The Greatest Guitarist Of All Time
When people think of Jimi Hendrix, they picture the wild hair, flamboyant clothes, electrifying guitar solos, and, of course, the man who set stages (and guitars) on fire in the late 1960s. But what does it take to rise so high above the noise that the world has no choice but to watch?
In Hendrix’s case, the answer wasn’t just talent—it was tragedy, chaos, and a life that burned as intensely as his music.
1. He Had A Rough Start
Born in the early 1940s in Seattle, Washington, Hendrix’s troubles started long before his mother even gave birth to him. The army drafted his father just three days after his parents married, and thanks to some questionable military politics, his father missed his birth. Eventually, he got out of the service. But when he got back to Seattle, he found his home completely empty.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
2. They Took Him
Without her husband around, Hendrix's mother found it difficult to care for her son. She found it so difficult, in fact, that she turned to the bottle to get through it. But when she got so caught up she couldn’t care for her son, her relatives stepped in to help raise him—which is why Hendrix’s father couldn't find his family upon his service discharge.
Eventually, the family reunited. But unfortunately, that only made things worse.
3. He Couldn’t Take It
As it turns out, Hendrix's father struggled with drinking too. So when both his parents drank too much, they argued ferociously, often to the point of getting physical. Reportedly, Hendrix often hid in the closet during these encounters. Luckily for him, though, he’d already found a little shred of hope in the darkness of his life—though not quite in the way you might expect.
4. He Used His Imagination
During elementary school, Jimi Hendrix developed an attachment to an unusual object—a broom. He’d pretend it was a guitar, and carry it around with him like a normal child might carry around their favorite teddy bear. His family couldn’t afford the real thing, so he made do until he managed to secure a one stringed ukulele he found in the garbage. But one string could only get him so far.
5. He Obsessed
Several years after he found that ukelele, Hendrix secured his first real guitar at 15 years old. Some reports state his father got it for him, while others state his father couldn’t or wouldn’t buy one for him. Regardless of how he got his hands on it though, Hendrix became totally obsessed. He spent hours learning his new instrument, studying from listening to artists like BB King and Robert Johnson.
The guitar wasn’t his only teenage obsession, though.
Hannu Lindroos / Lehtikuva, Wikimedia Commons
6. He Crushed
Right around the time Jimi Hendrix started falling hard for his new guitar, he started falling hard for one of his classmates too. He met his first love, Betty Jean Morgan, during high school, and dated her for several years. He loved her so much that he wrote her name on his guitar. In the end, their love didn’t last as long as his love affair with his music—but more on that later.
With his guitar in one arm and his new girl on the other, Hendrix felt ready to make another huge leap.
7. He Got Busy
Shortly after getting his guitar, Jimi Hendrix put together a band—the Velvetones. And after trading up his acoustic for an electric guitar, he managed to secure a gig for his group of young musicians at a private room in a Jewish temple, of all places. If you know anything about Hendrix, you can probably guess why that didn’t go too well…
8. They Kicked Him Out
Hendrix barely got through the door at the temple before he found himself on his way out. Reportedly, he started acting up between sets, doing a little too much for the audience. The team that hired him promptly got rid of him. And unfortunately for the still young teenager, he seemed to create a habit of getting into trouble.
Reprise Records, Wikimedia Commons
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9. He Couldn’t Stay Straight
Before long, Jimi Hendrix started rebelling against authority. He got into trouble with the law at least twice before he even turned 19. Both times, they caught him joyriding in stolen vehicles. Whether or not Hendrix actually stole the cars isn’t clear, but either way, authorities gave him a pretty impossible choice when it came to the consequences they handed down.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
10. They Forced Him
Authorities maintained every right to lock Hendrix up for his infractions. But instead of putting him away, they offered him another option—to join the army. All things considered, that’s a pretty tough choice. But when things came down to it, Hendrix chose the service over time behind bars. But there was one thing he had to do first.
Unknown U.S. Army personnel, Wikimedia Commons
11. He Popped The Question
Just a few days before he officially left for basic training, Jimi Hendrix proposed to his high school sweetheart, Morgan. Reportedly, the moment turned out pretty romantic, and she accepted. Things didn’t stay sweet for long though. They ended things by the very next year. And while it’s not explicitly stated, it very possibly had to do with Hendrix’s terrible experience with the service…
12. He Suffered
Hendrix struggled throughout his time in the basic training, telling his father in a letter home “There's nothing but physical training and harassment here”. Even worse than that, though, the other men there teased him often, and even more so when he got his guitar from home and they saw how attached he felt to it. He still managed to finish basic training and further training as a parachuter, but he couldn’t get much farther than that.
Universal History Archive, Getty Images
13. He Wasn’t Good Enough
A little over a year after his enlistment, the men in charge kicked a young Jimi Hendrix out of the service. While he later floated the story that he had to leave because of an injury, official reports give a different take. According to his superiors, they got rid of him because he was lazy and uninterested in the work, not worth the liability out in the field. So Hendrix’s penance came to an end in June 1962, but not before he made one life-changing connection.
14. He Made A Musical Bestie
During his time in the army, Hendrix met bassist Billy Cox. The two quickly formed a musical friendship, playing together so much so that they started finding gigs around town on the weekends. Once Hendrix left the service, the two headed off together and kept on playing—though not in the best places, at first, anyway.
15. They Hit The Small Circuit
Together, Hendrix and Cox managed to find fairly consistent work plating in small venues and clubs. They spent two years working the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” a group of small places in the South that welcomed Black performers (in a time when most larger venues didn’t). It was during this time that Hendrix developed one extremely bizarre bodily skill.
16. He Bit Down
During a stint in Tennessee, Hendrix saw one of his bandmates play the guitar with his teeth. Literally. Now, honestly and truly, I can’t fathom just how this is humanly possible, but Hendrix could. He learned to do just that, pulling out the gimmick whenever it felt right. But even with his new skill and his life doing what he loved, Hendrix didn’t feel satisfied. And before long, he just couldn’t do it anymore. 
Wikipedia
17. He Didn’t Like To Listen
Although Hendrix’s skill already put him a cut above the competition, he still had one issue—his problem with authority. In other words, he didn’t like others telling him what to do. In this case, that gave him trouble with bandleaders, who called the shots at his gigs. So in 1964, Hendrix officially quit the Chitlin Circuit, looking for better opportunities.
Before he found any opportunities, though, he found the love of his life—or shall I say, the second love of his life.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
18. He Met A Foxy Lady
Just after cutting ties with his small Southern gigs, Jimi Hendrix headed for Harlem in search of other opportunities. That’s where he first laid eyes on LithoFayne Pridgon, or “Faye” as he came to call her. Faye worked as a backup singer, and thus frequented the music scene in Harlem and in the South. Depending on whose story you believe, the two practically fell in love at first sight. Either way, she came along at just the right time.
Lithofayne Pridgon Interview on Jimi Hendrix (1973), Foggy Melson Music
19. She Took Him In
Faye basically took care of Hendrix, ultimately remembering him as her “baby”. Not only did she provide for him in low times, but she also invested in his talent, using her own connections to help him out. And although she claims they never made things official, Hendrix found himself head over heels in love—with a woman he couldn’t tie down.
Lithofayne Pridgon Interview on Jimi Hendrix (1973), Foggy Melson Music
20. He Couldn’t Keep Her
In the end, Faye didn’t want to stop dating other men despite her affection for Jimi Hendrix. According to her reports, Hendrix hated that, and felt “insanely jealous” of her free love life. Either way, though, she remained special to him, so much so that he’d eventually write a popular song about the “cute little heartbreaker”. And though she didn’t settle down with him, she gave him just what he needed to take the next step.
Warner/Reprise Records Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
21. He Backed Celebrities
That same year, Hendrix got a huge leg up when a friend of a friend got him an audition for the Isley Brothers. He played background for the band on tunes like “Testify” and “Mercy Mercy,” solidifying his superior guitar skills in the world of music with the already wildly successful group. As it turns out, though, even that didn’t do enough to satisfy him.
