I do not remember exactly the moment, but it’s very probable that I learned about Jimi Hendrix’s death exactly 40 years ago from Cornel Chiriac’s Metronom broadcasts at Radio Free Europe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hSW67ySCio
(video source vwontheautobahn)
Hendrix was an exceptionally gifted musician and an icon of his generation. He was born in 1942, the same or around the same year the members of the Beatles were born, and his death happened the year the Beatles broke-up. In less than one decade Hendrix, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and a few other musicians changed forever the sound of the rock music and the face of the Western culture. From marginal entertainment rock became the core of the culture of the new generations and of their way of life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf-Mtd2A1DI
Same as the career of the Beatles, Hendrix’s path and first recognition happened in Europe. It was followed by appearances that are by now legendary at the festivals in Monterrey in 1967, Woodstock in 1969 and Isle of Wight in 1970.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bng3agUOYiI
(video source JethroTull4you)
Hendrix, as all of the great musicians of his generation found roots and inspiration in the classical American guitar blues music, but transformed and took it ahead to expressing the feelings of a whole generation, turned it in an universal sound that transcends borders and not only stays actual, but gains value as the time passes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPTP_JyQpl8
(video source dragonchaser07)
He was a fantastic instrumentalist, an innovator in guitar technique, an inventor of new sounds and an opener of paths that were took over by other genres that were to be discovered and get names only later. His career was cut short by the untimely death but luckily recordings and filmed sequences from concerts, TV shows and festivals remain available, bear witness and inspire musicians that came after him. I brought here a few that I found available on youTube and I hope that you will enjoy them.
In some ways I can’t help it but to wonder how would the world of music change if those years continued on, seems like in a period of 20-30 years (together with the progress of media and the hight of the influence of the radio broadcasts – especially in Europe) some of the more major advancements in rock music (in particular) were made.
About Hendrix himself – He is truly one of a kind with such a special feel and sound to him that just crosses through generations and genres of music, I am very sad we didn’t get to hear more from him and be left with better recordings.
Jimi Hendrix’s musical and songwriting ability are to be discussed by a panel including Television founder member Richard Lloyd in London this October.
Marking the 40th anniversary of his death, ‘Hendrix in London: Yesterday and Tomorrow’ will see Lloyd joined by journalist and writer Charles Shaar Murray and biographer Harry Shapiro.
The talk is due to take place at London’s Odeon Covent Garden on October 8. The building, where Hendrix performed at while living in London, was formerly called the Saville Theatre and owned by The Beatles manager Brian Epstein.
The talk begins at 3pm (BST).
On the same day, Lloyd will play a solo show at the capital’s Borderline venue.
Radu