Debauchery, vices, guitar: the tragic fate of virtuoso Jimi Hendrix Stars

Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle on November 27, 1942 to Ed Hendrix and Indian Lucille Jeter. His mother named him Johnny Allen, but his father, returning from the front, renamed the child James Marshall. Very soon the name was shortened to Jimi.

In 1951 the father left the mother and went away and seven years later the mother died. Jimi was 15 years old at the time and stayed with his grandparents. His mother’s death affected him greatly. Then he became interested in music and when he saved money, he bought his first guitar for $5.

The returning father forced the guy to play right-handed, although Jimi was left-handed. He didn’t fight back, but when no one saw him, he turned his guitar around and played as it was convenient. This became one of the hallmarks of his game.

Hendrix started playing in local bands. At the same time, he dealt in petty theft, he once stole a car. Thanks to a good lawyer, the prison was replaced by the army. But he served only a few months and was demobilized after being wounded.

After the army, he moved to New York and, under the pseudonym Jimmy James, began accompanying stars of the day, including Tina Turner and Sam Cooke.

In 1966, Hendrix founded a group named after himself – The Jimi Hendrix Experience. He was a singer and a guitarist. The group quickly gained popularity and Jimi’s virtuoso playing became known throughout America. Soon the recordings also reached Europe. Hendrix himself moved to London with his girlfriend Katie Itchingham and recorded two music albums in 1967.

Hendrix ended up in the hospital several times with burns on his hands after setting his guitar on fire during a performance. It became part of his signature style, even if it cost him his health.

In 1967, Hendrix turned to drugs to help him cope with the weight of fame. In his altered state, he organized pogroms in hotels, beat women and behaved defiantly. As a result, the group effectively disbanded and he returned to New York and opened his own recording studio, Electric Lady.

In May 1969, Jimi almost ended up in jail when heroin was found in his trunk. The musician was released on bail, but his already bad reputation was seriously damaged.

That same year, Hendrix performed to great acclaim at the legendary Woodstock festival as part of the hastily assembled Gypsy Sun and Rainbows.

The following year was full of performances, recordings and standing ovations. Hendrix last performed at a festival in Germany on September 6, 1970.

The virtuoso musician’s life ended on September 18, 1970 in a London hotel, when he was only 27 years old. He became the third of seven members of the “27 club” – musicians who died at this age under strange circumstances.

His friend Monika Dannemann said he had taken 9 sleeping pills. Then the musician threw up and choked. Monica called an ambulance, but Jimi could not be saved. The investigation showed many inconsistencies: it is believed that by the time the ambulance was called, Hendrix had already been dead for 4-5 hours. However, his girlfriend was never held accountable.

Jimi was buried in the States, although he wanted to stay in England and wrote this in his will. The creative legacy of Jimi Hendrix – more than 350 music recordings and many videos. Some music critics consider him the most talented guitarist of all time.

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