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Wild Thing: The short, spellbinding life of Jimi Hendrix
Celebrated as the most innovative guitarist ever to play, Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970) is renowned for symphonic solos and virtuosic picking (sometimes, with his teeth). But, as Philip Norman describes, before Hendrix was setting guitars aflame onstage, he was a shy kid in Seattle, lucking at a broken ukulele and looking out for his father, who chided him for playing left- handed. Interweaving new interviews with friends, lovers, bandmates, and his family, Wild Thing vividly reconstructs Hendrix’s remarkable life— from playing in segregated clubs on the Chitlin’ Circuit to earning stardom in Swinging London in 1966. For more than four mind- boggling years Hendrix found unparalleled success, making historic appearances at Monterey and Woodstock while becoming the highest paid musician of his day, but it all abruptly ended with his tragic death in the sordid basement of a London hotel. Filled with insights into the greatest moments in rock history, Wild Thing reveals the endlessly complex figure behind the unforgettable riffs.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 202
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
December 31, 2020
3.5 stars
A young woman journalist from France suddenly popped up to demand, "Where do you get your inspiration?"
"From the people," Jimi answered.
-- interview during the Isle of Wight Pop Festival in 1970, on page 274
Author Norman is a well-experienced hand at penning rock star bios - such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Eric Clapton; I liked his John Lennon: A Life and thought Rave On: The Biography of Buddy Holly was simply outstanding - but some of that magic felt like it was missing this time around with his take on guitarist/singer/songwriter Jimi Hendrix in Wild Thing. Possibly it was because it seemed like the unique music of Hendrix (arguably the main reason for his claim to fame, and also still an influence fifty years after his untimely passing) was short-changed here - while the biographical angle is first-rate, I don't recall learning much in the way of what inspired the tunes he created and/or covered in his brief four-year career in the British and American limelight. (At least, nothing that I couldn't glean from a Wikipedia article.) Also, there were occasionally some distracting typos in the latter half of the book. However, when it was good - such as detailing Hendrix's early years in Seattle, the unusual process in which he became an 'overnight sensation' in Great Britain after first toiling for years in his native America, plus the mysterious circumstances regarding his death - it was really good, showing how the author does excellent work with researching his subject matter.
A young woman journalist from France suddenly popped up to demand, "Where do you get your inspiration?"
"From the people," Jimi answered.
-- interview during the Isle of Wight Pop Festival in 1970, on page 274
Author Norman is a well-experienced hand at penning rock star bios - such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Eric Clapton; I liked his John Lennon: A Life and thought Rave On: The Biography of Buddy Holly was simply outstanding - but some of that magic felt like it was missing this time around with his take on guitarist/singer/songwriter Jimi Hendrix in Wild Thing. Possibly it was because it seemed like the unique music of Hendrix (arguably the main reason for his claim to fame, and also still an influence fifty years after his untimely passing) was short-changed here - while the biographical angle is first-rate, I don't recall learning much in the way of what inspired the tunes he created and/or covered in his brief four-year career in the British and American limelight. (At least, nothing that I couldn't glean from a Wikipedia article.) Also, there were occasionally some distracting typos in the latter half of the book. However, when it was good - such as detailing Hendrix's early years in Seattle, the unusual process in which he became an 'overnight sensation' in Great Britain after first toiling for years in his native America, plus the mysterious circumstances regarding his death - it was really good, showing how the author does excellent work with researching his subject matter.
October 19, 2020
Wild Thing was published on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Jimi’s passing and written by Philip Norman, the former newspaper man who has become quite a star biographer.
It got a rave review in my local newspaper, I spotted it in my library (Dutch translation) and decided to give it a shot. I settled down in my comfy reading chair, put on some music and stopped reading after the prologue.
This is why:
1/ On the first page Philip Norman describes Jimi’s famous version of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” as ‘heavy metal’. That’s about as accurate as saying that Greek temples are baroque.
2/ In the next paragraph Norman writes that for many people Hendrix was at his best when doing cover versions, rather than his own compositions, e.g. “Hey Joe” or “Purple Haze”. Blimey! Apparantly, the acclaimed author doesn’t even know that “Hey Joe”, probably Hendrix’ best known song, is a cover!
3/ On the third page he mentions B.B. King doing riffs! B.B. King was a great guitar player, but never ever in his whole life did B.B. King play a riff.
4/ The fourth page is spent discussing Dylan’s lyrics (with some nods to good ol’ Shakespeare) and summing up guitar players who were influenced by Jimi. You can’t go wrong there and Norman manages not to make any mistakes.
5/ On the fifth page Norman writes that, just like you don’t need to be a big reggae fan to dig Bob Marley, it is possible to love Hendrix, even if you aren't into heavy metal. What crap! Marley is the ultimate reggae star, he created a global audience for it, Hendrix is about as heavy metal as my grandma.
Sigh!
If this book hadn’t belonged to my public library, I’d have thrown it out with the garbage.
PS: For those who are genuinely interested in Hendrix,, I still recommend Harry Shapiro’s Electric Gypsy and the memoirs of Hendrix' sound technician Eddie Kramer, Setting the Record Straight, for some more personal insight on how he worked.
It got a rave review in my local newspaper, I spotted it in my library (Dutch translation) and decided to give it a shot. I settled down in my comfy reading chair, put on some music and stopped reading after the prologue.
This is why:
1/ On the first page Philip Norman describes Jimi’s famous version of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” as ‘heavy metal’. That’s about as accurate as saying that Greek temples are baroque.
2/ In the next paragraph Norman writes that for many people Hendrix was at his best when doing cover versions, rather than his own compositions, e.g. “Hey Joe” or “Purple Haze”. Blimey! Apparantly, the acclaimed author doesn’t even know that “Hey Joe”, probably Hendrix’ best known song, is a cover!
3/ On the third page he mentions B.B. King doing riffs! B.B. King was a great guitar player, but never ever in his whole life did B.B. King play a riff.
4/ The fourth page is spent discussing Dylan’s lyrics (with some nods to good ol’ Shakespeare) and summing up guitar players who were influenced by Jimi. You can’t go wrong there and Norman manages not to make any mistakes.
5/ On the fifth page Norman writes that, just like you don’t need to be a big reggae fan to dig Bob Marley, it is possible to love Hendrix, even if you aren't into heavy metal. What crap! Marley is the ultimate reggae star, he created a global audience for it, Hendrix is about as heavy metal as my grandma.
Sigh!
If this book hadn’t belonged to my public library, I’d have thrown it out with the garbage.
PS: For those who are genuinely interested in Hendrix,, I still recommend Harry Shapiro’s Electric Gypsy and the memoirs of Hendrix' sound technician Eddie Kramer, Setting the Record Straight, for some more personal insight on how he worked.
October 30, 2020
A man with such a "short, spellbinding life" deserves a much better biography than this. This was simply a lazy effort by a biographer who knows better -- and has done better. Dull writing, uninspired attempts at putting Hendrix's life into historical context, and minimal analysis of Hendrix's work make this a major disappointment. I read biographies to come away with a greater understanding of a person and I did not get that from this book. This was simply a chronicle of events, which I can get from Wikipedia.
March 2, 2021
A breezy, light and entertaining overview of the too-short, white hot life of Jimi Hendrix.
Unfortunately, this is easily the most poorly edited mainstream book I have ever read. Multiple typos, misspellings, incorrect syntax, run on sentences, and more on almost every other page.
I know first printings can have a few hiccups, but 99% of these mistakes would’ve been caught by running the manuscript theough a freaking Microsoft Word spellcheck, sheesh!
Very distracting and amateurish.
Unfortunately, this is easily the most poorly edited mainstream book I have ever read. Multiple typos, misspellings, incorrect syntax, run on sentences, and more on almost every other page.
I know first printings can have a few hiccups, but 99% of these mistakes would’ve been caught by running the manuscript theough a freaking Microsoft Word spellcheck, sheesh!
Very distracting and amateurish.
December 18, 2020
A sad portrayal of Jimi Hendrix's short life, from his neglected childhood, through people taking advantage of him after stardom, and his relationship with drugs and women. The account of his last days was particularly depressing.
October 31, 2020
Norman's bio on Hendrix coincides with the passing of Hendrix at age 27 fifty years ago. The book is pretty good. I doesn't do a deep dive into the actual songs like I thought it might, but seems to focus more on the relatives, friends, groupies, handlers, managers, and other various and sundry people associated with Hendrix.
The biggest "new" find was that Hendrix played in Ray Charles backup band for a few weeks which I was never aware of.
Norman spends ample time going over the events leading to Hendrix's death and the ever changing stories as well. Interesting stuff for all fans of Hendrix.
The biggest "new" find was that Hendrix played in Ray Charles backup band for a few weeks which I was never aware of.
Norman spends ample time going over the events leading to Hendrix's death and the ever changing stories as well. Interesting stuff for all fans of Hendrix.
July 14, 2022
Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix é uma biografia, escrita pelo famoso biografo Philip Norman, sobre o lendário músico Jimi Hendrix.
A história que o livro nos esta a contar pode ser dividida em alguns campos:
- A vida pessoal do Jimi Hendrix (familia, amigos, relações...);
- Contexto Social (Racismo, Hippies...)
- A música que o mesmo criou;
- A indústria da música.
O livro começa por contar a história dos antepassados de Hendrix, neste caso os seus avós e os seus pais. Embora este segmento seja interessante, aquilo que realmente interessa é, é claro, um menino chamado James Marshall Hendrix. Enquanto criança Jimi sofreu muito, devido a diversos fatores como pobreza, uma família disfuncional e, obviamente, o racismo a que a comunidade negra é sujeita. No entanto, nada disto impediu Jimi de se tornar um rapaz determinado e criativo.
O menino James Marshall, ou Buster como ele preferia ser chamado quando era criança, mostrou muito cedo uma vertente criativa com o seu amor de desenhos, contudo nada disto se iria equiparar ao seu amor da guitarra que começou quando tinha 15 anos. Inspirado por artistas como Elvis, Buddy Holly e Chuck Berry, Buster pegou numa guitarra, muito barata e de baixa qualidade, e nunca mais olhou para trás.
Durante esta parte do livro o autor faz questão de notar a relação complicada entre Al, o seu pai, e Hendrix. Muitas vezes demonstrado a falta de gentileza de Al com crianças, como da vez em que o Leon (irmão mais novo do Hendrix, e também o mais próximo) também disse que queria tocar guitarra e Al respondeu-lhe que "já basta um idiota na família" e muitas outras vezes até abordando violência.
A progressão das habilidades do Jimi na guitarra é pouco documentada e como tal difícil de ser abordada, porém, algo muito bem documentado é o incrível nível de habilidade a que o futuro Jimi Hendrix chegou. O talento na guitarra era mais raro que um pacote azul de Skittles vindo da Bulgária e mais óbvio que o Google e o Facebook a roubar informação pessoal. No entanto, algo que foi bem documentado e pesquisado pelo autor foi o avanço do Jimi pela indústria. Algumas das melhores partes deste livro são as partes que dizem respeito à indústria musical, sendo um dos pontos de destaque o circuito de Seattle, que documenta diversos locais, bandas, indivíduos que fizeram parte do seu caminho para o sucesso. Estes episódios neste livro estão repletos de contexto sobre a forma como a comunidade negra era tratada na época, contudo nunca com a nuance ou cuidado necessário para retratar estes tópicos. Algumas páginas a mais sobre este assunto teriam sido bem vindas, mas o autor tinha coisas mais importantes para escrever sobre, como o filho da prima do tio do avó em oitavo grau que em 1923 comprou um barzinho no meio de Seattle que vendeu em 1948 para aquele gajo que era um reprodutor de elefantes no Zoo regional, que, após algumas obras foi relançado com um clube de jazz, mas que eventualmente em 1957 acabou por se mudar para um clube de rock e r&b devido a pouca lucro.
Assim que o quase Jimi Hendrix chega a Inglaterra, o livro começa a focar-se bastante nas mulheres na sua vida, em especial, Linda Keith e Kathy Etchingham, a quem temos a agradecer por provavelmente mais de 200 páginas deste livro e pela sua influência positiva na vida deste agora, homenzinho. O livro também tem o cuidado de, em umas breves linhas, mostrar diversas instâncias de como o racismo na Inglaterra era diferente do racismo na América, especialmente no que toca a casais interraciais. Também somos introduzidos ao grande mafioso Mike Jeffery, ex-agente da inteligência inglesa com contactos dentro da mafia, offshores e as características genéricas de um mafioso. Esta figura enigmática e controversa vai se tornar numa fonte de grande stress para Hendrix no final da sua vida, que pretende-se ver livre dele como manager mas que estava agarrado a ele contratualmente.
No meio destes tópicos algo que parece ser quase puxado para o lado é a música. Há uma quantidade decente de coisas ditas sobre a indústria da música e há muitas referências feitas a vários músicos como os Rolling Stones, o Bob Dylan e entre outros que fizeram parte do percurso da vida pessoal e profissional do Hendrix. Contudo, pouco é dito sobre a música do sujeito que este livro é suposto ser sobre. Sim, o livro não perde uma chance para elogiar as habilidades e criatividade do Hendrix na guitarra, a forma como ele a via não só como instrumento mas também, como um pedaço de tecnologia e a quantidade de guitarristas e músicos que ele influenciou. Não houve uma oportunidade perdida para mencionar o seu perfecionismo. Todavia, como sempre, pouco é dito sobre as suas composições e sobre as suas letras. O livro quase nada aborda as suas melodias e as suas letras, estas últimas que vêm sempre com o "inspirado pelo Bob Dylan/ à moda do Bob Dylan/ como o Dylan faria" colado.
