JIMI HENDRIX

Various Live Performances/Songs

(At 1:40 he plays with his teeth, and at 3:20 he plays behind his head)

Interesting Facts About Jimi Hendrix

- Jimi Hendrix is apart of the so called "27 club." Also apart of this club is Brian Jones, Janice Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and most recently Amy Winehouse. What this means is that each famous rock-and-roll star died at the age of 27.

- He played the guitar behind his head because he was left-handed.

- He could not read music, and instead communicated his musical visions through colors.

- Most people think that his song Purple Haze was about Drugs. But the original working title of the song was Purple Haze Jesus Saves. It was about Jesus saving him in a dream.

- In the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, he set his guitar on fire in front of the audience.

- BB King once said "When you heard Jimi Hendrix, you knew it was Jimi Hendrix. He introduced himself with his instrument. His attack to a guitar man, was, oh, something else! You think of one of the great American ball players, or one of the great fights of the world, you know, that's the way he would attack any note on his guitar.

- His song "All Along the Watchtower" was actually originally written by Bob Dylan but it is said to be one of the greatest covers ever composed. Bob Dylan has even said that when he performed "All Along the Watchtower" he would accidentally put Jimi's spin on it.

- Many artists have created covers of Hendrix's songs. Some more well known artists include: Rod Stewart, John Mayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eric Clapton, Santana, and Dave Matthews Band.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

In 1966, with the help of Chas Chandler, Hendrix formed his first band The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Hendrix played the guitar and was the lead vocalist. Mitch Mitchell played the drums. Noel Redding was the bassist and sung backup vocals until 1969 in which Billy Cox became the bassist when the band reformed in 1970.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience was one of the first bands to popularize the "power-trio" which is a band that embodies just guitar, bass, and drums. Having  a power-trio format gave each individual in the band more opportunities to emanate their unique talents with their instruments.

Hendrix became known for his unique guitar stunts and the group as a whole was known for their trend in psychedelic clothing and hairstyles.

The band became known in America after their performance in a major rock festival, the Monterey Pop Festival; soon after they went on the tour with the Monkees, but the tour didn't survive for long, at least for Jimi and his band-mates.

Hendrix recorded his three most successful albums with The Experience: "Are You Experienced," "Axis: Bold as Love," and "Electric Ladyland."

In 1969 the band broke up due to a number of reasons, one of which was Hendrix's new found love for drugs. 

After the band dispersed, Hendrix experimented with a few more bands, but none had the popularity in which The Experience had.

In 1970 the band reformed, with Billy Cox as the new bassist. 

While on tour in Europe, Hendrix died on September 18th, 1970. 

In 1992, The Experience was inducted into the rock hall of fame.

Biography of Jimi Hendrix

Johnny Allen Hendrix was born on November 27th, 1942 in Seattle, Washington. At the age of 3, his father legally changed Jimi's name to James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix.

Jimi experienced much turmoil at home due to his father not being able to get a steady job, the constant fighting between his mother and father which ended in divorce, and the recurrent moving around from relative to relative due to his parents not wanting to care for him or his 4 other siblings.

He taught himself how to play the guitar at age 15 right after the death of his mother, Lucille Jeter. Today he is considered one of the best guitarists of all time.

After getting into trouble with the law, Hendrix was given a choice of either spending two years in prison or joining the Army. After only one year in the service he was discharged for not following duties.

Once a free man, Hendrix moved to Nashville where he started his career as a musician.

Throughout his early career Jimi was a member in numerous local bands in which he did many recordings with artists such as the Isley Brothers and Little Richard.
His first band was called The Blue Flame.
His most popular band was called The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Once that broke up, he formed a band called Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, which didn't last for long.
The Experience in 1970 got back together, but unfortunately Hendrix passed away that year while on tour due to drug complications.