By Martin H. Rots

Who murdered Jimi Hendrix?  That's right, I said murdered, because there are too many unanswered questions to assume he died a natural or accidental death.  There have been many theories as to how Hendrix died and he himself seemed to have a preoccupation and awareness that his life would be short.  It is reflected in the lyrics of If 6 Was 9 and Hear My Train A Comin' (Get My Heart Back Together).  Somehow, Jimi knew he would be a shooting star, brilliant and intense in the night sky, but gone almost as soon as you were aware of his existence.

September 18, 2010 marks the fortieth anniversary of his death.  Only a few days previous to Jimi's passing, I had lunch with my girlfriend and her brother, who had been working as a roadie for Hendrix.  He (he shall remain anonymous) had just come home and he told us of his adventures on the road and his disillusionment with Jimi over his use of heroin.  He had enlisted in the army to pursue an education in electronics.  Quite a change from the rock and roll lifestyle he had been living.  That lunch would be the last time I saw either one of them.  His sister and I broke up over the phone a few days later. 

Before starting what would be his final U.S. tour, Hendrix spent several days in Los Angeles recording at the Record Plant.  On April 25, 1970 he began his Cry of Love Tour with a performance at the Forum in Los Angeles followed the next day with a gig at Cal Expo in Sacramento California.  From Sacramento, Jimi began a grueling tour that was almost uninterrupted until he reached New York City and his Electric Lady Studios  on July 1.  He spent two days working in the studio before flying to Georgia for The Atlanta International Pop Festival.  From Atlanta, he continued the tour, which ended in Honolulu on August 1.  Hendrix took a few weeks off to relax and recover in Hawaii before returning to New York and Electric Lady Studios for what would be his final studio sessions. 

On August 27, Hendrix flew from New York to Heathrow in London for a series of interviews preceding his performance at the Isle of Wight Festival on August 30.  Isle of Wight was a disaster from the beginning.  Unruly crowds booed his appearance, but an indifferent Hendrix didn't care.  His set had been rescheduled due to rain and as a precautionary measure against electrocution.  From the Isle of Wight, Hendrix headed to Scandinavia for concerts in Sweden and Denmark.  From Copenhagen, Denmark, Hendrix went to Germany for two final concerts.  One in Berlin and his final concert appearance on September 6, at the Love and Peace Festival on the Isle of Fehmarn.  At the conclusion of his performance, Hendrix immediately flew back to London for some much needed rest and checked into the Cumberland Hotel where he had two suites reserved, but would seldom use during his last days.  In less than two weeks, Jimi would be dead.

It was at this time that a number of people important in Hendrix's life began to converge on London.  Alan Douglas and his wife Stella flew in from New York with Jimi's long-time lover, Devon Wilson, in tow.  Monika Dannemann, Jimi's German girlfriend and former figure skater arrived and took a flat at the Samarkand Hotel in Notting Hill to await the arrival of her "fiancé."  In addition to Devon and Monica, London was the home of Kathy Etchingham, Hendrix's English liaison.  Also in town was Alvina Bridges, Hendrix's former pre-fame New York girlfriend whom he hadn't seen in over two years.  His first week in London, Hendrix spent nights at the flat of American, Debbie Toomey, in Fulham.

Jimi's first few days in London were spent tending to his friend and bass player, Billy Cox, who had been unknowingly slipped LSD.  Unprepared for the hallucinogenic drug's effects, Cox proceeded to have a mental breakdown and became exceedingly paranoid, in fear for his life.  Cox wanted to return to the United States, but Hendrix convinced his old army buddy to stay in London for a few days while his mental condition stabilized.  When he felt more at ease, Cox returned to his parent's home in Pennsylvania.  Cox continued in the music business, but his rock star days as bassist for Jimi Hendrix were now behind him. 

On September 10, Hendrix attended a party for Mike Nesmith of the Monkees at the Inn on the Park Hotel with his friend, Record Mirror journalist Keith Altman.  Nesmith first heard Hendrix while having dinner in London with members of the Beatles and Eric Clapton.  John Lennon played him a tape on a small reel to reel at the table after they ate and raved about Jimi's recent London performance.  Hendrix and Nesmith had become friendly when the Jimi Hendrix Experience had toured America, opening for the Monkees.  The relationship between the bands had ended when Hendrix grew weary of the fourteen year old girls continually screaming for the Monkees throughout his set.  He left the tour with no hard feelings, having suitably impressed the manufactured Monkees with his talent.  Hendrix continued his personal relationship with all of them as witnessed by his attendance at the party.  The next day, Hendrix gave his last interview to Altman in his suite at the Cumberland Hotel.  It would be published posthumously. 

Hendrix didn't know it, but he only had one week left to live.

Next: The last week of Jimi Hendrix's life in the next installment of Who Murdered Jimi Hendrix?