T-Neck Records, Wikimedia Commons
22. He Got Bored
Playing backup for the iconic Isley Brothers just didn’t do enough to stoke Hendrix’s fire. In other words, he got bored. Exhausted with playing the same tunes night after night, he quit that group before he even put a full year in. He moved on to bigger and better things—for a little while, anyway.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
23. He Worked With A Legend
Before long, Jimi Hendrix landed a spot playing in the band of rock and roll legend, Little Richard. He even went on to record a single with him, “I Don’t Know What You Got (But It’s Got Me)”. Working with Richard got Hendrix his first tv spot and a few opportunities to work with other major artists. But, just like he always seemed to do, Hendrix found a way to mess things up with the man in charge.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
24. He Frustrated A Superstar
About a year after he began working with him, Little Richard gave Jimi Hendrix the boot. The two never really got along, reportedly due to Hendrix’s tendency to be late, as well as his propensity for getting extra flashy onstage. But one other thing really got under Little Richard’s skin—Hendrix’s unusual fashion sense.
Okeh Records, Wikimedia Commons
25. He Liked To Experiment
Richard was no stranger to boundary breaking, but Hendrix apparently pushed things a little too far for him. Reportedly, Hendrix loved to experiment with fashion, resulting in offbeat outfits and some pretty unusual hair. He even wore his girlfriend’s top when he felt like it suited the occasion.
While his fashion eventually lent to his image as a trailblazer, it helped end his career with Little Richard. So with his days with the “Upsetters” behind him, Hendrix searched for new territory to conquer…
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
26. He Bounced Around
The following year turned out to be one of false starts for Jimi Hendrix. He recorded a single with Curtis Knight, and a young entrepreneur signed him. He went on small-scale tours and secured a few composing credits. But he couldn’t seem to get anymore out of Harlem, so he made a move that ultimately changed his life forever—and not necessarily in a good way.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
27. He Got Exposed
In 1966, Hendrix relocated to Greenwich Village. He likely felt right at home in the lower Manhattan city buzzing with musicians of just about all genres. But there, in the heart of the creative hotspot, Hendrix started experimenting with all kinds of mind-altering substances. It eventually caught up with him in a horrific way, but for the meanwhile, he found himself on the verge of stardom beyond his wildest dreams. It all started with, of course, another woman.
28. He Was A Charmer
Despite his penchant for falling deeply in love, reports widely call Jimi Hendrix every bit a flirt. In fact, some of his friends even refused to introduce their girlfriends to him for fear of his seduction. But his charm came in handy, particularly so in May 1966, when he met one of the Rolling Stones’ girlfriends…
29. She Put Him On
Jimi Hendrix met Linda Keith, Keith Richards’ girlfriend, while playing at a popular NYC music spot. Allegedly, she felt so “mesmerized” by his guitar playing that she struck up a conversation with him. The rest, as they say, is history. Keith recommended him to manager Chas Chandler, who took Hendrix on and persuaded him to go to London to pursue his career there.
Once in London, he signed a new contract and gave an unplanned performance that marked the beginning of his stellar rise. That, and the beginning of another life-altering romance.
30. He Found The One (Again)
Almost as if fate meant it all along, Hendrix met his next girlfriend, a dj named Kathy Etchingham, at that first London performance. She became his new muse, ultimately inspiring songs like “The Wind Cries Mary” and “Gypsy Eyes”. But before all that, he needed to build the perfect band to back him. And the requirements? Not exactly what you might expect.
31. He Wanted Things His Way
Once he nailed down his recording deal, Jimi Hendrix went to work putting together the perfect band. He auditioned several musicians, judging them both on musical ability and, interesting enough, what they wore. In fact, reports state that one of the members he selected, Noel Redding, had crazy hair that helped make him a perfect fit. Doesn’t seem like the most legit way to put a band together, but he made it work.
In the end, Hendrix managed to set up “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” for the kind of skyrocketing success the music world rarely saw.
32. They Turned It Up
The new band performed their first official gig on October 13, 1966, as the opening act for John Hallyday. The audience absolutely loved them. They recorded their first single, “Hey Joe,” shortly after that, and took on their second performance the following November. But the second time didn’t quite go like the first, though it ultimately defined Hendrix from that point on…
33. He Crashed Out
During that second performance, the Experience’s new fans got a little too excited. Hyped up on the music, they practically dragged Jimi Hendrix off the stage. In response, and seemingly to get all the people away from him, he literally smashed his guitar…and the crowd went wild(er). The ridiculously amped up crowd thought the entire thing was just part of the show. Hendrix’s manager, Chandler, latched on to the hype, and figured he’d push Hendrix even farther.
