Book report2

KOHEI YOKOMI

Amy Lee

Writing&Reading645

May 17

Book Repot Opinion Paper (500)

The best guitarist, but the pitiful star, Jimi Hendrix

              I read "JIMI HENDRIX",the biography about Jimi Hendrix written by SHARON LAWRENCE. I have played the guitar since I was in middle school, so I knew Jimi Hendrix. But I didn`t know about his personality and his death. To summarize, the author was working as a musical journalist and she was a close friend of Jimi Hendrix. In this book, the author writes about him as his close friend. Jimi Hendrix is born in1942 in Seattle, Washington. When he is born , his mother Lucile Hendrix is 17 years old. She doesn`t take care about family so much because she is too young. She leaves from the house, and a couple of years later, she dies. Therefore, Jimi lives with his father, but their relationship is not so good and they are poor. As a lot of musician did, Hendrix also learns how to play the guitar by listening to records. He joins some amateur bands and gains experience. At first he is an unknown back musician, but in 1966, the bassist of the Animaus, Chas Chandler notices his talent as a musician and he lets Jimi go to the U.K. Hendrix forms the band, “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell. Their debut single, “ Hey Joe & Stone Free” is great hits, and Jimi becomes the star. His career looks going well, but the relationship between members or staff gets bad gradually because of the very tight schedule and mental pressure. He also depends on drugs, so gradually he becomes strange. The author met him a lot of time, and he confesses the author about what he worries. She tries to encourage him but he dies in 1970 because of the sleeping drug. It is unknown that he committed suicide, but he was distressed by a lot of things before his death.

              I think this book is really helpful to understand Jimi Hendrix because firstly I can know his personality deeply. In this book, there are a lot of story about him and his words. For example, through the talking between him and the author, we can understand he was really humorous, polite, and shy man. Secondly, we can know his music. For example, some of his songs were influenced by his experience when he was young. For example, Jimi is left with his grandmother. She lives is Indian Reservation, Jimi sees Indians who are poor. “I Don`t Live Today” was made from this experience. You also know his idea about music through his words. Thirdly, we can know what he was like before his death. He dies early like some famous rockers. Before he dies, Jimi calls the author, and it is painful. He says that he needs the brake because he is busy and tired from his tight schedule, but his father takes care only about money, how much he earns. His play is getting worse rapidly before his death. An promoter calls the author and says Hendrix really screwed up at his concert. He stumbled all over the stage and he was incapable of playing a whole show. The author tries to encourage him, but he dies suddenly by the influence of sleeping drugs. I really understand his hardship. He is a star and respected as a best guitarist, but he was also pitiful man. For that reasons, I recommend this book if you wants to know about Jimi Hendrix.(567)