Product Description

In the thirty years since Jimi Hendrix died his influence has not diminished - for many musicians Hendrix represents the distillation of the counter-culture, while his distinctive style is constantly revived and mimicked by performers today. This book traces the sources of Hendrix's talent, showing how his knowledge of black musical traditions enabled him to cross racial barriers and achieve legendary status as both musician and performer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #287133 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-21
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
"'Murray goes so far inside the myth that it dissolves. What is left is a man pursuing his own destiny piece by piece, day by day.' Greil Marcus"

Customer Reviews

Astounding
This Biography of Jimi Hendix's Life is set against the backdrop of the music scene at the time of his work. Murray has a fantasitc writing style and seperates differing aspects of Hendrixs music and compares them with the music of his contempararies. It's not so much a life story of Hendrix I am sure there are hundreds of those Murray takes a stance of examining the music of Hendrix and post war pop. It was an entertaining and insightful read and anyone who is interested in popular music or Hendrix should buy this book.

Hear my 'Trane A-comin'
This is the best Hendrix biography, by a proper writer (Murray was the UK's leading rock journalist for about 20 years). What sets this book apart is two things: one is that Murray puts Hendrix back in the context of black music (blues, jazz, R&B, gospel), rescuing him from the 'one-off space alien' and 'honorary white' status that heavy rock fans often accorded him). The other is the love that CSM has for the music and the man, which comes across on every page and makes the book genuinely moving as well as entertaining and thought provoking. You'd better be prepared to spend out a bit on the excellent discography of 'influences on / influenced by' music that is provided at the end of the book.

An Excellent Book
This is easily one of the best books on Hendrix, and in fact music, that you'll find.

The book really puts Hendrix' music in context and shows his influences, which are dealt with in discrete chapters, eg, blues, jazz, sex. The book is partly a biography, but is better than that because it emphasises that the music is the most important thing about Jimi Hendrix. As other reviewers have said, there are so many great musicians and bands mentioned in the book that you'll want to check them out.

However, a word of caution if you feel like exploring any pre-Experience Hendrix: not only are most of the Curtis Knight and Lonnie Youngblood records mediocre at best, but there are many fakes, re-named but identical tracks, 'remixes' and other rip-offs for the unwary. Even the author trips up here, with a couple of raves about some songs on which Jimi doesn't even appear.

Murray loves Jimi's music, and this comes across well; he's also sensible enough to note that not everything Jimi did was brilliant.

The book is a really good read and a bargain, highly recommended.