27. JIMI HENDRIX

What can be said, that hasn’t been said before, about someone whose legendary status as showman, virtuoso and innovator is second to none in the world of modern music?

I have a friend called Jamie. Some of you will know him from my book – he travelled with me overland to India in the early 70’s. He was then, and still is, a formidable, larger-than-life character in every respect. His passion and dedication to Jimi Hendrix was equally impressive and uncompromising. Such devotion, from a friend who was one of the most influential and respected people I have ever met, had to be taken seriously. Because of Jamie I started to listen to Hendrix on a different level and began to realise to what extent the man and his music influenced and changed the face of modern music in a way only a handful of true innovators ever have. He had an extraordinary talent and he presented it with a rare combination of dazzling showmanship and heartfelt passion.

‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky’ …

A few months ago I began work on art for a Jimi Hendrix Suite at the Cumberland Hotel in London – Hendrix’s official home address and where he conducted his last interview just days before he died. Jamie was continually in my thoughts as I created a mural (of course – how could there be an authentic 60’s room without a mural?), an exclusive Hendrix Edition and customised a ‘Flying V’ guitar based on a famous hand-painted one Hendrix owned.

My work is, of course, dedicated to Jimi Hendrix – the greatest guitarist who ever lived – but also to you Jamie, dear friend.

Watch this …

NEXT: More Hendrix …

The suite at the Cumberland – the frustrations and joys such a project inevitably entailed. ‘GRAPHIC DESIGN AS AN EXTREME SPORT’ is not a flippant sub-title to my Blog!

After HENDRIX … METALLICA – a project that has kept me busy, anti-social and on my toes for over  two months.

See ya around yeah?