Os eventos durante o seu sucesso são interessantes e contados de uma forma decente e cativante, na sua maioria, pois já perto do final desta parte do livro, o leitor já está cansado de ouvir sobre todos os minúsculos detalhes de onde o agora, Jimi Hendrix, esteve depois e antes do concerto e que tipos de drogas eram abundantes nos determinados festivais. Muitos destes acontecimentos acabam por ser desinteressantes porque nada de valor acontece que adicionem substância à história do Jimi Hendrix, mas para os fãs mais loucos vai ser sempre interessante. Mais tarde ou mais cedo o autor lembra-se que talvez falar sobre a banda e sobre música seria mais interessante e começa a falar das alterações dos membros da banda, sobre os planos musicais futuros do Hendrix e sobre as relações dentro da banda e não sobre as cuecas que a StumbleElectricLady#5671 roubou ao artista mais bem pago da época.
O segmento final do livro aborda os últimos dias de vida do Jimi Hendrix e tudo o que aconteceu com o "Hendrix Estate" após a sua morte (spoiler: uma grande salganhada). O livro vai a grande detalhe para mostrar todo o stress que estava a consumi-lo, devido a diversos casos em tribunais e ao querer ver-se livre do mafioso. Evidenciando não só estado débil em que se encontrava psicologicamente, mas também fisicamente e que nem todos aqueles que estavam à sua volta tinham o melhor interesse em mente. Philip Norman faz um excelente trabalho em documentar as mais diversas, e em constante mudança, versões da trágica morte do Jimi. Deixando claro que muitos dos que estiveram envolvidos tanto pouco antes como depois da morte dele estavam a mentir para se safarem de algo, ofuscando assim, o que realmente aconteceu naquele dia.
Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix é um livro que busca contar a história de um dos maiores músicos da sua época. Este livro brilha quando está a contar o percurso que o Jimi teve que fazer para chegar aos níveis de sucesso que chegou e quando está a documentar as suas, algumas vezes, complicadas relações com diversas pessoas, contudo temas como o racismo parece que foram colocados no livro às quatro pancadas. Não é um livro perfeito, mas é um bom livro que com umas 20 páginas a menos sobre um gajo qualquer que comprou um bar em Nova Iorque e sobre o que ele comeu no dia 18/04/1969 e algum cuidado a mais com alguns temas e com a forma de como a história da vida dele no contexto social em que viveu foi contada teriam melhorado a qualidade do livro.
3.5/5
A história que o livro nos esta a contar pode ser dividida em alguns campos:
- A vida pessoal do Jimi Hendrix (familia, amigos, relações...);
- Contexto Social (Racismo, Hippies...)
- A música que o mesmo criou;
- A indústria da música.
O livro começa por contar a história dos antepassados de Hendrix, neste caso os seus avós e os seus pais. Embora este segmento seja interessante, aquilo que realmente interessa é, é claro, um menino chamado James Marshall Hendrix. Enquanto criança Jimi sofreu muito, devido a diversos fatores como pobreza, uma família disfuncional e, obviamente, o racismo a que a comunidade negra é sujeita. No entanto, nada disto impediu Jimi de se tornar um rapaz determinado e criativo.
O menino James Marshall, ou Buster como ele preferia ser chamado quando era criança, mostrou muito cedo uma vertente criativa com o seu amor de desenhos, contudo nada disto se iria equiparar ao seu amor da guitarra que começou quando tinha 15 anos. Inspirado por artistas como Elvis, Buddy Holly e Chuck Berry, Buster pegou numa guitarra, muito barata e de baixa qualidade, e nunca mais olhou para trás.
Durante esta parte do livro o autor faz questão de notar a relação complicada entre Al, o seu pai, e Hendrix. Muitas vezes demonstrado a falta de gentileza de Al com crianças, como da vez em que o Leon (irmão mais novo do Hendrix, e também o mais próximo) também disse que queria tocar guitarra e Al respondeu-lhe que "já basta um idiota na família" e muitas outras vezes até abordando violência.
A progressão das habilidades do Jimi na guitarra é pouco documentada e como tal difícil de ser abordada, porém, algo muito bem documentado é o incrível nível de habilidade a que o futuro Jimi Hendrix chegou. O talento na guitarra era mais raro que um pacote azul de Skittles vindo da Bulgária e mais óbvio que o Google e o Facebook a roubar informação pessoal. No entanto, algo que foi bem documentado e pesquisado pelo autor foi o avanço do Jimi pela indústria. Algumas das melhores partes deste livro são as partes que dizem respeito à indústria musical, sendo um dos pontos de destaque o circuito de Seattle, que documenta diversos locais, bandas, indivíduos que fizeram parte do seu caminho para o sucesso. Estes episódios neste livro estão repletos de contexto sobre a forma como a comunidade negra era tratada na época, contudo nunca com a nuance ou cuidado necessário para retratar estes tópicos. Algumas páginas a mais sobre este assunto teriam sido bem vindas, mas o autor tinha coisas mais importantes para escrever sobre, como o filho da prima do tio do avó em oitavo grau que em 1923 comprou um barzinho no meio de Seattle que vendeu em 1948 para aquele gajo que era um reprodutor de elefantes no Zoo regional, que, após algumas obras foi relançado com um clube de jazz, mas que eventualmente em 1957 acabou por se mudar para um clube de rock e r&b devido a pouca lucro.
Assim que o quase Jimi Hendrix chega a Inglaterra, o livro começa a focar-se bastante nas mulheres na sua vida, em especial, Linda Keith e Kathy Etchingham, a quem temos a agradecer por provavelmente mais de 200 páginas deste livro e pela sua influência positiva na vida deste agora, homenzinho. O livro também tem o cuidado de, em umas breves linhas, mostrar diversas instâncias de como o racismo na Inglaterra era diferente do racismo na América, especialmente no que toca a casais interraciais. Também somos introduzidos ao grande mafioso Mike Jeffery, ex-agente da inteligência inglesa com contactos dentro da mafia, offshores e as características genéricas de um mafioso. Esta figura enigmática e controversa vai se tornar numa fonte de grande stress para Hendrix no final da sua vida, que pretende-se ver livre dele como manager mas que estava agarrado a ele contratualmente.
No meio destes tópicos algo que parece ser quase puxado para o lado é a música. Há uma quantidade decente de coisas ditas sobre a indústria da música e há muitas referências feitas a vários músicos como os Rolling Stones, o Bob Dylan e entre outros que fizeram parte do percurso da vida pessoal e profissional do Hendrix. Contudo, pouco é dito sobre a música do sujeito que este livro é suposto ser sobre. Sim, o livro não perde uma chance para elogiar as habilidades e criatividade do Hendrix na guitarra, a forma como ele a via não só como instrumento mas também, como um pedaço de tecnologia e a quantidade de guitarristas e músicos que ele influenciou. Não houve uma oportunidade perdida para mencionar o seu perfecionismo. Todavia, como sempre, pouco é dito sobre as suas composições e sobre as suas letras. O livro quase nada aborda as suas melodias e as suas letras, estas últimas que vêm sempre com o "inspirado pelo Bob Dylan/ à moda do Bob Dylan/ como o Dylan faria" colado.
