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Jimi Hendrix

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Jimi Hendrix was born on 27 November 1942 in Seattle. After a short spell in the American army he worked for years as an accompanying guitarist, including with The Isley Brothers and in Little Richard's band. In September 1966 Chas Chandler, the former bassist of The Animals, brought him to London. There, with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, he formed The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Music and breakthrough

The group had immediate success in England with Hey Joe, Purple Haze and The Wind Cries Mary. The debut album Are You Experienced (1967) was kept off the top spot in England only by Sgt. Pepper. Axis: Bold as Love (1967) and the double album Electric Ladyland (1968), his only number 1 in America, followed. At the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967 he set his guitar on fire at the end of his performance, and at Woodstock in 1969 he played a distorted version of the American national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

Influence

Hendrix played left-handed on a flipped right-handed guitar and used volume, feedback and effects pedals as part of the music rather than as an afterthought. He came out of the blues and rhythm and blues, but pulled them towards rock, psychedelia and funk. He died on 18 September 1970 in London, aged 27. His influence extends from hard rock guitarists to jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, who listened to him when he went electric.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to the beginning of Purple Haze: the two notes grinding against each other form a tritone, an interval long regarded as unsettling. Then notice how the guitar in the solo sounds distorted and almost singing.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: ArtistsPsychedelic rockHard rock and heavy metalFusion and jazz rock