34. He Lit Him Up
Hendrix’s star shot up with unusual speed, so much so that critics called him “Mr. Phenomenon”. But with his increasing fame came quickly increasing demands. Smashing instruments became a routine part of the show, so much so that the people wanted to see something even more daring.
So what did Chandler do? He secured some lighter fluid for an iconic London performance. Hendrix and his band tore up the performance, ending the set by lighting his guitar on fire. The antic shot Hendrix even deeper into the stratosphere, but it wasn’t all about the shenanigans.
Getty Images
35. He Stood Out
Jimi Hendrix followed his stage debut with a wildly successful first album, Are You Experienced. And by the time he burned his guitar at the end of another legendary performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, a moment caught on photo and still considered a true rock antique, he’d made quite the name for himself. But it wasn’t just his crazy guitar skills or devil-may-care attitude.
Hendrix took up a new space for a Black musician, pushing the Black community into genres and audiences that had yet to accept a musician that looked like him. As such, he set himself up for a remarkably long career. What he got, though, was a shockingly short and turbulent one.
Jimi Hendrix sets guitar on fire , burns Fender Stratocaster (1967), Lorenz Zadro
36. He Got Careless
While working on his second album, Hendrix nearly ruined the entire thing. Reportedly, he lost one of the master tapes for the record, forcing the team to remake it in a rush. In the end, they managed to get an album out that fans still loved—Axis: Bold As Love. But everyone on the team didn’t love having to put up with Hendrix’ blunders, and the cracks in their young foundation soon started to show.
37. He Didn’t Care Enough
Things came to a head in 1968 when Jimi Hendrix began work on his third album, Electric Ladyland. He had a pretty unique manner of recording. And by unique, I mean totally bizarre. Hendrix regularly brought multiple people into the recording studio, creating an environment that felt a lot more like a big party than work. On the other end of that, though, he still managed to be a major stickler.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
38. He Cared Too Much
Even despite all the groupies he brought into the studio, Hendrix still wanted his actual recordings to be perfect. He often demanded several takes of a single part, further prolonging the production process. Things got so bad that Chandler, the manager who helped get Hendrix to the top, finally gave up on him and quit. Around that same time, Redding grew tired of all the mess and started pulling out of recordings as well.
Even so, Hendrix’ genius prevailed. Once Electric Ladyland went public, it became his best selling album yet. But unfortunately for him, the cracks in his personal life didn’t go away quite so easily.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
39. He Flipped
That same year, Hendrix let his substance use get the best of him, starting a dangerous trend of run-ins with the law. It started at a tour stop in Sweden, where he drank way too much and ended up getting into a huge altercation. He left the fray with a hurt hand, broken window, and arrest. He got out after paying a hefty fine, but he didn’t learn his lesson.
Or perhaps it was already too late for that.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
40. Things Fell Apart
By 1969, the Experience seemed destined to fall apart. The main issues within the band stemmed from the dissonance between Hendrix and Redding. Redding couldn’t deal with their star anymore. He found him irresponsible and hard to predict, and commented on how much more difficult his substance usage made it to work with the man. So by the time they arrived at their final performance, the writing was on the wall.
And judging by the fans' reactions, it was probably high time for them to split…
41. They Went Crazy
The Experience performed their last set of shows at the Denver Pop Festival in 1969. Riled up by the music and the generally chaotic aura surrounding the band, the fans went nuts. They got so crazy that authorities used tear gas to subdue them. Even worse than that, hoards of fans followed the band off the stage, just missing grabbing onto them before they got into their transportation. But interestingly enough, something else actually put the final nail in the coffin for the group.
42. He Got Disrespectful
Unbeknownst to Redding, Hendrix publicly announced that they planned to replace him weeks before that performance. Redding found out from a curious journalist, became understandably furious, and quit the group on the spot. Whether intentionally or not intentionally, that turned out to be the end of the Experience. But Hendrix still had one more mountaintop to see before he found himself wallowing in the valley.
