what do they have in common? The world of music lost the most dynamic and dominant electric guitar player ever. Jimi Hendrix never did anything with a guitar in a conventional way. When he literally exploded on the scene, the world was taken by surprise and did not know what hit it for a while. This man who made sounds and did unthinkable things to his guitars died of what is most likely a drug and alcohol overdose. It was September 18th, 1970.
This man, with so much raw emotion and pure unadulterated instinct for the playing the guitar caused an immediate change in my life. Here is a true story. I had been taking classical guitar lessons for 4 years the first time I heard heard Jimi Hendrix on the radio. WHFS Radio, Rockville Maryland. WHFS, at least in our area played the first live English BBC Radio recording of Jimi Hendrix and The Band of Gypsies performing “Hey Joe” and “Purple Haze”.
That was the last time I played a classical guitar. I still have my 1954 Gibson classical guitar too, and I looked at it a few years ago, yup, it was still in the case! You can call me narrow minded, I don’t mind at all. Why? I’ll never get over Hendrix, his music comprises 90% of what I listen to, thirty eight years after his passing. His music is also 90% of what I choose to play on my electric guitar. I even have a right handed Fender Stratocaster with a reverse headstock. It is setup just like Jimi’s electric guitars were. At least from what we know about them.
To be brief, it ruined my world at the time. I still miss him everyday, at least in terms of what the future would bring us and Jimi. Either way, we were gifted to have had Jimi Hendrix with us for the time he was here. Rest In Peace Jimi. “I’ll meat you in the next world, and won’t be late.” From “Voodoochild (slight Return)” by Jimi Hendrix.
