Jimi Hendrix: Life and Death of an Electric Alchemist 

Check out Squarespace: squarespace.com/biographics for 10% off on your first purchase.

I sometimes hear Simon narrating my life, and then doing an ad for Squarespace

Here's something to contemplate, Jimi first picked up the guitar only 12 years before his death.....fascinating

Still influencing guitarists 50 years after his death. There are things he played folks still can't figure it out.

27 years old and already packed enough into his life to revolutionize something as widespread as rock music and still be a resounding, relevant legend half a century later. I've lived two years longer than he did, and I can barely brush my hair or demonstrate basic social skills.

Electric alchemist, loved the title!

He wasn't one of, he was THE most influential guitarist of all time. Constantly topping lists of greatest guitarists of all time.

There was a point in time that Eric Clapton was considered the best guitarist in the world, even being endorsed with a signature model by Fender, one of the biggest and still one of the biggest guitar brands in the world, the Eric Clapton Blackie Stratocaster. At one of his concerts, the then unknown Jimi Hendrix asked to come and play with him. After a while, Eric Clapton stormed off the stage and a stagehand found him backstage smoking a cigarette. When asked why he was so upset, Clapton replied: “you told me the kid was good. You didn’t tell me he was THAT good”

This guy at 27 lived more than we could ever live in a lifetime. A cosmic talent much like a zeppelin.

“Knowledge speaks wisdom listens” Jimi Hendrix

the smile on your face, Simon, when you said "today's protagonist is Jimmy Hendrix" was priceless. i spy a true fan?

Hendrix has a lasting and profound impact and legacy. Blues, Fusion, Psychedelic, Hard Rock, Funk and Metal. Making sounds and sonic tapestries never heard before. Raw and improvisational live. An architect in the studio. Embodiment of experience, imagination, impression, expression and free being. No matter what, you feel his voice and playing. All people pass but with his creations he still lives and loves. A Hendrix fan is a fan for Life.

Long Live the Legend of Jimi Hendrix…

The role Hendrix played in the creating of Heavy Metal and with that modern music is just insane.

Once I listened to Jimi Hendrix, I was never the same....

You didn’t mention the band of Gypsies!! That album is one of the greatest albums ever made

..."had to accept the fact that 'this cute little heartbreaker, could never be all his.'" NICE, Simon. I see what you did there.

Hendrix recorded over 170 songs in the 4 years before he left us, that's like one and a half so gs every 2 weeks! And toured continuously for a large part of his career. That's crazy!

I never knew the critics didn't like Hendrix at first... I was 13 years old when I first heard the Jimi Hendrix Experience " Are You Experienced". Never forget the first time I heard it . That first night over and over I played it until the dawn. The first Rock concert for me as well was the Experience at the Hollywood Bowl. Everyone was taller than me . Critics be damned.

Perhaps the most famous member of club 27. I’ve been a jazz snob for the last 35 years never the less I view Jimmy’s star spangled banner as perhaps the most significant moment in American music history . It really captures the angst of America’s youth and the horrors of war, it’s a remarkable solo. I would say by by ms American pie is the second most significant song in American music history .

RIP Jimmy, one of if not the best guitarist ever.

I think this is one of Simon's best bio's. So much in this I had hear bits and pieces of but this filled in a lot of blanks. I stole every book about Jimi from libraries, and book stores I could into the early 80's. I did pay for his music Anthology. I'm not Frank Marino who I heard had Jimi's soul infect his fingers. I did see Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush in concert, He is Awesome. Thanks Simon, You've done me proud. Jimi Hendrix is never far from my thoughts. He was a God for the people. And a Man of his time.

Simon, you should do a Bio on Steve Ray Vaughn.

When I was a teenager I used to take my dates to the village in New York City to to electric Lady studios and I told them this is where Jimi Hendrix played.

I've waited for this for ages Simon, thanks for this episode guys!!

Great. Such a good presentation. Learned a lot, and seeing this really puts the timeline of his life into perspective

I've waited for this one so much I wanna cry :') , thank you so much

Your channel is one of my favorites. Videos are super informative as well as entertaining and I learn about people of history I know little to nothing about and often end up reading biographies of the people in your videos afterwards. Thanks for hard work!

