Remembering The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Written by,
Sean Wall

46 years ago the world lost a pioneering guitar player who singlehandedly changed every facet & style that existed before he got his hands on the instrument. Once he did, Hendrix would lead a generation of lovers and believers into a new age of music. It could have been anyone changing the approach Hendrix took with the guitar but he would use every single convention that stood in place as well as inventing new ones as the electric guitar was fairly a new instrument, to begin with. Today we take a look at one of the most controversial and innovative musicians that hit the stage, we honor the life of Jimi Hendrix.

Hendrix‘s style and sound manifested as the standard bearer for many musicians coming down the line. With his flamboyant look—the wild and intriguing color palette of clothing and fashion and panache that reached untold heights—there was no mistaken who Jimi Hendrix if he came in a room. He would thrill audiences from coast to coast and beyond while making them want more and at times be satisfied with what they got. There’s nobody you can say who played guitar with their teeth in the fashion Jimi Hendrix did.

Although Hendrix was widely recognized for his talent while living, Bloomberg Business reported he is one of several artists with the most posthumous album sales selling more than 15.5 million albums since 1991. Hendrix‘s unreleased studio recordings “People, Hell, and Angels” debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts and another album recordings “Valley of Neptune” debuted at #4 in 2010. These numbers are only a small testament to how great of an artist Jimi Hendrix really is. Even after the strange circumstances surrounding his death, he can gravitate fans to want to hear more.

There were many artists like The Beatles‘ Paul McCartney, Freddie Mercury of Queen, Mercury, and more that admired the young artists,

“You never told me he was that f*****g good.” – Eric Clapton to Animals bassist, Chas Chandler

“Monster” – The Beatles’ Paul McCartney

“Jimi Hendrix is very important. He’s my idol. He sort of epitomizes, from his presentation on stage, the whole works of a rock star.” – Freddie Mercury (Queen)

With all those astounding honors from some of these great musicians on Sunday, September 18th, 1970, Jimi Hendrix would be found dead at the age of 27. Over four decades later, the events surrounding his death remained sketchy at best, with the only clear fact being that the coroner report stated that Hendrix had asphyxiated in his own vomit. His girlfriend Monika Dannemann, says that he was alive when placed in the ambulance. It’s tragic to know that nothing really has been determined about his cause of death.

His memory continues through a multitude of songs that stand as personal checkpoints for many musicians—“Voodoo Child,” “Purple Haze,” “Message To Love,” “Third Stone From The Sun,” “Spanish Castle Magic,” “Crosstown Traffic,” “I Don’t Live Today,” and many more – and many of his covers, “All Along The Watchtower,” “Wild Thing,” “Hound Dog,” and even The Beatles’ “Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band,”. Today isn’t a somber time to remember Kendrix as we made it an important factor to mention his short-lived life in a positive light, for that’s how it was from all accounts. Kendrix‘s birthday is coming in a couple of months (November 27th) so celebrate his life, memory, and the songs that brought peace, love, and joy to the soul.

Rest in peace Jimi Hendrix. Your memory lives on Voodoo Child