The musician died 50 years ago today telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/…
Fifty years on from his death, the circumstances of Hendrix’s demise remain bound up in mystery and mythology
The timing of his death made the Purple Haze singer a member of fabled The 27 Club, a morbid but deified members’ club for musicians who die at that ill-fated age
Almost as soon as he passed away, suggestions of accidental death or suicide gave way to conspiracy theories that the Mafia, the FBI or even members of Newcastle’s gangland underworld had murdered Hendrix
Producer and filmmaker Joe Boyd, who made the feature-length documentary about the musician in 1973 says the probable cause of death was an accident spurred by the musician’s desire to anaesthetise himself again a series of encroaching personal crises.
But other theories remain:
But other theories remain:
BLACK PANTHER
Hendrix made off-the-cuff comments to a teen magazine about the Panthers invading Washington.
The FBI took note and he was reportedly placed on a US Government index, fuelling theories he was murdered to stop his subversive views from spreading to his fans
Hendrix made off-the-cuff comments to a teen magazine about the Panthers invading Washington.
The FBI took note and he was reportedly placed on a US Government index, fuelling theories he was murdered to stop his subversive views from spreading to his fans
The MANAGER
The documentary Jimi Hendrix: The Last 24 Hours suggests Michael Jeffery, who had links with the underworld in New York and Newcastle, was spying for an intelligence agency.
It suggests he took out a $2m life insurance policy on Hendrix to cash in if he died
The documentary Jimi Hendrix: The Last 24 Hours suggests Michael Jeffery, who had links with the underworld in New York and Newcastle, was spying for an intelligence agency.
It suggests he took out a $2m life insurance policy on Hendrix to cash in if he died
The MOB
The Mafia in downtown New York were unhappy Hendrix was bringing drugs into the area via his Electric Lady Studios, which was just north of Little Italy. So they bumped him off
The Mafia in downtown New York were unhappy Hendrix was bringing drugs into the area via his Electric Lady Studios, which was just north of Little Italy. So they bumped him off
THE STALKER
Kathy Etchingham, Hendrix' ex-girlfriend, says Monika Dannemann gave the guitarist tablets.
She claims Dannemann was an obsessed stalker who was afraid the musician would leave her. While she may not have intended to kill him, she didn’t want him to leave
Kathy Etchingham, Hendrix' ex-girlfriend, says Monika Dannemann gave the guitarist tablets.
She claims Dannemann was an obsessed stalker who was afraid the musician would leave her. While she may not have intended to kill him, she didn’t want him to leave
THE MAN WHO COULDN'T SAY NO
In the week Hendrix died, three conflicts, featuring his management, band and girlfriends, came to a head.
His former publicist says, “He wasn’t strong enough. He was a softie.”
This would explain why Hendrix took downers and accidentally overdosed
In the week Hendrix died, three conflicts, featuring his management, band and girlfriends, came to a head.
His former publicist says, “He wasn’t strong enough. He was a softie.”
This would explain why Hendrix took downers and accidentally overdosed
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