From age ten to my 30s my view of Jimi Hendrix was simplistic and one dimensional. He was an incredible guitarist, a drug addict, and man who rarely engaged with black America. This view was the narrative of general media for most of my life. Over the last ten years I have learned a great deal more about Mr. Hendrix. Not surprisingly some of this information is inconsistent with the image/brand that others established for him.
Jimi Hendrix, born Johnny Allen Hendrix on November 27, 1942, in Seattle, Washington, was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter who revolutionized the electric guitar's role in popular music. Renamed James Marshall Hendrix by his father, Hendrix began playing guitar at the age of 15. His early influences included blues legends like B.B. King and Muddy Waters. After a brief stint in the U.S. Army, he worked as a backup musician for notable acts such as Little Richard and the Isley Brothers. In 1966, he moved to London, where he formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell. The band quickly gained fame with hits like "Hey Joe," "Purple Haze," and "The Wind Cries Mary." Hendrix's groundbreaking use of feedback, distortion, and stereophonic phasing effects, along with his flamboyant stage presence, made him a cultural icon of the 1960s.
Hendrix's career, though brief, was marked by significant achievements and performances, including his legendary rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock in 1969. His albums, such as Are You Experienced?, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland, are considered some of the greatest in rock history.
So, how good a guitarist was he? Most sources and reports state that he was the best. Experts and fellow musicians have offered high praise for Jimi Hendrix's guitar playing, often highlighting his unparalleled innovation, technical prowess, and emotional depth.
John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers emphasized Hendrix's ability to think of music in multiple dimensions, stating, "He's bending sound, taking care of music in every dimension. Where most people think of it in two dimensions, he's thinking of it in four" . Kirk Hammett of Metallica noted Hendrix's unique ability to create specific sounds and tones, saying, "He invented the Church of Tone. He had monster tone, monster technique, monster songs. And soul to spare" . These comments underscore Hendrix's technical innovation and his ability to push the boundaries of what the electric guitar could achieve.
Pete Townshend of The Who remarked on Hendrix's transformative presence, stating, "He had a kind of alchemist’s ability; when he was on the stage, he changed. He physically changed. He became incredibly graceful and beautiful" . This sentiment is echoed by Matt Bellamy of Muse, who highlighted the energy and expression Hendrix brought to his performances, describing it as "wild, reckless danger" . These reflections illustrate how Hendrix's playing was not just technically impressive but also deeply emotive and culturally significant, leaving a lasting impact on both audiences and fellow musicians.In summary, experts and musicians alike have lauded Jimi Hendrix for his groundbreaking approach to the guitar, his technical mastery, and his profound emotional and cultural influence.
Was he a drug addict? The simple answer is yes. Like so many musicians he died of a drug overdose. There is significant reporting and analysis suggesting that he was murdered by one of his managers who was stealing money from him. The conspiracy theory of murder is not logical. As an adult he used drugs and he drank a lot of alcohol. He died from alcohol and drugs.
Jimi Hendrix died on September 18, 1970, from asphyxia caused by inhaling his own vomit while under the influence of barbiturates. The specific circumstances leading to his death involved a combination of alcohol and an overdose of sleeping pills. Hendrix had taken nine Vesparax tablets, which was 18 times the recommended dose. This excessive intake of barbiturates, combined with alcohol, led to his unconscious state and subsequent asphyxiation.
On the night before his death, Hendrix and a girlfriend, Monika Dannemann, had been drinking wine and smoking hashish. They returned to Dannemann's apartment at the Samarkand Hotel in Notting Hill, London, where Hendrix later took the sleeping pills. He was found unconscious and unresponsive by Dannemann the next morning. Despite attempts to revive him, Hendrix was pronounced dead at 12:45 PM. The autopsy confirmed that he died from asphyxia due to inhalation of vomit while intoxicated with barbiturates.
People who knew or met him said he was quiet and shy. He was an extremely kind person who was considerate of other people’s feelings. Paul McCarthy stated that “ Jimmy was the kind of guy you wanted to be around.” According to his friend Eric Clapton, everyone really liked him. Sadly, Mitch Mitchell said some viewed him as morose, in the last year of his life he really hated the music business. That was the source of his sadness’s. However, at times, Jimi could be a lot of fun and had a wicked sense of humor. It appears that Jimi suffered from depression from time to time. Despite his success, it did not mix well with his “free spirit.”
By all accounts, he could care less about money. He loved music, but did not like the life of the rock star or the music business. According to Eric Clapton, he made a lot of friends, Clapton was one of his best friends ; however, Clapton said no one could really become a close friend of Jimi’s. If you got to close, he would put up a wall. However , Jimi was nice about it. Clapton said that is a common trait of genius. According to Clapton genius is a very lonely place. Your mind is always somewhere else. Billy Cox who was his old army buddy and played on the Band of Gypses, said Jimi was an overall genius. He knew everything about everything. And had a photographic memory. Because he was modest, according to Cox, almost no one knew that Jimi could talk in great detail on almost any subject.
Despite his brilliance, Clapton said he had a naive innocence. People were always trying to propose some shady deal to him. According to Clapton, “the con artist were always pulling him there pulling him here, he just couldn’t keep up.” It was easy to con Jimi, and as Clapton put it, it was easy to trick him. He couldn’t shake his shady manager Mike Jefries. In fact, Jimi died just a few days before his court date. He was suing Jefries for stealing his earnings. Hendrix paid a high price for his fame and his genius.
The area where general media has reshaped Jimi Hendrix the most is related to relationship with other blacks. In the last ten years this narrative has changed. I never knew that his first years in the music business were in all black bands. I did not know he created another all black band late in his career, literally months before he died. Probably the most surprising fact inconsistent with the historical Hendrix narrative is that he spent a lot of time with black women.
The night before his death he got in an argument over the phone with one of his black girlfriends (Devon Wilson). This made him more sad. Additionally, while in London he got into a significant argument with his white girlfriend. What do I think occurred to trigger his death? I think the woman he was with was very angry with him, as it was reported by many eyewitnesses at the various parties they attended. He was drunk. He could not sleep. He took some of her pills. He asked if he could take eight. She knew eight was too many, but said nothing as he swallowed the deadly dosage. Her story of what happened that night changed many times before her death. I don’t think she ever fully told the truth about Mr. Hendrix’s death.
Despite his all his success, Hendrix did struggle with substance abuse and depression. His larger than life persona on stage did not represent his true self. He was a shy musician who was most comfortable alone with his guitar. He was bullied often by men and women. He died at the age of 27.
Posthumously, he has been honored with numerous awards and remains one of the most influential guitarists in rock music history, inspiring countless musicians and continuing to shape the genre's evolution. Only in America.