Jimi Hendrix og 27 Club

Jimi Hendrix was a rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter, whose legacy still very much lives on to this day. He was one of the most influential musicians of all time, and was even described, in his prime, as a “demi-god” by Life magazine. But all this success did not come without its downsides, as Jimi Hendrix lived a rather chaotic life with drugs and alcohol, which later took his life, at just 27 years old, giving him a spot in the notorious and mysterious “27 club”.

Jimi Hendrix was born by the name Johnny Allen Hendrix the 27th November 1942 in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in a poor, alcoholic, and violent family. It was at times so bad at his parents, that he was taken to Vancouver to stay at his grandmother's. Later he even told one of his girlfriends, that he had been sexually abused. His childhood shaped him forever after.

Because of his family's financial situation, they could not afford a proper guitar, so his first instrument was an ukulele with just one string. Jimi Hendrix picked up an actual guitar, when he was 15, for only 5 dollars, on which he began to really play.

Jimi Hendrix completed his studies at Washington Junior High School, and started, but did not graduate from, Garfield High School. After he was caught riding stolen cars, authorities gave him the choice of either spending time in jail, or joining the military, he chose the latter. He served in the 101st airborne division, but as a result of his neglect of his duties, he was granted a honorable discharge. He then briefly joined the band “Curtis Knight and the Squires”, and was discovered by Linda Keith, the girlfriend of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. Linda Keith referred him to some producers she knew, where he was first rejected, but then signed a contract with the former bassist for The Animals, Chas Chandler. Chas and Jimi then created a band called The Jimi Hendrix experience. The band was very successful, and toured in many countries.