Guitar Heroes: Jimi Hendrix

Biography

Upbringing

Jimi Hendrix 1967

Born in Seattle on November 27, 1942, Johnny Allen Hendrix, better known the world over as Jimi Hendrix, was raised by his mother until his father was discharged by the military in 1945 and took custody over the future guitar legend. Hendrix also spent time with his grandmother in Vancouver due to his mother’s battle with alcohol and the hospital stays that resulted from her drinking. Her drinking would eventually take her life as she passed away in 1958 when Hendrix was only 16 years of age.

At around the same time as his mother died, Hendrix bought his first guitar for $5 from a friend of his fathers. Before this acquisition, Hendrix had jammed out on a broomstick and ukulele as he dreamt of one day buying and playing a real guitar. By 1959, Hendrix had purchased his first electric guitar, a Supro Ozark, but couldn’t afford an amp to go with it. Nonetheless, the young guitarist was determined to become a professional, and through sheer will, dedicated practice and careful study, he began gigging with local musicians, playing mostly RnB and other dance music.

As a young musician, Hendrix was influenced by a wide variety of rock artists including Elvis Presley, Little Richard and Chuck Berry, as well as blues guitarists Muddy Waters and B.B. King. This mix of blues and rock influences would go on to play a major role in Hendrix’s musicianship during the mid to late 1960s.

RnB Career

After a short stint in the Army, Hendrix moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, where he has said that he learned to play with his teeth properly after attempting the technique earlier on in his career. Hendrix then moved to Nashville where he performed with RnB band “The King Kasuals,” so named because there was already another band in town called the Casuals. Hendrix would spend the years 1963-64 touring on the Chitlin’ Circuit playing in clubs and bars across the South with the King Kasuals and other notable artists of the time:

Artists That Hendrix Performed With on the Chitlin’ Circuit

Bob Fisher and the Bonnevilles
Chuck Jackson
Slim Harpo
Tommy Tucker
Sam Cooke
Jackie Wilson
Hendrix became frustrated with life on the road and in 1964 he made the move to New York City, where he took up residency in Harlem and began working in local clubs. It was at this time that Hendrix’s abilities as a guitarist were beginning to be recognized by other musicians, including the Isley Brothers, who Hendrix recorded and toured with during this period.

Hendrix also toured with Rock legend Little Richard during these early New York years, though he was calling himself Maurice James at the time. Hendrix was an avid fan of Richard’s work, and was quoted as saying that he wanted to do with the guitar what Richard did with his voice. Ironically Hendrix would be the guitarist on Richard’s last recorded single, which marked the end of one rock legend’s career and the beginning of another.

Hendrix would go on to perform with other notable acts of the time, including King James and saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood, before changing his name to Jimmy James and forming the band “The Blue Flame” alongside drummer Danny Casey and Randy Palmer. The band took up residency at the “Café Wha?” where they played with several notable musicians such as Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Ellen Mcllewaine. Though the group didn’t last long, the exposure that Hendrix received during this period would prove to be an important ingredient in launching the guitarist into international stardom.

Jimi Hendrix Experience

Are You Experienced

After being passed up by the Rolling Stones’ management team in 1966, who didn’t “get” Hendrix’s music, Animals bassist Chaz Chandler, who was getting ready to leave the group at the time and start of on a career in artist management, was impressed by Hendrix’s version of “Hey Joe” and decided to sign the guitarist and bring him to London where he felt his music would be more appreciated. Shortly after landing in London, Chandler introduced Hendrix to bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchel, convinced Hendrix to change his name from Jimmy to Jimi and named the band “The Jimi Hendrix Experience,” quite an appropriate title for a player whose music was more of an experience than anything else.

Chandler also introduced Hendrix during this time to Pete Townsend and Eric Clapton, the former inviting Hendrix on stage to play a version of “Killing Floor” with his band Cream, which launched a friendship between the two guitarists that would last up until Hendrix’s death almost 4 years later, while his relationship with Townsend would prove to be one of mutual respect and discontent at the same time. As Hendrix’ popularity began to soar in the U.K., Paul McCartney recommended that the guitarist be booked to headline the upcoming Monterey Pop Festival in California, a bill that would be shared by the Who. This would lead to an epic night of music and theater, as well as one of the most memorable nights in Hendrix’s career.

