James Marshall Hendrix was born on November 27 1942. It wasn't until the age of sixteen that Jimmy (As it was originally spelt.) owned his first guitar. Starting off playing right-handed but quickly changing to the left because it felt more natural, he taught himself to play by listening to and copying what he heard on records. Soon Jimmy joined his first band "The Velvetones". Jimmy left High School without graduating and continued to play in bands around the place.
In 1961 Jimmy joined the Army (He became part of Paratroop divison.) as a way of getting let off of a felony charge. It was during this time that he made a long lasting friendship with Billy Cox, whom Jimmy would play with both then and later on in his career. A broken ankle put Jimmy out of the Service so he once again began to focus on his music.
Jimmy began to be a guitarist-for-hire and was 'lucky' enough to be an under study to some reasonably big acts, not to mention travel all over the place. By 1965 he played for some pretty famous names, backing people such as Ike and Tina Turner, Little Richard and the Isley Brothers, although he said they would rarely let him do his own thing. He slowly grew sick and tired of being a side man and a flunky and desperately wanting to get some recognition of his own, Jimmy moved to Greenwich village, New York. There he formed his own band called "Jimmy James and the Blue Flames".
It was around this time, while Jimmy was playing at 'The Cafe Wha', that Linda Eastman saw Jimmy play and was so impressed that she persuaded Chas Chandler, the ex-Animal bassist, to come take a look. Chas Chandler couldn't believe what he saw and attempted to talk Jimmy into coming to London to form a band of which he, that's Chas, would be the Manager. Legend has it that what clinched the deal for Jimmy was when Chas promised Jimmy the chance to meet Eric Clapton.
It was 1966 when Jimi (He changed his name after a discussion with Chas during the plane flight.) moved to London. Once there Jimi and Chas set up auditions for the other members of a band that was to be called "The Jimi Hendrix Experience". Noel Redding, who originally came to audition for the new Animals on guitar, was chosen as the bass player and Mitch Mitchell, on literally a coin toss, got the roll of drummer. It was these three - And not solely Jimi - that were going to blow the newly formed concept of the power trio right out of the atmosphere and, with Chas as the mastermind manager working behind the scenes, it didn't take long for the JHE's name to spread like wild fire. In 1967 they had out their first single, a cover of 'Hey Joe' sung first by 'The Leaves'. Hey Joe was followed by two more singles, first the anthemic 'Purple Haze' and secondly the subtle 'Wind Cries Mary', before their first full album 'Are You Experienced?' was released.
In Britan their stardom soared to the sky. They gained noteriety (and fame) throughout Europe for their flamboyant and extremely loud act. Jimi Hendix's management turned their eyes toward the U.S.A. who, so far, hadn't even heard of the JHE. That quickly changed in the summer of 67 when the JHE was booked to play at the Monterey Pop Festival. Thanks to one amazingly performance, which culminated in Jimi burning his guitar and smashing it to pieces, the JHE turned from no-bodies into superstars overnight. What followed was a string of very successful and busy tours across America.
In 1968 the JHE released their second album "Axis : Bold as Love" which revealed the more gentle side of Jimi with songs like 'Little Wing', 'Castles Made of Sand' and the title's namesake. Constant touring, drugs and partying started to take it's toll, though, and a rift began to open between Jimi and Noel.
Jimi continued to play spasmodically for the next two years until his death in September 1971. The coroner said was due to choking on his own vomit (Caused by an overdose on sleeping tablets.).
Jimi Hendrix has a huge posthumous collection. Because of that, only the three official JHE albums are reviewed.
The JHE's first album. It glides beautifully from rough and furious rock and roll to sincere and gentle balladry. The neat thing about this album is that each song seems to hold it's own. In what seems to be an unlucky coincidence, AYE was held from the Number 1 position on the UK charts by none other than Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. If you want to hear the JHE in all it's simple glory, then this is the album for you.
I believe this to be the best JHE album. If you listen to both AYE and Axis in sequential order you can hear the start of a change. A year can change people and Jimi's songs sound a lot more mature, though that doesn't mean it lacks power! This album is full of well constructed songs and is by far the most user friendly of the JHE's albums, being neither too complex or too drawn out.
This album caused a stir in England when it was released due to the cover featuring, to Jimi's displeasure, a bunch of naked groupies. Putting that to the side, ELL was considered at the time to be good but rather self-indulgent, which it was. Now with almost 30 years of time between us and the album we are able to look back a bit less rashly. Many Hendrix enthusiasts consider this double album to be the JHE's artistic pinnacle.