Remembering Jimi Hendrix

James Marshall Hendrix (aka Johnny Allen Hendrix, sometimes referred to as Jimmy Jim James) was born November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington. Young James was enamored with the guitar, but he could not afford one, so he carried a broomstick around with him everywhere emulating the guitar. This caught the attention of his elementary school teacher who called him a freak and that he would never amount to anything.

In 1959, Jimmy bought his first electric guitar, a white Supro Ozark. Hendrix’s first gig was playing at a bar mitzvah with the band, “Red River Unger & His Saddle Sores”. Hendrix was fired between sets for showing off. Jimi set his guitar on fire and pretended to hump his amp which riled up the guests. When his guitar was stolen after he left it backstage overnight, his father Al bought him a red Silvertone Danelectro.

Given a choice between prison or joining the Army, he chose the latter and enlisted on May 24, 1961. On May 25, Hendrix’s platoon sergeant, James C. Spears, filed a report in which he stated: “He has no interest whatsoever in the Army … It is my opinion that Private Hendrix will never come up to the standards required of a soldier. I feel that the military service will benefit if he is discharged as soon as possible. On May 26, 1961, Hendrix was granted a general discharge under honorable conditions. Hendrix later spoke of his dislike of the army and lied that he had received a medical discharge after breaking his ankle during his 26th parachute jump.

Jimi then went on to play with The Isley Brothers, and Little Richard. He tired of being a backup musician and moved to New York City and a residency at The Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village. British musicians loved him and Chas Chandler of The Animals became his manager.

Jimi Hendrix Illustration By Paul King Art

Mitch Mitchell & Noel Redding joined the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1966. Jimi hired them on the spot because they looked like Bob Dylan’s grandmother. Jimi called them ‘Bubby’. “Are You Experienced”, “Purple Haze”, Monterey Pop, Woodstock, “Little Wing”, “Axis”, “Electric Ladyland” and more made Hendrix a legend and the biggest star of the 1960’s.

Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. It was just revealed by the Hendrix estate, that despite the well publicized report that Jimi Hendrix died on September 18, 1970, he actually died one day earlier, but due to contractual obligations and being the ultimate showman, Jimi performed one final concert after his death.

The fossilized feces of rockstar Jimi Hendrix has sold at auction for a cool $1.7 Million bucks. It was purchased by guitarist John Mayer, who outbid Trey Anastasio of the band Phish. The bowel movement was uncovered by archaeologists at the site of the original 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel Woods, NY.

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