Hendrix
Setting the Record
Straight
John McDermott with
Eddie Kramer
This incredible volume was released in 1992,
yet resonates like yesterday, twenty three years later. McDermott goes back in
time when Jimi was known as John Allen Hendrix.
He was fresh out of the military and freelancing as a working musician,
taking gigs whenever he could. He learned his chops from watching others
whether it was Curtis Knight or an Vaudeville trooper. His early influences
were Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Muddy Waters, and B.B. King. By chance Linda
Keith was at the Cheetah Club in New York and she was mesmerized by the
guitarist in Curtis Night’s band. They had a few drinks and became fast
friends. Later on Chas Chandler of the Animals saw Hendrix at the Café Wha. It
was a confluence of circumstances that these two musicians would meet. It
started a long time friendship that would scaffold the initial stirrings of
genius in Jimi Hendrix. Chandler embraced Jimi like a brother and took him back
to England in 1966. It was a fortuitous union of souls.
Chandler was
wise beyond his years and brought in two white English musicians to provide the
rhythm section, it was an incredible insight to have one of the first
interracial bands. Mitch Mitchell was a superb, jazzed inspired drummer and
Noel Redding would double on bass guitar and vocals. The first album Are You
Experienced was total Gold and the second release Axis: Bold as Love was
inspired. Electric Ladyland and Smash Hits were pure gold. Hendrix could do no
wrong. His performances at Monterey and Woodstock were historic and would
forever freeze frame his identity as a superb one-of-kind guitar genius.
McDermott
weaves a compelling narrative of exceptional talent, lucky breaks, swindlers,
substance abuse, heroes and villains. It is real life story that will keep you
reading way past midnight.
Jimi Hendrix died on September 18th 1970. The
authorities confirmed that Monika Dannemann found Hendrix at 11am. He had
gotten sick in his sleep. He went without medical attention for at least twenty
seven minutes. By the time the ambulance reached the hospital, Hendrix’s heart
had swelled and the spinal column was congested. He simply could not recover.
Jimi Hendrix died at the age of 27.
The life and
times of Jimi Hendrix is colored in shadows, innuendo and half truths. After
Hendrix died there was a flurry of law suits and counter law suits that left
Hendrix’s legacy in the hands of the contracts and court judgments that did
more damage to the Hendrix image than anyone at the time could realize. Alan
Douglas come across as a charlatan and opportunist as he plundered the Hendrix
musical archives. He ended up releasing several posthumous recordings with
dubious value to the overall Hendrix canon. This includes Loose Ends, Crash
Landing, Nine to the Universe, Kiss the Sky and Midnight Lightning. As an aside
Flo & Eddie (Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman) mentioned Douglas owning the rights
to Hendrix recordings on their incredible album Illegal Immoral & Fattening.
It was a form of Kidding in the Square wherein the humor hides a darker
meaning.
At the time
this book was released the Hendrix legacy was in the process of renewal as another
generation discovered the incredible genius of Jim Hendrix. It has not been
diminished or grown out of date. Prince was inspired by Hendrix. He even cut
his own rendition of Purple Haze. Graffiti Bridge’s Tick Tick Bang was inspired
by Hendrix. His imprint runs the gamut of many well-known artists such as The
Time, Cameo, Niles Rodgers, Living Colour and the Gap Band
McDermott’s
volume clocks in at 324 pages. Appendix A is a diagram of Electric Lady
Studios, the first submission by architect John Storyk. Appendix B included
letters from the law firm of Steingarten, Wedeen & Weiss that included
counseling about Hendrix’s financial problems. The volume includes ten pages of
candid black & white photos taken by Linda Eastman (later married to Paul
McCartney) and Eddie Kramer. However, the author’s narrative is fact filled and
riveting at the same time. It is a light in the forest for the legion of
Hendrix fans who may not know the whole story.
Check
Amazon.com or eBay.com for this or other books about Jimi Hendrix. The Hendrix
LP and CD catalog is available locally at Electric Kitsch (Midland), Records
& Tapes Galore (Saginaw), Record
Conventions (Bay City)and at Barnes & Noble.
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