Monterey Pop and Woodstock

Pete Townsend had known what Hendrix was capable of on stage before the two bands were set to perform on Sunday June 18th, 1967, but he had no idea of what was to take place that night. After The Who were allowed to go on first, some say due to a scheduling mishap, they proceeded to finish their set by smashing their equipment and destroying the stage, something that the band knew Hendrix was also known for, and that he would have to follow them with the same type of destructive act. But, Hendrix was not to be outdone. Instead of simply smashing his guitar on stage, as he finished the last song of the set, “Wild Thing,” Hendrix proceeded to set his guitar on fire, sacrificing it to the Gods before smashing it to bits and tossing it into the crowd. Days later the press would describe the Who’s actions as “Rape” and Hendrix’s act as “Ritual Sacrifice,” comments that would not sit well with Townsend who didn’t see it this way.

Following a series of solid records, and a bizarre tour where he opened for pop “band” the Monkees, Hendrix and the Experience went their separate ways after the Denver Pop Festival on June 29th, 1969. After watching the crowd being tear-gassed by police, and barely escaping in an equipment truck that was being mauled by fans, Redding decided to leave the band. Replaced by Billy Cox, and a series of percussionists after Mitchell was unable to make a number of tour dates due to other commitments, Hendrix performed with a new lineup at the now legendary Woodstock festival in August of 1969. Though the band was tired from being up all night, and were unused to playing with Hendrix in front of large crowds, the guitarist delivered one of the most memorable performances of the festival, with his version of “The Star Spangled Banner” being a major highlight for both the performer and the event.

Band of Gypsys

As Hendrix took the stage at Woodstock, the band was announced as “The Jimi Hendrix Experience,” but the guitarist quickly corrected that by saying they were “Gyspy Sun and Rainbows, for short we’re just a Band of Gyspys. This new moniker would stick and the new group, featuring bassist Cox and drummer Buddy Miles, would go on to record one album, mostly due to a contract dispute with Hendrix’s former manager Ed Chalpin. Shortly after the album was finished, Redding rejoined the band, and though Cox stayed on as the drummer, they went back to calling themselves “The Jimi Hendrix Experience.” After several short, but successful tours, and building Electric Ladyland recording studios, the group performed at the Isle of White festival in the U.K., as well as gave Hendrix’s final live performance on September 6, 1970 at a festival in Germany.

Death and Legacy

Though Jimi Hendrix died on September 18th, 1970, his legend and legacy has grown since his passing. Often considered the best and most revolutionary electric guitarist of his day, or any day, Hendrix’s music continues to inspire millions of people around the world to pick up the guitar and learn to jam along with his catalogue of songs. For this reason, and many more, Hendrix was an easy pick for our Guitar Hero Series, you don’t get much better than the left-handed guitar genius from Seattle.

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Roger Mayer Octavia Fuzz-Octave Pedal

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Discography

Click to Visit the Jimi Hendrix Collection at Amazon.com

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Are You Experienced: 1967
Axis: Bold as Love: 1967
Electric Ladyland: 1968

Band of Gypsys

Band of Gypsys Live: 1970

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Video Clip

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Guitar Heroes: Jimi Hendrix

Biography

Upbringing

RnB Career

Artists That Hendrix Performed With on the Chitlin’ Circuit

Jimi Hendrix Experience

Monterey Pop and Woodstock

Band of Gypsys

Death and Legacy

Gear

Guitars

Amps

Effects

Discography

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Band of Gypsys

Video Clip

Further Reading

27 Comments

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Guitar Heroes: Jimi Hendrix

Biography

Upbringing

RnB Career

Artists That Hendrix Performed With on the Chitlin’ Circuit

Jimi Hendrix Experience

Monterey Pop and Woodstock

Band of Gypsys

Death and Legacy

Gear

Guitars

Amps

Effects

Discography

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Band of Gypsys

Video Clip

Further Reading

Related Posts

27 Comments

Search Guitar International

Connect

Friends of Guitar International