Jimi Hendrix, the most notable rock guitarist in history, was born in 1942 in Seattle, Washington in a family of black, white and native American ancestry with roots in Canada. After enlisting in the US army for a short period, Hendrix began experimenting with his guitar acting upon his rhythm and blues influences. Hendrix occasionally used a Gibson Flying V, but his main guitar was a Fender Stratocaster.
Following a stint in Nashville and another in New York City, Hendrix moved to London where he, and guitarist-turned-bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Legend has it that in his New York days the members of Rolling Stones sat through a Hendrix performance and came away unimpressed.
The band signed to Track Records and began a dazzling career of recording and performing original tunes, as well as cover versions like Hey Joe, Like A Rolling Stone and All Along The Watchtower.
Are you Experienced, the band’s debut, was released in 1967. Here began the wild stage antics of a guitarist who would not only damage equipment at will, but would take delight in setting his guitar ablaze. While success in the UK, and to some extent continental Europe, was immediate US was slower to react. The band’s popularity was helped following its appearance in the film Monterey Pop. The band also appeared at the Woodstock festival. Most fans acknowledge Electric Ladyland as the group’s pinnacle given the more direct and harder-edged songs. Redding was soon gone however wishing to continue on guitar. His subsequent band, called Fat Mattress, would often open for Hendrix however. Billy Cox was a former army colleague of Hendrix. In the midst of legal troubles, Hendrix would apparently dissolve his band and form Gypsy Sun And Rainbows.
A heavy drug user, Hendrix died in London after choking on his vomit due to an overdose in September of 1970. A wealth of material, demos, jams and outtakes have been released posthumously. Out of all the albums only the first five were released during his lifetime. Hendrix’s father, half-sister and children have often been involved in, legal toss-ups regarding the artist’s estate.
Jimi Hendrix was years ahead of his time.