A guitar used by Jimi Hendrix, especially one that is so essential in his history, could easily fetch a million dollars at auction.

I already knew how this was gonna end and was still sad :(

As a left-handed guitarist myself, Jimi, (along with Randy Rhoads) was my original inspiration to pick up the guitar the first time I ever heard Purple Haze, Foxy Lady, his cover of 'All along the Watchtower' etc. He was a true musical genius, and inside a very fragile soul who needed hard drugs to be his shield against a world that either ignored him or wanted to benefit from him. Great video, Simon.

I loved this episode. I listen to this channel EVERYDAY at work and it brings me so much joy. Thank you for making these videos.

One of the first Biographics additions about a musician I've ever seen! Glad I got to know about Hendrix. PLEASE DO ONE ABOUT FREDDIE MERCURY!!!! :)

Absolutely love videos like these. They combine two of my favorite things: music and history. 🧡 Jim Hendrix is a legend and still influences people today, like myself!

Thank you for uploading this video. Much appreciated.

You should do a Biographical video on legendary guitarist, Robert Johnson!!!

Thank you!!!!!! Just what we need to get our minds off of everything!!

When I was in school at TN Tech one of my teachers told me about how he was stationed at fort campbell with Jimi. Said he saw a guitar at the pawn shop on base that had JH carved into it and regrets not buying that thing.

This was beautifully written, you made me cry. You’re still loved Jimi

@Biographics One thing you left out mate. The part where Hendrix showed up Eric Clapton. When Chandler wanted to take Hendrix to London, Hendrix asked if he could meet Clapton and Jeff Beck. Jimi went to a Cream gig and asked to play. Clapton agreed but had a funny feeling about him. The BBC Documentary "The Seven Ages fo Rock" claim this was an audacious request. He then did the song 'Killing Floor' Clapton loved the song itself, but found it too difficult to play. Hendrix...raged through it, does his tricks and stunt. Even Cream's bassist Jack Bruce thought Clapton was a Master and Hendrix...a force of Nature. Eric apparently just...near dropped and walked off the stage. Chandler claims he knew this would happen. When Chandler found Eric, his hands were shaking, trying to light a cigarette. "Is he really that good?" He asked Chandler

You said Billy and Jimmy without cracking a smile. That's professionalism to the highest degree.

My wishlist of upcoming biographics: 1. Sidney Reilly(spy) 2. Carl Rogers(psychologist) 3. Julian Assange (hacker) 4. Allan Moore(comic book writer) 6. Ray Crock (Mcdonalds)

I have been waiting for this for so long. I am so happy !

Great video! I'm a huge Hendrix fan and this was fantastic. I'd love to see you do Jim Morrison! The Lizard King was my idol growing up and I'd love to see your take on his life.

Undeniably the most influential guitarist of all time, leaving an unrivaled musical legacy. No mention of his biological legacy though, two rarely referenced children, one boy and one girl, by different mothers.

Thanks

Awesome video, love your channels!

There will never be another guitarist like Jimi Hendrix. I still get chills when I listen to his music. He was so innovative. A true virtuoso. I wonder how he would view the music of today.

Jimi Hendrix is our modern Mozart

"was jimi an illegitimate child" did you see that picture of his father Al? they're paractically identical

Just wanted to say how much I appreciate your channels right now. Thank you!

Fantastic Simon as always!!! I'm in quarantine now and you are keeping me sane!!!

Finally, you covered the man himself.

Listen Machine gun, from the album band of gypsys! It's Jimi at his purest imo..

well done. thanks again simon and staff.

Another great video as always!

I admire his artistic taste of music and his skills are undescribable yet touches your soul.

Jeffries had Jimi murdered on my birthday in 1970. The coroner reported that his lungs were full of wine - he literally was drowned while he was held down and wine was poured into his nostrils. There were also downers found in his bloodstream. For some reason this info has been lost in the mix. Are there no musicians at Biographics? Your chords are wrong - the first "Hendrix chord" on record was Foxy Lady - E9.

