Jimi Hendrix Lives On
By Jessica Dufresne
Whether you’re into rock music or not, you know the name Hendrix: He of the guitar tricks, flamboyant clothing, and gravity-defying Afro. The Hendrix who tore the roof off at 1969’s Woodstock festival with his legendary version of the national anthem; the self-taught instrumentalist who revolutionized the way the electric guitar is played; the oft-imitated Hendrix who became one of the most revered musicians of our time—and all of this before he reached 30.Seattle native James Marshall Hendrix got his first guitar as a teen and was eventually discovered in a New York club. It was in London, though, that Hendrix became a star and perfected his keen sense of style. Known to have frequented the city’s vintage shops for his signature military dress jackets and colorful shirts, Hendrix pushed male fashion boundaries as far as he did his Fender Stratocaster. His influence is seen most obviously in Prince and Andre “3000” Benjamin—both of whom know a thing or two about straddling the masculine/feminine line—and in countless guitarists who emulate his playing and theatrical performance style.
Though his life ended tragically at 27 due to complications stemming from a drug overdose, the Hendrix legend has never died. He remains an icon of broad reach: From music fans rocking out to “Purple Haze” to boho fashionistas expressing their individualism to wannabe guitarists plucking their first licks, Hendrix lives. U
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