So many of my music loving friends on Facebook reminded me that today would have been Jimi Hendrix's 70th birthday. When I was in 2nd grade I fell in love with Hendrix -- what can I say‚ I was lucky to have friends with really cool older brothers. His music hit hard right from the start. It sounded so free and powerful. And it was just so bad ass and mysterious. It made MTV‚ Michael Jackson‚ Van Halen and whatever other music I was consuming in the early 80s seem so packaged, watered down and tame. I guess listening to Hendrix at that age was my first transcendental experience with music. Without being able to put my finger on it and explain it‚ I was experiencing music's power and potential.
Here's a live shot of "I Don't Live Today" from 1969 -- my favorite song when I was a kid. As anecdotal as it may be‚ I think what sets Jimi apart and solidifies him in that higher echelon of musicians is that no matter what age I am‚ he always sounds fucking brilliant.
Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys