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Experienced: On the Road with Jimi Hendrix and Beyond – The Firsthand Memoir of Jimi Hendrix’s Road Manager and Confidant
'The most intimate and insightful book about Hendrix I've ever read.... It might also be the best ever book written by a roadie.'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
'Jimi's genius . . . documented by one of the few men who was there.'
JOE PERRY, AEROSMITH
'A backstage pass to Jimi's talented, tormented life.... Eric Barrett riffs like one of the master's iconic solos.'
BOB SPITZ, AUTHOR OF THE THE BIOGRAPHY AND THE ROLLING THE BIOGRAPHY
'Barrett witnessed the highs and lows of Jimi Hendrix at his peak, and offers firsthand insight into a complicated, troubled genius-as well as epic tales about his own encounters with other rock megastars.'
ALAN LIGHT, FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF SPIN AND VIBE MAGAZINES; AUTHOR OF DON'T WHY WE (STILL) LOVE FLEETWOOD MAC'S RUMOURS
*****
Jimi Hendrix's road manager and confidant, Eric Barrett, breaks fifty-five years of silence.
Eric Barrett was there when Hendrix set Woodstock ablaze, when paranoia crackled through Toronto Airport, when his music electrified a sea of 600,000 at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, and in the quiet hours backstage when he revealed the insecurities behind his genius.
Hendrix confided in few people. Barrett was one of them.
Experienced is Barrett's long-awaited, unflinching the definitive inside account of Hendrix as friend, bandleader, and phenomenon. It strips away the mythology to reveal the man in all his brilliance and contradiction - volatile, generous, insecure, incandescently creative, and always in pursuit of the next sound.
His final years were tested and defined on British soil. Taking readers into performances that veered between transcendence and chaos, Barrett captures a Hendrix rarely seen, nervous before British crowds and afraid that the country that had once embraced him might be moving on.
While his journey with Hendrix forms the backbone of Barrett's narrative, his later decades on tour with artists including David Bowie, George Michael and Lenny Kravitz add another a sweeping sense of how Hendrix's short life set the template for rock 'n' roll excess - and survival - through the decades.
The result is not just another rock memoir, but a once-in-a-lifetime backstage history of music's most transformative years, told through the prism of Barrett's life inside Hendrix's turbulent orbit.
This is the Jimi Hendrix story from the man who lived it - a revealing portrait of brilliance, pressure and tragic decline.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
'Jimi's genius . . . documented by one of the few men who was there.'
JOE PERRY, AEROSMITH
'A backstage pass to Jimi's talented, tormented life.... Eric Barrett riffs like one of the master's iconic solos.'
BOB SPITZ, AUTHOR OF THE THE BIOGRAPHY AND THE ROLLING THE BIOGRAPHY
'Barrett witnessed the highs and lows of Jimi Hendrix at his peak, and offers firsthand insight into a complicated, troubled genius-as well as epic tales about his own encounters with other rock megastars.'
ALAN LIGHT, FORMER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF SPIN AND VIBE MAGAZINES; AUTHOR OF DON'T WHY WE (STILL) LOVE FLEETWOOD MAC'S RUMOURS
*****
Jimi Hendrix's road manager and confidant, Eric Barrett, breaks fifty-five years of silence.
Eric Barrett was there when Hendrix set Woodstock ablaze, when paranoia crackled through Toronto Airport, when his music electrified a sea of 600,000 at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, and in the quiet hours backstage when he revealed the insecurities behind his genius.
Hendrix confided in few people. Barrett was one of them.
Experienced is Barrett's long-awaited, unflinching the definitive inside account of Hendrix as friend, bandleader, and phenomenon. It strips away the mythology to reveal the man in all his brilliance and contradiction - volatile, generous, insecure, incandescently creative, and always in pursuit of the next sound.
His final years were tested and defined on British soil. Taking readers into performances that veered between transcendence and chaos, Barrett captures a Hendrix rarely seen, nervous before British crowds and afraid that the country that had once embraced him might be moving on.
While his journey with Hendrix forms the backbone of Barrett's narrative, his later decades on tour with artists including David Bowie, George Michael and Lenny Kravitz add another a sweeping sense of how Hendrix's short life set the template for rock 'n' roll excess - and survival - through the decades.
