Jimi’s Nightmare (Distorted Guitar #1) is the first work in sculptor Bruce Gray’s upcoming series of distorted guitars. This sculpture was created from a cut up and reassembled Fender Squire Guitar. Made for The Zimmer Children’s Museum in Los Angeles, it will be featured in the exhibit, Show & Tell: The Art of Harmony. Bruce states that, “I have always found musical instruments to be fascinating, comprised of interesting shapes and very beautiful to look at.
Legendary rock and roll photographer Jim Marshall died in his sleep Tuesday night (March 23rd). He was 74. Marshall is best known for his iconic shots of Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar at Monterey Pop, The Who greeting the sunrise at Woodstock and Johnny Cash flipping the bird at San Quentin. He was chief photographer at Woodstock and was the only photographer allowed backstage at The Beatles’ final concert. Marshall had a special affinity with rock and roll artists, as he said himself, “I see the music.” Continue reading RIP Legendary Rock Photographer Jim Marshall→
On This Date in 1970: Jimi Hendrix died in his girlfriend’s apartment in London. After taking nine sleeping pills (prescribed to his girlfriend) that he washed down with red wine, Hendrix suffocated in his sleep when he choked on his own vomit. He was 27 years old. Twenty-seven years old!Jimi Hendrix’s death is one of the biggest tragedies in rock music history, especially because it was so completely avoidable. I mean, forget about the idiocy of chasing downers with wine – who the hell takes NINE sleeping pills unless he wants to commit suicide? WTF? I don’t get it. What a fucking waste. My friend Neal, who used to play drums in the band Alice Cooper, saw The Jimi Hendrix Experience perform many times back in the sixties – once in a bowling alley (not kidding). Neal and other guys in Alice Cooper also hung out and partied with Jimi, Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell in an Arizona hotel room. If you want to read those stories, you can buy our book when it is eventually published and becomes a massive best-seller. Rest in Peace, Jimi!
On This Date, July 8th, in 1967: The Monkees kicked off their U.S. tour in Jacksonville, Florida with the Jimi Hendrix Experience as their support act. Hendrix would be dropped from the bill after eight concerts. I think we can guess why. This story reminds me also of a concert-going memory my older sister shared with me, of seeing The Who open for Herman’s Hermits. The Sixties, what a crazy time!
The April 2009 issue of Modern Drummer is all about Mitch Mitchell, the legendary drummer with the Jimi Hendrix Experience who passed away last November. In this issue you’ll also find my extensive feature with mathcore drumming genius Blake Richardson of Between the Buried & Me, as well as an update with Josh Garza of NYC’s own Secret Machines – one of my favorite bands! It really is a fantastic issue. Read the full issue of the April 2009 Modern Drummer online at This Link!