Os eventos durante o seu sucesso são interessantes e contados de uma forma decente e cativante, na sua maioria, pois já perto do final desta parte do livro, o leitor já está cansado de ouvir sobre todos os minúsculos detalhes de onde o agora, Jimi Hendrix, esteve depois e antes do concerto e que tipos de drogas eram abundantes nos determinados festivais. Muitos destes acontecimentos acabam por ser desinteressantes porque nada de valor acontece que adicionem substância à história do Jimi Hendrix, mas para os fãs mais loucos vai ser sempre interessante. Mais tarde ou mais cedo o autor lembra-se que talvez falar sobre a banda e sobre música seria mais interessante e começa a falar das alterações dos membros da banda, sobre os planos musicais futuros do Hendrix e sobre as relações dentro da banda e não sobre as cuecas que a StumbleElectricLady#5671 roubou ao artista mais bem pago da época.
O segmento final do livro aborda os últimos dias de vida do Jimi Hendrix e tudo o que aconteceu com o "Hendrix Estate" após a sua morte (spoiler: uma grande salganhada). O livro vai a grande detalhe para mostrar todo o stress que estava a consumi-lo, devido a diversos casos em tribunais e ao querer ver-se livre do mafioso. Evidenciando não só estado débil em que se encontrava psicologicamente, mas também fisicamente e que nem todos aqueles que estavam à sua volta tinham o melhor interesse em mente. Philip Norman faz um excelente trabalho em documentar as mais diversas, e em constante mudança, versões da trágica morte do Jimi. Deixando claro que muitos dos que estiveram envolvidos tanto pouco antes como depois da morte dele estavam a mentir para se safarem de algo, ofuscando assim, o que realmente aconteceu naquele dia.
Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix é um livro que busca contar a história de um dos maiores músicos da sua época. Este livro brilha quando está a contar o percurso que o Jimi teve que fazer para chegar aos níveis de sucesso que chegou e quando está a documentar as suas, algumas vezes, complicadas relações com diversas pessoas, contudo temas como o racismo parece que foram colocados no livro às quatro pancadas. Não é um livro perfeito, mas é um bom livro que com umas 20 páginas a menos sobre um gajo qualquer que comprou um bar em Nova Iorque e sobre o que ele comeu no dia 18/04/1969 e algum cuidado a mais com alguns temas e com a forma de como a história da vida dele no contexto social em que viveu foi contada teriam melhorado a qualidade do livro.
3.5/5
September 22, 2020
I’ve been a fan of Jimi Hendrix for a long time, but have never read a biography of him. So when this colourful book caught my eye in a bookstore, I bought it.
Impulse buy, my mistake.
I was hoping for a book that reveals more insight of Jimi, how he was as a person, and, most importantly, as a musician. How did he learned to play so amazingly? How did he develop his unique technique, what were the stories behind the songs, etc.?
Unfortunately this book gave no answers whatsoever.
It’s just a chronological collection of trivial anecdotes, second-hand information, hearsays and rumours, put together in a hurry, perhaps just in time for the 50th Anniversary of Jimi’s death. His songs and albums are only cursory covered. The author seems much more fascinated with Jimi’s drug addiction, numerous girlfriends, and his sexual abilities, with no details spared.
There’s also the usual innuendos about Jimi’s premature death. Was it an overdose, a suicide, a murder by mafia, CIA, FBI… and in a manner of the worst gossip writer, the author throws speculations up in the air without even trying to come to any conclusion.
This book is rubbish. BUT if you really are more interested in Jimi’s sexual achievements than his musical mastery, well, this just might be for you.
Impulse buy, my mistake.
I was hoping for a book that reveals more insight of Jimi, how he was as a person, and, most importantly, as a musician. How did he learned to play so amazingly? How did he develop his unique technique, what were the stories behind the songs, etc.?
Unfortunately this book gave no answers whatsoever.
It’s just a chronological collection of trivial anecdotes, second-hand information, hearsays and rumours, put together in a hurry, perhaps just in time for the 50th Anniversary of Jimi’s death. His songs and albums are only cursory covered. The author seems much more fascinated with Jimi’s drug addiction, numerous girlfriends, and his sexual abilities, with no details spared.
There’s also the usual innuendos about Jimi’s premature death. Was it an overdose, a suicide, a murder by mafia, CIA, FBI… and in a manner of the worst gossip writer, the author throws speculations up in the air without even trying to come to any conclusion.
This book is rubbish. BUT if you really are more interested in Jimi’s sexual achievements than his musical mastery, well, this just might be for you.
February 13, 2021
There's some interesting stuff in here, but it's marred a bit by the presentation. This book is rife with misspellings, mistakes, and tortured syntax. Here's an example of an awkward sentence: "His second wife, June, having predeceased him, the bulk of the estate he'd inherited from Jimi, by now worth well in excess of $80 million, went to June's daughter Janie, whom Al had adopted and who'd effectively taken over its management." That sentence could be written much better. And in the last chapter there was a reference to February 17/18 that was supposed to be September 17/18 (Jimi's last day before his death). I can't imagine that this book was proofread in any serious way.
September 19, 2020
Thankyou to Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Wild Thing takes us through Jimi’s short life – from his difficult and troubling childhood, with a father he was always trying to impress, to his struggles to break into the music industry, the challenges he faced touring as a black man, his triumphs and his ultimate tragic end. I have always loved Jimi Hendrix’s music so I found all the little things I never knew about him to be fascinating. This book really brought home to me the racial prejudice and discrimination he would have experienced during those years. It’s hard to imagine a rock star of his legendary status having to search for places to eat on the road, because so many eateries served ‘whites only’. Realising his entire music history was a constant uphill battle, in ways that other musicians didn’t experience, made me respect him even more than I already did.
We’re treated to glimpses into the lives of other well known celebrities, as they related to Jimi’s story, and I was surprised to learn of the connections between some of them. The world needed Jimi Hendrix, but it destroyed him too. The sheer number of different people trying to influence his life and pull him into their orbit was staggering. It was clear, from the stories in this book, he left a lasting impression on almost everyone he met.
The information surrounding his death, and the questions that have been long unanswered, was chilling. Knowing the mystery will likely never be solved is both sad and disappointing. Fifty years later, we might have enjoyed the Jimi Hendrix experience, but we still don’t have the complete Jimi Hendrix story.
Wild Thing takes us through Jimi’s short life – from his difficult and troubling childhood, with a father he was always trying to impress, to his struggles to break into the music industry, the challenges he faced touring as a black man, his triumphs and his ultimate tragic end. I have always loved Jimi Hendrix’s music so I found all the little things I never knew about him to be fascinating. This book really brought home to me the racial prejudice and discrimination he would have experienced during those years. It’s hard to imagine a rock star of his legendary status having to search for places to eat on the road, because so many eateries served ‘whites only’. Realising his entire music history was a constant uphill battle, in ways that other musicians didn’t experience, made me respect him even more than I already did.
We’re treated to glimpses into the lives of other well known celebrities, as they related to Jimi’s story, and I was surprised to learn of the connections between some of them. The world needed Jimi Hendrix, but it destroyed him too. The sheer number of different people trying to influence his life and pull him into their orbit was staggering. It was clear, from the stories in this book, he left a lasting impression on almost everyone he met.
The information surrounding his death, and the questions that have been long unanswered, was chilling. Knowing the mystery will likely never be solved is both sad and disappointing. Fifty years later, we might have enjoyed the Jimi Hendrix experience, but we still don’t have the complete Jimi Hendrix story.
March 22, 2022
Stellenweise ganz gut recherchiert, fast durchgehend grauenvoll geschrieben. Ich war gleich am Anfang bisschen raus, wo Philip Norman Jimi Hendrix einfach ins Heavy Metal Genre einordnet, like what. Er hat zwar Grundsteine fürs Heavy Metal gelegt, aber war kein Heavy Metal-Musiker.
Bei manchen Themen haut er auch unglaublich unsensible Wortwahl raus, vor allem wenn es um Tod geht.
Norman schreibt anhimmelnd und wirkt als wäre es eine Wunschwelt für ihn, die Jimi Hendrix da lebt.
Ist wohl Normans trademark, wenn man andere Reviews liest.
Fertig gelesen hab ich das Buch letztendlich nur wegen Jimi Hendrix.
Bei manchen Themen haut er auch unglaublich unsensible Wortwahl raus, vor allem wenn es um Tod geht.
Norman schreibt anhimmelnd und wirkt als wäre es eine Wunschwelt für ihn, die Jimi Hendrix da lebt.
Ist wohl Normans trademark, wenn man andere Reviews liest.
Fertig gelesen hab ich das Buch letztendlich nur wegen Jimi Hendrix.
October 21, 2025
Im Großen und Ganzen eine sehr gelungene Biografie. Interessant waren vor allem die Widersprüche bezüglich Jimis Todesumstände. An der ein oder anderen Stelle zog sich das Buch etwas, darum nur 4*.
July 31, 2020
My wife was able to receive this book from Netgalley for an honest review. Knowing that I am not only a huge rock and roll fan but that I have been listening to Hendrix since before we got together, and I still listen to him to this day. I grew up in a small desert town that had just one record store and back in the late 60’s early 70’s when my parents would go grocery shopping I was allowed to go next door to the music store, would not happen in this day and age. Playing on the turntable was a 45 of Hendrix doing the Star Spangled Banner from Woodstock, had my allowance bought that and Are you Experience, even though the album had me out a while when I bought it I was 11 and yes my father was upset but I had already opened it and that afternoon was listening to it still have it still listen to it. Worked at getting my children to see his brilliance, wife not so much.
Back to the book. An excellent story of his life from childhood and then into his time with the 101st until he was discharged. Then goes into his travels around to various small bands he played learning his craft. Playing then with the Isley Brothers band and then leaving them for Little Richard. He would also played with Curtis Knight, but in 66 he moved to England and Linda Keith who at the time helped him to be discovered, she was a model and was dating Keith Richards, but introduce Jimi to Chas Chandler who was with the Animals. After he heard him he knew he was onto someone different. Linda was also cousin to Free guitarist Paul Kossoff, so she knew as well. This leads you to when he is with different people making music and he turns up all the nobs to the highest which no one had done before and plays. Everyone their still to this day says it was magical and his music was born.
You have then whisked away through many women, different tours in Europe and the U.S. wanting to get his music out, one album was done wanting to do more. It felt like constant movement constant travel never being able to breathe then you add the drugs it was a never-ending cycle. You do get a look at different concerts but also at how many people were pulling at him, this would continue after his death as people would fight over his rights. Just the thing is sad. His music is and was great just everyone or the business was not. Overall a really good book and very much worth the read. Received this book from Netgalley.com Gave it 5 stars. Follow us at
www.1rad-readerreviews.com
Back to the book. An excellent story of his life from childhood and then into his time with the 101st until he was discharged. Then goes into his travels around to various small bands he played learning his craft. Playing then with the Isley Brothers band and then leaving them for Little Richard. He would also played with Curtis Knight, but in 66 he moved to England and Linda Keith who at the time helped him to be discovered, she was a model and was dating Keith Richards, but introduce Jimi to Chas Chandler who was with the Animals. After he heard him he knew he was onto someone different. Linda was also cousin to Free guitarist Paul Kossoff, so she knew as well. This leads you to when he is with different people making music and he turns up all the nobs to the highest which no one had done before and plays. Everyone their still to this day says it was magical and his music was born.
You have then whisked away through many women, different tours in Europe and the U.S. wanting to get his music out, one album was done wanting to do more. It felt like constant movement constant travel never being able to breathe then you add the drugs it was a never-ending cycle. You do get a look at different concerts but also at how many people were pulling at him, this would continue after his death as people would fight over his rights. Just the thing is sad. His music is and was great just everyone or the business was not. Overall a really good book and very much worth the read. Received this book from Netgalley.com Gave it 5 stars. Follow us at
www.1rad-readerreviews.com
March 3, 2021
Ich bin ein grosser Musikfan aber nur ein kleiner Jimi Hendrix Fan.
Als er starb war ich gerade mal 17 Jahre alt und habe mich mehr für ruhige Rockmusik interessiert. Von den Hendrix-Songs hörte ich nur die 10 besten Hits und der Rest blieb mir ein Rätsel.
Zu seinem 50. Todestag erschien diese Biografie und ich habe mich auf eine Zeitreise in die späten '60er gemacht. Ich fand das Buch sehr ausführlich und interessant geschrieben. Der Mensch "Hendrix" war wohl völlig anders als der Musiker Hendrix auf der Bühne.
Besonders die vielen verschiedenen Versionen seines Todes sind hier schockierend nachzulesen. Ein gutes und musikalisches Buch. Höre zurzeit wieder mehr Hendrix :-)
Als er starb war ich gerade mal 17 Jahre alt und habe mich mehr für ruhige Rockmusik interessiert. Von den Hendrix-Songs hörte ich nur die 10 besten Hits und der Rest blieb mir ein Rätsel.
Zu seinem 50. Todestag erschien diese Biografie und ich habe mich auf eine Zeitreise in die späten '60er gemacht. Ich fand das Buch sehr ausführlich und interessant geschrieben. Der Mensch "Hendrix" war wohl völlig anders als der Musiker Hendrix auf der Bühne.
Besonders die vielen verschiedenen Versionen seines Todes sind hier schockierend nachzulesen. Ein gutes und musikalisches Buch. Höre zurzeit wieder mehr Hendrix :-)
April 9, 2025
Dutiful survey
I have reviewed Norman's autobiography, his bios of Lennon, Harrison, and McCartney, Clapton, and Jagger. I liked his takes on the 60s and rock culture, and he's a reliable storyteller who mingles appreciation, critique, and investigation smoothly. But as he opens this on Jimi, he admits he had tired of chronicling the scene he helped publicize as a young contemporary, and document as a veteran scribe.
And so this tale becomes more straightforward reporting. I wanted to find out about an aspect probably far less prominent. Yet one that Norman shares, as his family background improbably overlaps, as does mine, with Hendrix' birthplace. I'd always assumed that, it being 1942, his father had moved there to work in the aircraft industry during WWII, as so many blacks from the South had been drawn to then. Yet, turns out his father's parents had stayed in Vancouver in 1919, after their tour in a minstrel show, to settle down. Jimi was born across the border, as was my father-in-law, around the same time as Al Hendricks (earlier spelling). And he went too the same high school of Garfield in the ethnically mixed Central District of the city, as would Jimi, who dropped out in 1960. But I didn't find out much beyond his unhappy teens, raised by a tough paternal figure who reminded me uneasily of the tyrants who spawned Beach Boys and the Jackson clans, eerily. However, I did glimpse a sense of a Seattle more integrated at least in the first half of the past century than its stereotypes may lead readers today to think. And, Jimi was equally proud of his native Cherokee roots, which caused some uneasiness in his later career when his dalliances to gain street credibility among Black Panthers, Harlem militants, and Miles Davis caused the FBI to take notice. Norman attends to this as he examines the rumors that Jimi was done in by foul play rather than far too much red wine.
As for the music, it gets less fanfare. Norman prefers to tell of the dalliances, discrimination, drugs, and debauchery as expected in any look at this icon. Still, it moves along efficiently, similar to the parallel arcs of Eric and Mick. It's fine, but the drawn out doings of the various managerial, sexual, chemical, and logistical complications accompanying fame and its discontents rouse less than they chasten.
I have reviewed Norman's autobiography, his bios of Lennon, Harrison, and McCartney, Clapton, and Jagger. I liked his takes on the 60s and rock culture, and he's a reliable storyteller who mingles appreciation, critique, and investigation smoothly. But as he opens this on Jimi, he admits he had tired of chronicling the scene he helped publicize as a young contemporary, and document as a veteran scribe.
And so this tale becomes more straightforward reporting. I wanted to find out about an aspect probably far less prominent. Yet one that Norman shares, as his family background improbably overlaps, as does mine, with Hendrix' birthplace. I'd always assumed that, it being 1942, his father had moved there to work in the aircraft industry during WWII, as so many blacks from the South had been drawn to then. Yet, turns out his father's parents had stayed in Vancouver in 1919, after their tour in a minstrel show, to settle down. Jimi was born across the border, as was my father-in-law, around the same time as Al Hendricks (earlier spelling). And he went too the same high school of Garfield in the ethnically mixed Central District of the city, as would Jimi, who dropped out in 1960. But I didn't find out much beyond his unhappy teens, raised by a tough paternal figure who reminded me uneasily of the tyrants who spawned Beach Boys and the Jackson clans, eerily. However, I did glimpse a sense of a Seattle more integrated at least in the first half of the past century than its stereotypes may lead readers today to think. And, Jimi was equally proud of his native Cherokee roots, which caused some uneasiness in his later career when his dalliances to gain street credibility among Black Panthers, Harlem militants, and Miles Davis caused the FBI to take notice. Norman attends to this as he examines the rumors that Jimi was done in by foul play rather than far too much red wine.
As for the music, it gets less fanfare. Norman prefers to tell of the dalliances, discrimination, drugs, and debauchery as expected in any look at this icon. Still, it moves along efficiently, similar to the parallel arcs of Eric and Mick. It's fine, but the drawn out doings of the various managerial, sexual, chemical, and logistical complications accompanying fame and its discontents rouse less than they chasten.
April 25, 2022
Jimi’s incandesent brilliance was so good to remember, and to reflect upon. astonishing talent, sexual addiction, overuse of substances, and all of the things that can make a life like a comet streaking across the sky. Brilliant but brief. A cautionary tale. A shame particularly as one cumulatively realizes all of the leeches that are drawn to that level of talent . Some of the leeches were source materials for this biography. Just makes me shake my head. Oddly, some bits of it reminded me of Marilyn Monroe. this was a really interesting read for me because I knew several of the local Seattle characters and had met many of the other characters (BB King, Little Richard, Buddy Miles). And having been married to the lead guitarist of the Fabulous Wailers Rich Dangel, had heard stories about many of the rest.
But it was a biography written by an author who has written biographies of numerous other musicians. Has a churned out for the 50th Anniversary feel. I would’ve liked a bit more soul.
But it was a biography written by an author who has written biographies of numerous other musicians. Has a churned out for the 50th Anniversary feel. I would’ve liked a bit more soul.
February 28, 2024
Guitarist, singer , lothario Jimi Hendrix during his short 27 years created a legend that has far outlived him.
He died with barely any money but his estate is now worth over 80 million according to this book.
The guitarist every other guitarist looks up to , he tops every serious guitar poll out there.
He turned Clapton the God into a wanna be and blew the others away.
He created a playing style many have tried to emulate but none have equalled .
From the point he took on the name Jimi Hendrix and was discovered by Linda Keith in NYC , his fame lasted a mere 4 years till his tragic suspicious death in London.
The book does a good job in covering his early years, then when he was a sideman for others till his decision to go on his own and form his band with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell that started it all.
Ripped off like by management like many others were in the 60s.
Vale Jimi you'll never be forgotten.
He died with barely any money but his estate is now worth over 80 million according to this book.
The guitarist every other guitarist looks up to , he tops every serious guitar poll out there.
He turned Clapton the God into a wanna be and blew the others away.
He created a playing style many have tried to emulate but none have equalled .
From the point he took on the name Jimi Hendrix and was discovered by Linda Keith in NYC , his fame lasted a mere 4 years till his tragic suspicious death in London.
The book does a good job in covering his early years, then when he was a sideman for others till his decision to go on his own and form his band with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell that started it all.
Ripped off like by management like many others were in the 60s.
Vale Jimi you'll never be forgotten.
March 7, 2023
Even with the spelling mistakes this is a small confusing window in the life if one of the greatest musician and dreamer. What a waste of talent, and why is genius the twin of self destruction. Sweet dream beautiful boy, thank you for sharing your vision and imagination of musical heaven. Bless your soul and your spirit keeps rising.
June 21, 2021
If you aren't an expert on Hendrix, this is a serviceable biography, but the ARC I read was full of typos and factual errors (Mike Nesmith is not dead!). I hope those will be corrected in the final edition.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 25, 2020
an interesting story about Jimi's life, which gives you new insights, nevertheless I miss the impact on the music and the musicians around the world. I guess that's to be read in other books.
December 20, 2020
I enjoyed this, easy to read, great pics and new info from those close to Jimi.
January 17, 2021
3.5 stars
November 23, 2023
Really intresting and changes your perception of jimi.
August 7, 2017
A rather charming set of nine stories from the early 1970s, ostensibly inspired by various facets of early rock and soul music, arranged like the tracks on an album. Some of the prose gets very purple in a few places. However, the simpler portraits of real characters - as in "Blues Next Door", where a retired bluesman now in the north of England with his brassy, young Derbyshire wife and daughter plays one more show - are delivered with honest affection. A dusty groove but still entertaining.
December 6, 2020
The proofreading of this book is questionable. Many errors across the entire book. A particular annoyance "Pugin" Sound instead of Puget Sound...
July 27, 2021
A serviceable although far from definitive rock biography of Jimi Hendrix, Seattle's most famous musician. The book is by Philip Norman, a British journalist who's made a career of rock biographies.
On the factual side, the book covers the basics, and I learned much about Hendrix's life that I hadn't known before, such as his Native American roots, his childhood nickname (Buster), his brief service in the military, his love of science fiction, his fondness for women’s thrift clothing, and his association with Little Richard, Ray Charles, the Isley Brothers, and Miles Davis. Musically, the book doesn't try to interpret or assess Hendrix's genius or talent, instead focusing on his provocative style and showmanship. Later, the book sinks into a foreboding sense of doom, anticipating Hendrix's early demise and his membership in the "27 club."
Norman devotes the last fifth of the book on controversies surrounding Hendrix's death, something I could have done without. Personally, I don't believe Hendrix's death in the Samarkand Hotel’s basement bedsit was a political assassination. Rock stars tend to overdose a lot. Why? Because they do more drugs.
Between the monotonous accounts of Hendrix's fleeting groupie flings, some occasionally tender moments surface that shed some light on Hendrix's humble, soft-spoken character. For instance, here's a precious recollection from a friend, reporter Sharon Lawrence:
I'd never been a rabid Hendrix fan, so this biography also forced me to reevaluate his music. I spent a few hours sampling his music online, and found that his distortion-heavy Woodstock performance pales in comparison to Santana's legendary Soul Sacrifice performance. However, then I rediscovered Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower. Pure guitar genius, especially the solo, and his limited-range vocals really shine. I can't stop playing it.
On the factual side, the book covers the basics, and I learned much about Hendrix's life that I hadn't known before, such as his Native American roots, his childhood nickname (Buster), his brief service in the military, his love of science fiction, his fondness for women’s thrift clothing, and his association with Little Richard, Ray Charles, the Isley Brothers, and Miles Davis. Musically, the book doesn't try to interpret or assess Hendrix's genius or talent, instead focusing on his provocative style and showmanship. Later, the book sinks into a foreboding sense of doom, anticipating Hendrix's early demise and his membership in the "27 club."
Norman devotes the last fifth of the book on controversies surrounding Hendrix's death, something I could have done without. Personally, I don't believe Hendrix's death in the Samarkand Hotel’s basement bedsit was a political assassination. Rock stars tend to overdose a lot. Why? Because they do more drugs.
Between the monotonous accounts of Hendrix's fleeting groupie flings, some occasionally tender moments surface that shed some light on Hendrix's humble, soft-spoken character. For instance, here's a precious recollection from a friend, reporter Sharon Lawrence:
"Jimi was an unformed character, but highly intelligent—and about so much more than music and sex and going to a party. When he was really happy, his face would light up and he'd be in the mood for talking. If I got tired of the crowd in that house and said I was going home to read a magazine, he'd say, 'Can I read it after you?'"
I'd never been a rabid Hendrix fan, so this biography also forced me to reevaluate his music. I spent a few hours sampling his music online, and found that his distortion-heavy Woodstock performance pales in comparison to Santana's legendary Soul Sacrifice performance. However, then I rediscovered Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's All Along the Watchtower. Pure guitar genius, especially the solo, and his limited-range vocals really shine. I can't stop playing it.
March 20, 2022
The short, tragic yet oftentimes stellar life of Jimi Hendrix was a fascinating read. Born and raised in Seattle, enduring a sad and traumatic childhood, Jimi finds his true love, a guitar. Early on in his career, he plays with Curtis Knight and the Squires, the Isley Brothers and Joey D and the Starlits(Peppermint Twist). He certainly paid his dues as he began exploring different types of music, clothing, and creating the Jimi Hendrix we all remember.
I learned a lot about Jimi, his very deep and searching side of himself.
He was used and abused by so many...trusting as he was.
I rejoiced in Jimi's successes and the famous rock personas he met along the way. The author takes you through "The Jimi Hendrix Experience," his inspiration for many of his classic songs, and what his life was like living in London and Greenwich Village, New York.
The ending section was beyond sad. He was a searcher, explorer and a risk taker. He just did not surround himself with honest people. Perhaps you might call it nativete or the need to focus on the music, versus managers, money grubbers, users and abusers, and life in general.
He's now a part of the notorious 27 club, all gone too soon.
Yet it tore at my heart his need for oneness with someone...and all his life he searched for that one. When he met a woman he truly cared about, he'd say, "You remind me of my mother." He never got over his early losses, and a creative genius was gone far too soon.
I was quite surprised with a professional publisher such as W.W. Norton, that so many omissions, misspellings, typos abounded in this book. That's a real disappointment, because there's no reason for such oversights. I hope the book is republished with a proper copywriter and editing job. It often distracted from the narrative, and this is a shame. Otherwise, this is a very interesting, gossipy, and chock full of tidbits biography.
I learned a lot about Jimi, his very deep and searching side of himself.
He was used and abused by so many...trusting as he was.
I rejoiced in Jimi's successes and the famous rock personas he met along the way. The author takes you through "The Jimi Hendrix Experience," his inspiration for many of his classic songs, and what his life was like living in London and Greenwich Village, New York.
The ending section was beyond sad. He was a searcher, explorer and a risk taker. He just did not surround himself with honest people. Perhaps you might call it nativete or the need to focus on the music, versus managers, money grubbers, users and abusers, and life in general.
He's now a part of the notorious 27 club, all gone too soon.
Yet it tore at my heart his need for oneness with someone...and all his life he searched for that one. When he met a woman he truly cared about, he'd say, "You remind me of my mother." He never got over his early losses, and a creative genius was gone far too soon.
I was quite surprised with a professional publisher such as W.W. Norton, that so many omissions, misspellings, typos abounded in this book. That's a real disappointment, because there's no reason for such oversights. I hope the book is republished with a proper copywriter and editing job. It often distracted from the narrative, and this is a shame. Otherwise, this is a very interesting, gossipy, and chock full of tidbits biography.