I loooove your videos! Thank you very much for making them, they’re so full of information and cool facts. Pleaase do Jim Morrison soon! Thanks again

Excellent work. Your writing and narratives are concise yet comprehensive, and very well written and presented (graphics as well 👏🏻)

Since youve covered jimi and john, why not completele the tripple j"s with jim Morrison the lizard king

You mentioned the concert on New Years Eve as being totally a disaster, but Jimi belted out the amazing guitar work in “Machine Gun,” which is quite possibly his greatest guitar work ever! Everything hey he knew he put into that song that night. What a way to close out the decade of the 60s!

Thanks for posting, Simon. Of all the RU-vid hosts / narrators, you're the one I would have wanted to present the story of Jimi Hendrix. Well done.

Great bio! Even the the little details on the guitar gear were spot on, most non-musician people get them wrong.

Love this one, please do Gill Scott Heron next!

The paramedic who arrived to find Jimi said he was soaked in red wine, a story backed up by the physician. In fact, they had to turn him over to drain out the wine. In other words, he was drowned. (I was alive, albeit young, when Jimi died. It was a scary time, with rock gods dropping dead. It was chaos, with Vietnam raging and brilliance dying.)

I love the title. this is why I love Simon's channels. keep em coming my man.

I remember you guys said a couple months ago that you dont often do musicians because they aren't popular on the channel. I'm so glad that you've given them another chance with Elvis and Hendrix! Thank you!

Great video! I’d love to see a biography of Duane Allman.

That’s so incredibly sad to hear of Lucille’s struggles during so many pregnancies; it’s hard to determine what may have been truly erratic behavior and what was derived from pre-and-post- natal traumas...who she was in her heart versus the minds of others can never be recovered, but we may (and must) thank her for bringing such influential life into this world.

Haven't even watched this bio yet and I already love it... Thanks Simon mate

Forget to mention that Jimi told Chas that he will only go to London if Chas introduces him to Eric Clapton, Chas told Jimi that Eric was a personal friend and that Eric will meet them at Heathrow Airport, Eric didnt make that meeting but sent his Limo to pick them up. The reason The Jimi Hendrix Experience was set up as a Trio was in homage to Cream, with Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce. Jimi and Eric later became good friends even though Eric was somewhat in fear of losing out his "Best Guitarist ever" mantle... Both are/were the greatest.

YES! I got goosebumbs! Please do more Rock'n'Roll idols (I'd love to see a Biograpgics show about Eric Clapton 😍) i really enjoyed this episode 🥰

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Simon is a Hendrix fan.

Another brilliant one. Thank you Simon.

Wonderful video! I wish Jimi could’ve stuck around longer but I’m happy his memory is well preserved

Love the performance of Killing Floor Blues at Monterey

Hey Simon, you should do a video on Newgrange next. It's a massive Neolithic structure in Ireland that's older than the Pyramids (the oldest one being the Pyramid of Djoser at 2600 bc)and Stonehenge(3000bc) being built in 3200 bc. It has a door with a roof box above it that perfectly aligns with the sun on the Winter solstice and a roof so well made that it's still waterproof to this day. Archaeologists are baffled on how these people were able to build such a sophisticated structure before the advent of writing and the crane and how advanced their knowledge of the cosmos and the exact alignment of the sun was. Shows how skilled my ancestors were in construction techniques,lapidary design, mathematical calculations and astronomical observation. And for April fools day you should do a video on Nat Tate and for pride month you should do Judy Garland. Anyway great video, as always. Keep up the good work.

Excellent research Simon. Well done!

Great work as always. Please do Townes Van Zant, would be a very interesting bio

I learned to appreciate Jimi through my love for CHICAGO. Jimi admired Terry Kath, and Terry admired Jimi. Now, how about doing segments on Benny Goodman or Peggy Lee? Those would be awesome Bios.

Love how we got a mini Robert Johnson bio in the middle 😂 also can we get an Eric Clapton episode there’s so much to unwrap

That was brilliant. Thank you Simon.

Simon does a great job on this Chanel. Really enjoyed this one as a lifelong Hendrix fan, and I’ve read all of his biographies

You missed the part when B.B. King found Hendrix drunk in a bar in (forgot southern state) playing for dollars.

