The Subculture of Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix, perhaps the best guitarist in rock history became the definition of rock music. In 1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience shocked the nation with their first album; Are You Experienced? Hendrix had a short life due to drugs. When he was only 27 years old, he died while choking on his own vomit on his way to a hospital. In a few years, rock and roll changed a great deal and Jimi was the sole influence.

Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington on November 27, 1942. When he was a child he would play along with his R&B records whenever he could. He didn’t always play music though; he had wanted to be in the army. In the late 1950’s Jimi joined the 101st airborne division, but he was discharged due to a back injury. That’s when his life started new, and he decided to become a musician. By this time he had already become a pretty good guitar player, and had dreams of something bigger.

Jimi started out playing backup for little R&B groups. Some of the best known artists, such as BB King, Ike and Tina Turner, and Little Richard wanted him to play with them. After a few months of touring with R&B groups he wanted to try singing. A man heard him singing at a club and asked him to move to England, where he met the rest of his band members.

In 1966 the Jimi Hendrix Experience debuted. One year later their club shows were overcrowded. The Monkees heard and liked them, and requested them to tour with them. But not many Monkees fans liked his lyrics and his style, so they kicked him off the tour. After this he was invited to pop festivals and eventually came out with his first album Are You Experienced?

He played The Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock and that is one way he became really famous. Soon after Woodstock his drug addiction became worse. On September 18th 1970 he was found dead in his room from a drug overdose and had drowned in his own vomit. Most people still like his music, and if he hadn’t have died he would probably still be changing music today.

Affect

In the middle of a blues craze, led by the Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton.