If 6 Turned Out to be 9
Jimi Hendrix died on this date in 1970. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame calls Hendrix “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music.” A heck of a lot of his music has been released over the years -- far more since his death, than in his brief career -- and I think the sum total of that music shows that he was far more than an extremely talented guitarist.
As the youngest of five kids growing up in the 1960s, I was exposed to Hendrix by way of his debut album, “Are You Experienced?” But it wasn’t until after that I quit boxing -- and the disciplined life that sport demands -- that I really got hooked on him. In my teen years, I began collecting as many of his albums as possible (including some rather low-quality records that he may have played on in the background).
Some of my favorites are found on a 5 LP collection from Germany, of Hendrix playing Motown. His version of “Hang On Sloopy,” for example, is wonderful. The enjoyment he felt in performing those songs comes through. It’s in stark contrast to some of his later work, where the frustrations and pain he experienced is evident.
I have over 70 different Hendrix albums; a good number of CDs (including an outstanding 4 CD box set released a few years back, that a fellow DUer told me about); a few biographies; and a number of DVDs of his concerts.
Thirty years ago, sitting in this very room, I remember my sister-in-law telling me about meeting Jimi. Her (first) husband played in a band that opened for the Experience on a concert tour. She said that she was in the dressing room backstage before the concert, when Hendrix walked in. She stepped back, to get out of his way, and accidentally knocked over his guitar.
I had another friend who told me about joining the US Marines, eager to go defend democracy in Vietnam. By chance, he and a couple friends went to a concert to “beat up hippies” the week before they were to go to Vietnam. The concert was Woodstock. He described finding that he actually liked hippies. Someone shared some LSD with him. He figured it couldn’t be much different than whiskey (surprise, surprise!). He was tripping the morning that Jimi played the Star Spangled Banner, and he said it was then that he knew he did not want to go to Vietnam.
I’m curious what others here remember about Jimi Hendrix?
Thanks,
H2O Man
= new reply since forum marked as read
Anything from home was popular there (those were still the days of Mail Call, which was a real BFD). And music that Armed Forces Radio didn't include in its playlists was naturally sought out.
Of course, generational music was popular among troops who were, on average, 19 years old when they arrived in-country.
Troops who stayed in basecamps had 'hooches,' or rooms where they bunked, where they could personalize their space and set up stereo systems.
You could buy stereo components from the PX, with the typical setup including turntable, tuner/amp, at least two speakers and a reel-to-reel tape recorder. (Because I was out in the field I ordered my PX components and had them shipped home. I may still have the PX bill, which came to $600+ for the whole shebang, including two extra, larger, speakers.) We went for stuff from Sansui, Akai, Pioneer...
I wish I could pick up the phone and ask my brother for his insight, but he died 3 years ago. I know he would have been able to respond much better than I.
R.I.P., Jim. 
I was in high school learning how to play the guitar. I thought his playing was totally amazing. I read that he hated his own vocals though, and was apparently very self conscious about them. I did read one story that he made fun of one of his most mis-heard lyrics during a concert in DC. 'Excuse me while I kiss this guy' and blew an air kiss to one of his band mates. I wish he was still around. I love watching his videos. I only have one CD compilation though. Thanks for posting this! I looked at the date this morning at work and thought about him, but this is the only thing I've seen online about him today.
Amazing guitarist too 
I was stationed at Ft Lee VA and a bunch of friends were going up to Woodstock to see Jimi but I chose to go back and see a girlfriend in KY that weekend.
So, Lorraine, wherever you are today, I want you to know that I chose you over Jimi. 
Looking for when it will be 96969 not too long from now!
Polonius:
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!
Laertes:
Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.
Hamlet Act 1, scene 3, 78–82
think it was called 'the plaster casters.'
it was very very weird.
We toured it and I stood in awe in that big old bare room. I suspect it's true; he had to do it somewhere and it's in the right location, and I've never heard that claim before, and I'm a hobby house-tourer.
And the Experience Music Project has a fabulous exhibit, including the guitar (or what's left) he played at Woodstock and the one he set on fire in England (or what's left of it). It is in two pieces but you can see where what I think were little "helper" fuel jets. There's a continuous bunch of concert and interview footage, and some charming things like a note he wrote to a young girl fan. And that hat.
I could spend hours there.
Oh, Jimi. What a talented man. 
It is very conceptual, but it is Rock and Roll.
My husband had just been with a job a short time working the over night shift and we decided not to go to the
Seattle concert because he didn't want to lose his job, but some friends of ours from the
Eastern side of the Mountains came over and stayed with us that week and I made them some special
tops to go with their hip hugger bell bottoms for the Hendrix concert.
One was a little jacket from deep purple crushed velvet like this:
and the other was a metallic stripped tunic with a round stand up collar from fabric like this only all metallic..
They had a great time, told me all about the show and the ironic thing is a couple weeks later my husband got his draft notice. We probably would have gone to the concert if he knew he was going to have to leave his job soon, anyway.
I love the Hendrix version of Dylan's "all Along the Watchtower".
Tikki ps...when you play your Hendrix always separate your speakers.
I saved some of my old clothes, including a pair of patched jeans made from scraps of material of all the dresses I sewed in high school.
minded me going to the Concert with my friends, but I was a newly wed and wanted to
do everything with my husband and then he got drafted and I learned to do so much as a young adult by myself which actually made my husband very proud of me.
Tikki
PS I still sew and am introducing my granddaughter to clothing construction.
One of its great tunes:
If not, don't worry. I'll bring my copy. I don't mind.
I love Jimi's music, I think his version of "All Along The Watchtower" is the best produced rock song ever.
I had a poster of Jimi on my wall that said "I'll meet you in the next world...don't be late".
"I thought it was beautiful"
He was way, way outside the box, and had a "native intelligence" a way of perceiving the world, that was beyond what most people can understand, and his guitar playing is one example of that. No matter how hard I try, even when I play his licks note for note, using my Strat, Marshall, and similar analog effects to what he used, it never sounds remotely the same as when he played them.
Most every guitar player on the planet who knows Jimi's music has a great respect for Jimi's technique, ability, and creativity. He was a master and a natural genius.
But my close up experience with Jimi was at Ungano's, which was on W 72 Street in Manhattan. I was there for my favorite group, the NRBQ, who were living in Clinton Corners at the time. It was a mid week late booking, and there were about a dozen people in the club, and the 'Q was finishing up what I would have to call an unremarkable set, when Jimi walked in, to see them.
I'll interject that though the NRBQ is a relatively esoteric group, they are a favorite of many super famous musicians, and this was Jimi's time.
Jimi sat in the middle of the almost empty club, with two young women (in those less enlightened days, they were "hippie chicks" 
) And a vast charge of electricity went through the group on stage, and suddenly it was a new morning. I sat next to Jimi, and was able to observe what he listened to and reacted to. We didn't interact much. (He might have been stoned. I was.) He was all smiles, and left as the set ended.
I saw Jimi jam at Ungano's another time. He liked to play the blues.
--imm
We used to dissect the lyrics of thousands of songs. It was just something we did back in the day.
You would think his autograph would be more...
How about 6 AND 9?
He was in Denver in '69 and I didn't have any money for the show. Same thought - I'll catch him next time... 
