Jimi Hendrix is known as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, someone who transcends the music industry in both the US and around the world. However, he had just four years of mainstream success, which may come as a surprise to some. His Woodstock performance was iconic, while hits like “Purple Haze” and “Hey Joe” are extremely popular. However, there is much more to Hendrix’s story, which we’ll discuss in this article.
A Surprise Military Stint
Before Hendrix made it, it could have been all over. The future rockstar enlisted in the army in 1961 to avoid punishment for car theft and found himself in the 101st Airborne Division. He is said to have completed 26 successful jumps but unsurprisingly spent much of his time practising guitar. Fortunately for him, he was discharged and this allowed him to fully pursue his dream job in the music industry. Without this sliding doors moment, the world may never have witnessed the Jimi Hendrix Experience and he may never have released groundbreaking albums like Are You Experienced and Axis: Bold as Love.
The Unique Hendrix’s Guitar
Hendrix’s style on the guitar was unique to him and created a distinctive sound, with screaming highs and warm lows. He was able to create these by customising some of his guitars by reversing pickups and adjusting the bridge. Interestingly, one of his guitars, which had been nicknamed “Black Beauty,” sold at auction in 2020 for $400,000.
However, it’s not exactly a surprise, as Hendrix was a performer who transcended music. His name lives on in entertainment and pop culture. In the mid-90s, he was regularly name-checked in shows such as The Simpsons, Nowadays, we can even see his influence in the world of iGaming, more specifically the game Jimi Hendrix online slot available on nj online casino, Playstar. The game mixes the traditional features of slots with some music-themed ones, allowing gamers to sample a bit of the Jimi Hendrix Experience with spins named after his songs and even a Purple Haze feature.
Record-Breaking Albums & Posthumous Success
Hendrix’s career may have only spanned a few years, but in that time he had astonishing success. Are You Experienced (1967), his debut album, spent over 33 weeks on the UK charts, peaking at #2, and sold over five million copies worldwide. His second album, Axis: Bold as Love (1967), had success too, but it was his third, which showcased his ability in full, featuring the chart-topping single “All Along the Watchtower,” a Bob Dylan cover that became Hendrix’s only Billboard Top 40 hit during his lifetime.
The most surprising thing about Hendrix’s music is its posthumous appeal. He passed away in 1970, and releases since have sold over 30 million copies, with albums like First Rays of the New Rising Sun (1997) and People, Hell and Angels (2013) bringing his unreleased music to millions.
Hendrix was a true innovator at heart who pushed the boundaries of music. It’s because of this that his work is still so popular and that his name still lives on both within the industry and in pop culture as a whole.