September 13, 2023
Wild Thing is a fact-based biography of Jimi Hendrix by Philip Norman, a writer and journalist who has authored many books on other rock stars previously. In the prologue Norman states that he had no desire to write another book on a musician before embarking on this work on Hendrix. But the opportunity to mark the anniversary of his death in 2020 may have been to good to miss.
Norman documents the life of Hendrix from birth to his death in 1970. Compared to the current trend of ‘heritage’ rock acts to tour almost continuously, Hendrix career was over in the blink of an eye. And so over 3/4 of the book focuses on the short period of four years in which he became the highest paid performer in the world at the time.
Between ‘66 and ‘70 Hendrix’s life was a punishing tour schedule fuelled by drugs and sexual relationships with a great many women. Norman documents this in detail, but makes scant reference to his music. Hendrix was a pioneer of the rock guitar and it would have made a greater tribute to emphasise this in preference to tales of ‘groupies’ and substance abuse.
However, in all the gory detail it’s hard to remember how young he and his associates were at the time of his death. Hendrix was 27, and three of the key women in his life Monika Dannemann, Kathy Etchingham and Linda Keith were 25, 24 and 24 respectively. Keith (who at the time was the girlfriend of Kieth Richards) was only 20 when she ‘discovered’ Hendrix in 1966, which I find astonishing.
I found the epilogue that covers the various theories on the cause of Hendrix death, the wrangling over the estate and various dependencies a bit superfluous.
Postscript: it was disappointing to find so many typos in this book. It’s rare to find one, but it was spoilt by dozens of them.
Norman documents the life of Hendrix from birth to his death in 1970. Compared to the current trend of ‘heritage’ rock acts to tour almost continuously, Hendrix career was over in the blink of an eye. And so over 3/4 of the book focuses on the short period of four years in which he became the highest paid performer in the world at the time.
Between ‘66 and ‘70 Hendrix’s life was a punishing tour schedule fuelled by drugs and sexual relationships with a great many women. Norman documents this in detail, but makes scant reference to his music. Hendrix was a pioneer of the rock guitar and it would have made a greater tribute to emphasise this in preference to tales of ‘groupies’ and substance abuse.
However, in all the gory detail it’s hard to remember how young he and his associates were at the time of his death. Hendrix was 27, and three of the key women in his life Monika Dannemann, Kathy Etchingham and Linda Keith were 25, 24 and 24 respectively. Keith (who at the time was the girlfriend of Kieth Richards) was only 20 when she ‘discovered’ Hendrix in 1966, which I find astonishing.
I found the epilogue that covers the various theories on the cause of Hendrix death, the wrangling over the estate and various dependencies a bit superfluous.
Postscript: it was disappointing to find so many typos in this book. It’s rare to find one, but it was spoilt by dozens of them.
September 2, 2022
This is a welcome refresh of an old subject, but an old subject that's still sore, still hurts, with still too many questions. This book resolves many of those, and while I will not discard Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky it's now obvious where Scuse Me is incomplete or just made up .
There are minor errors, but too many for this book to receive 5 stars. Many of those are in punctuation and sentence structure, but not all. I think the accepted version of "Keith Richards" is exactly that; referring to him as "Richard" in some places and "Richards" in others does not inspire confidence in the research. This book is about rock and it's not as if Keith Richards played a minor part here.
Now I have more reasons to love "The Wind Cries Mary" and "Spanish Castle Magic", Marshall stacks, the Isle of Wight, and London. Poor, wrapped up, confused Brian Jones actually contributed to "All Along the Watchtower," which I didn't know. I have more reasons to hate Al Hendrix and Mike Jeffery now too.
The portrayals of Miles Davis were enlightening, partly because the intersections between Jimi and practically everyone else are incredible. Though Miles could be racist, I find him hard to dislike. I can visualize MD turning some discussion intensity up to 11 with Jimi, and Jimi just tuning the cat into another dimension.
In the end too many people wanted a piece, and Jimi wasn't cut out for it all.
There are minor errors, but too many for this book to receive 5 stars. Many of those are in punctuation and sentence structure, but not all. I think the accepted version of "Keith Richards" is exactly that; referring to him as "Richard" in some places and "Richards" in others does not inspire confidence in the research. This book is about rock and it's not as if Keith Richards played a minor part here.
Now I have more reasons to love "The Wind Cries Mary" and "Spanish Castle Magic", Marshall stacks, the Isle of Wight, and London. Poor, wrapped up, confused Brian Jones actually contributed to "All Along the Watchtower," which I didn't know. I have more reasons to hate Al Hendrix and Mike Jeffery now too.
The portrayals of Miles Davis were enlightening, partly because the intersections between Jimi and practically everyone else are incredible. Though Miles could be racist, I find him hard to dislike. I can visualize MD turning some discussion intensity up to 11 with Jimi, and Jimi just tuning the cat into another dimension.
In the end too many people wanted a piece, and Jimi wasn't cut out for it all.
April 29, 2021
It is almost a decade since I read Shapiro and Glebeek's Hendrix biography, so Norman's 2020 'Wild Thing' edition in my local library 'new books' section was a natural selection.
Phillip Norman has an ever expanding catalogue of highly regarded 'poptastic' biographies, and this work on Jimi Hendrix may well become the definitive addition to a long line of publications that have covered the short, spellbinding life of this great sixties axeman.
I gave Shapiro and Glebeek's 'Electric Gypsy' a four star rating and I find it easy to go one better with 'Wild Thing'.
The biography is so well researched and written, providing various details of 'Buster's' early life in Seattle as well as his music career, pre Chas Chandler, that I found new to me. Norman brings his subject to life without the usual pop biographical over reliance on tour and discography details. The tragic and cloudy facts of Jimi's demise are also covered in a level-headed and thorough manner. If the suspicions of dark forces behind his death are true, as per Alex Constantine, this author simply delivers the known facts and does not fall into conspiracy theory, but documents their existence.
I purchased 'All Along the Watchtower' on 45rpm on its release and Norman's conquest of Jimi's life and career is a great nostalgia trip for me.
Phillip Norman has an ever expanding catalogue of highly regarded 'poptastic' biographies, and this work on Jimi Hendrix may well become the definitive addition to a long line of publications that have covered the short, spellbinding life of this great sixties axeman.
I gave Shapiro and Glebeek's 'Electric Gypsy' a four star rating and I find it easy to go one better with 'Wild Thing'.
The biography is so well researched and written, providing various details of 'Buster's' early life in Seattle as well as his music career, pre Chas Chandler, that I found new to me. Norman brings his subject to life without the usual pop biographical over reliance on tour and discography details. The tragic and cloudy facts of Jimi's demise are also covered in a level-headed and thorough manner. If the suspicions of dark forces behind his death are true, as per Alex Constantine, this author simply delivers the known facts and does not fall into conspiracy theory, but documents their existence.
I purchased 'All Along the Watchtower' on 45rpm on its release and Norman's conquest of Jimi's life and career is a great nostalgia trip for me.
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