Ivan Keeman, Getty Images
43. He Was Nervous
All things considered, Hendrix still maintained his spot as a certified superstar. In that same year, he officially broke a record, becoming the highest paid rock musician in the world. As such, he landed a spot headlining the iconic Woodstock festival. But everything was far from perfect. He had to play with musicians he didn’t know, and he harbored anxiety about the size of the crowd.
He ended up with only a couple weeks to rehearse with the new band, and requested to move the time of his performance. But in the end, he pulled out another unforgettable show—quite possibly his most unforgettable one yet.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
44. He Blew Them Away
On August 16, 1969, Hendrix gave a performance that remains one of Woodstock’s most legendary moments. He gave a standout performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” using his guitar to imitate the sounds of war—a musical protest against the unrest in Vietnam at the time. One critic called the spine-tingling performance “the single greatest moment of the sixties”. He didn’t know it then, but that proved to be his very last hurrah.
45. He Acted Out
The rest of that year was characterized by evidence that Hendrix was truly spiraling out of control. Back in one of his rented homes in California, Hendrix got himself into trouble after getting hopped up on the bottle and other substances and basically pouncing on his friend. Just a few days after that, he attacked one of his “girlfriends” with a glass bottle. But it wasn’t just the people in his proximity that had to deal with him.
46. He Got Caught
Hendrix nearly landed himself behind bars again when travelling through a Toronto airport. Authorities found some substances in his bags, and ultimately charged him. The courts dropped the charges, and some of his friends think that may have been a set up. But either way, Hendrix was slipping downward. Perhaps his next move was his final attempt at fixing his life.
Donaldson Collection, Getty Images
47. He Tried Again
In that same year, Hendrix gave love another try with Monika Dannemann, a German ice skater. They got engaged the following year, and found a place to stay together in London while Hendrix set out on his Cry of Love tour. But while he might’ve finally gotten his love life together, things on the stage didn’t look too peachy.
48. He Lost His Sparkle
Hendrix managed several years ripping it up on stage while spiraling into substance abuse behind the scenes, but during the 1970 tour, it caught up with him. In one instance, he actually walked off the stage before even finishing a performance, leaving with the simple statement “I’ve been dead a long time”. That proved to be a terrible omen.
49. He Met His End
September 17, 1970, started like any other day for Hendrix and his fiance. They spent the day together as normal, eating a meal and even having some wine together. They stayed up till early the next morning chatting, until they fell asleep. When Danneman woke up the next morning, she found Hendrix unconscious. By the time he got to the hospital, it proved too late.
Quickly after, a friend of his raced over to his apartment to do a sweep before the authorities could—but nothing could prepare him for what he was about to find.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
50. He Left A Tragic Note
When Hendrix died, his friend, Eric Burdon of The Animals and War, quickly scoured Hendrix's apartment to remove any traces of substances that the authorities might find. It was then that he discovered a poem Hendrix had written mere hours before his death, titled "The Story of Life." Since Burdon had discussed death and taking one's own life with Hendrix before, he assumed that the poem was that kind of note.
Without thinking, Burdon made a huge mistake.
51. He Spoke Too Soon
Not long after, Burdon appeared on the BBC to confirm that Hendrix had taken his own life. He would later recant this statement, saying "I made false statements...I simply didn't understand what the situation was. I misread the note...I thought it was a goodbye".
At this point, the autopsy report came back. The truth was finally out—and it was utterly devastating.
52. His Vices Ended Him
In the end, examiners determined that Hendrix actually choked on his own vomit while on substances. Reportedly, he took an excessive amount of his fiancé's sleeping pills, resulting in his passing. So at just 27 years old, Hendrix left the earth forever—but not without a legacy, and just a little extra chaos in his wake.
David Santaolalla from León, spain, Wikimedia Commons
53. He Lives On
Several of Hendrix’s albums were released after his passing. And while his fans applauded the continuation of his legacy, his father found himself struggling to secure the rights to his son's music. In the end, he did manage to secure them, and continues to protect and share his son’s catalogue to this day.
The world lost a legend way too soon, but thankfully, his music is here to stay.
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers, Getty Images
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