for its nominated charity WellChild.

Jimi HendrixIoW made the world record attempt to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Hendrix's 1970 set

Continue reading: Isle Of Wight Festival Sees World Record Attempt In Honour Of Jimi Hendrix

City Of Seattle Breaks Ground On Jimi Hendrix Memorial Park


Jimi Hendrix

Two-and-a-half acres of land in his hometown has been officially marked out for a long-awaited park in honour of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix.The City Of Seattle officially broke ground on the Jimi Hendrix Park - a memorial garden which will be built in the city’s Central District.

Jimi HendrixGuitar legend Jimi Hendrix

The park’s organisers, the Jimi Hendrix Park Foundation, have raised over $1million for the project and say they envision the park as being ‘a place where people of different backgrounds will find the motivation to explore music and art, while celebrating Seattle’s cultural heritage,’ according to Rolling Stone.

Continue reading: City Of Seattle Breaks Ground On Jimi Hendrix Memorial Park

Here's How The Late Manny Roth Helped Create The Face Of Modern Music


David Lee Roth Bob Dylan Jimi Hendrix

Manny Roth, club owner and New York legend, has died at age 94. He was the owner of the Greenwich Village establishment Café Wha?, heavily frequented by the likes of Bob Dylan, Jimmy Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen and many others back in the 60s. Besides his own notoriety as a colorful club owner, Roth was also the uncle of Van Halen guitarist David Lee Roth.

Continue reading: Here's How The Late Manny Roth Helped Create The Face Of Modern Music

Jimi Hendrix Mitch Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Noel Redding

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix and Purple Haze - Legendary guitarist JIMI HENDRIX has been brought back to life in doll form. The estate of the PURPLE HAZE rocker, who died in 1970 has teamed up with McFARLANE TOYS to produce an action figure of the star, which is due to hit stores next month on 27 November (03). Picture supplied by:WENN, Legendary guitarist JIMI HENDRIX has been brought back to life in doll form. The estate of the PURPLE HAZE rocker, who died in 1970 has teamed up with McFARLANE TOYS to produce an action figure of the star, which is due to hit stores next month on 27 November (03).

Jimi Hendrix

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Jimi Hendrix

Date of birth

27th November, 1942

Date of death

18th September, 1970

Occupation

Musician

Sex

Male

Height

1.80






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