I'd love one of the frontman of Motorhead called Lemmy: Born to lose, Lived to win. Lemmy was even Jimi's Roadie and scored him dope sometimes.

Luve your channel subscribed and liked keep up the great work

Thanks for this. Love Jimi. You go into a lot of detail and I appreciate all the effort put into making these videos. You thank you Sir.

Odd... my favorite JH album is Band of Gypsies... which for me, captures Jimi's fire and brilliance, ehich IMO, was inspired by the hallowed venue, Filmore East, full of fans who absorbed every nuance, sending their energy back to Jimi, further inspiring him. His dynamics, dramatic, expressive playing, only listenable, perceivable, on vinyl, just blows me away. I have the CD. It is not listenable... His studio albums are by no means throw-aways... his body of work is up there with all musical greats. Another oddity, his Blues. I personally do not like his Blues playing... Red House is a perfect example of him missing the target of the genre's core of tone + timing... of which he misses both targets. Jimi is best as the rock musician, and studio tech he was.... I hold him in high esteem... as he has inspired generations of guitarists, who are endlessly challenged by his work... he played with deep soul, a quality many of these proteges don't get... and thus, why they are so challenged.

He’s been such an inspiration to young black boy’s his legacy and music will never die Rock on Brother🤘💜🤪💕💞✝️

Thank you for your work

I liked your channel before but knowing you're a Hendrix fan makes me like you even more. The best guitarist and a humble beautiful person Jimi was.

The beard is getting more and more epic.

Last time I was this early Jimi was in b.b kings band

Yes thank you for this Simon & co. 🤘🏻

The thing that still fascinates me about Hendrix is that he was self taught yet totally revolutionized the instrument.

Jimi was a friend of a friend. Biographics, you get a C-Minus. If you're a casual Hendrix fan, keep scrolling. You may see this as 'Gate- Keeping' in the common parlance. Hendrix lovers, we got a bit of 'Crosstown Traffic', so please leave a comment. I would like to know how you feel. You do 2 Seconds on his stint with the Isley Brothers Band? A Super group of talent, where he honed his chops? What about the Cafe Wha? residency in the Village NYC? How he jammed with the best from the LES to Harlem? The fear of Jimi packing Stadiums across America with kids of all races? White women losing their F'n minds every time they saw him. This was a problem in 1960's America. How he felt about Vietnam? Knowing how close he got to being deployed with the 101st Airborne. How he made his Guitar sound like an entire Battlefield when he played The Star Spangled Banner. You quote drug dealers and thugs? Lazy work ethics and irresponsibility? Jimi wrote Rock, Blues, Jazz, & Pop? Quincy Jones influence, he wrote music & songs non stop, EVERYWHERE! What about Mike Quashie (RIP Limbo King) His best friend who taught him Vodun? Hello? VooDoo Child. Burning guitars? Afro-futuristic Spiritualism. Not everything is Psychedelic. Nothing how Jimi brought Glam Mainstream? Only Little Richard and Liberace dressed like he did, and he looked the best! Funny you should mention Guitars. If Y'all really want to know the REAL story about Jimi's 'lost' $100k Guitar... True Hendrix fans please google Mike Quashie. This Gentleman brought the Limbo Dance Craze to the U.S. and the World. Jimi lived with him when he was in NYC. His apartment in the Village was THE Rock & Roll after hours, from Bowie to Zappa. I was blessed to call him friend & mentor. The music industry had too much invested in the status quo, and America was not ready for a Black Guitar God, Sex Symbol, Genius, Virtuoso, period. We had to wait until '77 for Prince. This episode was a bit too tabloid and fetishistic. Kill that 'Scary Black Man' noise too. How would YOU act if you knew you were slowly being poisoned to death?: Manic Depression, frustrating mess... All he wanted to do is make music. C-Minus.

You should make a biography on one of the most famous rockstars to ever live he was born to lose and he lived to win lemmy kilmister

Great video for a Legend

Hendrix helped me so much and I am a massive fan. This was excellent thank you.