The result is not just another rock memoir, but a once-in-a-lifetime backstage history of music's most transformative years, told through the prism of Barrett's life inside Hendrix's turbulent orbit.
This is the Jimi Hendrix story from the man who lived it - a revealing portrait of brilliance, pressure and tragic decline.
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Audible Audio
Published August 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 21, 2026
A delightful book to read by Jimi's roadie. Who doesn't know the iconic photo of Eric behind the amplifiers at the Royal Albert Hall? It is well organized, with regular chapters about his work with others, Lenny Kravitz, David Bowie, Madonna, and more.
Despite the fact that his time with Jimi was more than five decades ago, there are very few mistakes or errors. I found only one: Jimi played not two, but four shows at the Fillmore East with the Band of Gypsys. Eric probably meant 2 days instead of 2 shows.
What makes this book unique compared to others is his sometimes emotional testimony about his friendship with the global star. Many fans might want more details about technical trivia, but that is not what this book is intended for.
I had hoped to find more photos, though, but that is of course wishful thinking from an old fan.
What about this from the book , is this cool or what.
'When I was managing tours for Lenny Kravitz, he was very close friends with
Denzel Washington. The first time Lenny introduced me, he said, “This is my tour
manager, Eric.” Denzel nodded. Nothing more. Polite enough but obviously not keen to
engage. Then Lenny added, “He used to be Jimi Hendrix’s roadie.”
Instantly, Denzel’s entire demeanor changed. He pushed me in the chest and
exclaimed, “Get the hell out of here!” He then vigorously shook my hand and asked me a
ton of questions about Jimi. He couldn’t have been more effusive. Suddenly, I’d become
cool enough for a movie star to get all excited about.
That’s what Jimi’s name could do.'
Despite the fact that his time with Jimi was more than five decades ago, there are very few mistakes or errors. I found only one: Jimi played not two, but four shows at the Fillmore East with the Band of Gypsys. Eric probably meant 2 days instead of 2 shows.
What makes this book unique compared to others is his sometimes emotional testimony about his friendship with the global star. Many fans might want more details about technical trivia, but that is not what this book is intended for.
I had hoped to find more photos, though, but that is of course wishful thinking from an old fan.
What about this from the book , is this cool or what.
'When I was managing tours for Lenny Kravitz, he was very close friends with
Denzel Washington. The first time Lenny introduced me, he said, “This is my tour
manager, Eric.” Denzel nodded. Nothing more. Polite enough but obviously not keen to
engage. Then Lenny added, “He used to be Jimi Hendrix’s roadie.”
Instantly, Denzel’s entire demeanor changed. He pushed me in the chest and
exclaimed, “Get the hell out of here!” He then vigorously shook my hand and asked me a
ton of questions about Jimi. He couldn’t have been more effusive. Suddenly, I’d become
cool enough for a movie star to get all excited about.
That’s what Jimi’s name could do.'
September 7, 2026
Very readable account of the brief but eventful period when the author was road manager for Hendrix.this seemed to me an honest account of life as a roadie at this time, and there’s as much sex, drugs and rock and roll as you could expect or wish for. Barrett was more than just a roadie - he was a friend, confidante and crisis manager. And there were many crises…Hendrix comes across as a gentle soul, very different off stage to his ‘wild man of rock’ persona when performing, and ultimately for me sad, lonely and exploited by his shady manager. There is also coverage of the author’s time as tour manager for such stars as David Bowie, Madonna, Aerosmith, James Taylor and many others; he was obviously very good at his job, much in demand and trusted by his clients.
I bought the L.P. ‘Are you experienced?’ in 1967 - I have it still, unplayable I’m sure but a reminder of listening to this incandescent guitarist at such an exciting time of life and music. Thank you Jimi.
I bought the L.P. ‘Are you experienced?’ in 1967 - I have it still, unplayable I’m sure but a reminder of listening to this incandescent guitarist at such an exciting time of life and music. Thank you Jimi.
August 16, 2026
Listened to this audiobook with the slight glimmer of hope that the author might mention Jimi's August 17 1968 Atlanta concert (evening show) where I saw and met Jimi. The author didn't talk about this one but I understand as the author mentioned the multitude of tour concerts in '68 that just ran together without having distinction.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews