The death of Jimi Hendrix – new book!

Forget the misinformation, the disinformation, the conspiracy theory nonsense,

Jimi Hendrix was NOT murdered, he hadn’t lain dead for hours at the Samarkand Hotel,
and he wasn’t full of wine.
“Contrary to some reports, Jimi was still alive when he reached the hospital.”
– Noel Redding (in his book “Are You Experienced”) 
 
 

Here is some first-hand information from those who were on the scene
at St. Mary Abbot’s Hospital on September 18th 1970:


The medical staff:

“The patient was still alive…”
– John Suau (the ambulanceman who accompanied Jimi to hospital)
from an investigation by Ex Police Superintendent Dennis Care (early 90s)
 
“I heard them [the two doctors] say later that he had died in the ambulance.”
– Walter Pryce (Accident & Emergencies Admissions Officer, St. Mary Abbotts Hospital 1970)
 
“We wouldn’t have worked so hard trying to resuscitate him if he was already dead.”
– Dr. Seifert (Medical Registrar, St. Mary Abbot’s Hospital – September 18th 1970) in a filmed interview in February 2000.
 
“We must have thought that at the time, there was a possibility that we could try and resuscitate him”
– Dr. Seifert in an interview with the BBC in 1995
 
The journalists:

On that fateful day of September 18th 1970, the police and the staff at St. Mary Abbot’s Hospital informed the press
that Hendrix had passed away in the ambulance on the way to the hospital:

“Pop star Jimi Hendrix died in an ambulance yesterday on the way to the hospital”

– David Tune (The Daily Mail)

“A spokesman for the hospital said the 27 year old guitarist was alive
when admitted but died shortly [after] noon”. 
– Peter Goddard (journalist)
 
“The police sources said [Hendrix] was admitted to St. Mary Abbot’s Hospital
at 11:45 and died about one hour afterward….
…A hospital spokesman said first Hendrix was dead on arrival but doctors
who examined him later said he lived for about one hour after admission.” 
– UPI press telex September 18th 1970
 
10 days later, the official inquest confirmed that Jimi wasn’t dead at the Samarkand:
“The inquest into Hendrix’s death was told that he died on the way to hospital,
after being picked up by an ambulance at this building.”

See the video:
> A British TV reporter standing outside The Samarkand Hotel <

 

This didn’t deter the conspiracy theorists.

 

As a fellow researcher once said:

“People believe what they want to believe. The widespread distrust of the authorities (Vietnam war, Watergate, etc. only made it worse)
and a preference towards intrigue and mystery versus the plain boring facts are powerful influences as to what people believe.”

Play Video
 

GOODBYE JIMI

THE TRUTH BEHIND THE TRAGEDY
by James C. Hawthorn

Bonus: The Jimi Hendrix Record Guide, The Jimi Hendrix Video Guide
and a complete, 4-year Jimi Hendrix Timeline.

Available in paperback and hardback editions on Amazon (worldwide).
6″ x 9″ / 336 pages

OUT NOW!

 
 

What people are saying about Goodbye Jimi:

 
Goodbye Jimi significantly improves the Hendrix biographical canon by deflating all the conspiracy theories about Hendrix’s death that have ballooned for decades. More than any other work, it lays bare the elephant-sized drug dependency that killed the singer. While some other biographies have much more original research and explore his entire life, this new one resolves all the mysteries surrounding Hendrix’s death with thoroughness, clarity, and compassion. I will now enjoy Mr. Jimi’s tunes with even more awe that such a terribly troubled artist could still somehow create such an amazing body of wonderful music.
(Douglas Young – Literay Yard)
 
★★★★★
Do we still need a book about the hazy passing of Jimi Hendrix? Hendrix insiders are always interested in a serious account of the course of events during those illustrious final days of this iconic musician. And this is exactly what this book provides us. No gossip or slander, but (new) facts in as clear an overview as possible. For the connoisseurs, this is more Electric Gypsy than Rock Roadie. The biography overview and recent discography are also very informative. My hardcover edition is also beautifully made in terms of color and readability.
(Goodreads)
 
As its title suggests, Goodbye Jimi – The TRUTH Behind The Tragedy explores ground similar to The Final Days Of Jimi Hendrix, published in 1997 by Tony Brown, and Until We Meet Again: The Last Weeks Of Jimi Hendrix, released in 2011 by Caesar Glebbeek. However, James’s work stands out for its distinctive approach, which avoids any sense of repetition.
Quite aptly, the opening chapters revisit key biographical elements of Jimi’s life in order to shed light on the context of his tragic end. Steering clear of media fantasies and score-settling fueled by the premature deaths of some of the guitarist’s associates, James offers a balanced analysis of the relationships between the main figures involved in the tragedy. The book thus skillfully unpacks the complexity of his dealings with Jeffery.
Drawing on meticulous research, this rigorously documented work dispels many myths that, unfortunately, still persist today. James paints a compelling portrait of Jimi and shows how, by September 1970, he was not only exhausted by his lifestyle but had also become highly unstable psychologically and, quite frankly, completely adrift.
In conclusion, as you will have gathered, I wholeheartedly recommend Goodbye Jimi – The TRUTH Behind The Tragedy.
(Fellow Hendrix biographer Régis Canselier on the French Forum Jimi Hendrix)
 
★★★★★
An excellent factual account
A very well researched book. Dispels all the myths and untruths about Jimi’s death. I have read many books and articles about September 18th 1970, and without a doubt this the finest book about that day. Highly Recommended.
(Amazon)
 
★★★★★
Informative book about the legendary Jimi Hendrix
Clearly written book about the business aspects of Jimi’s musical career and the last weeks until his tragic death.
The author meticulously formulates all the mythical theories that have come into circulation over the past 50 years.
(Kees de Lange – Amazon)
 
★★★★★
Well-researched and non-sensational, a must for Hendrix afficionados
“A very well-researched, non-sensational account not just on Jimi’s death, but also on his career with facts I didn’t know, despite having been a Hendrix buff for many years. The section with reviews of records and films works really well context wise as a celebration of one of the greatest artists of all time. The author is behind the indispensable Jimi Hendrix Record Guide site (a fact I wasn’t aware of at the time of purchase). Highly recommended to rock music fans and Hendrix afficionados!”
(Melin Marten – Amazon)
 
★★★★★
Worth it
“Just started reading, but this looks good: clear, to the point without sensation.
It also includes info that was unknown to me as a lifelong fan. Recommended for every fan.”
(Amazon)
 
★★★★★
Very thorough and impressive.
“Very thorough and impressive book. Highly recommended, even though the subject is a sad story.”
(Amazon)
 
★★★
“It’s okay. Would be better if it wasn’t written by someone with an obvious agenda against Buddy Miles, and it seems to be written with an agenda in re: to Jimi’s death…but it’s better than David Whelen’s book on the death of Lennon, so it’s got that going for it. At least.”
(Amazon)
> Fair enough Sir, but don’t forget that it was Jimi himself who had issues with Buddy, and those around him also recognised that Buddy’s playing was inferior to that of Mitch.
Following the acclaimed Le Rêve Inachevé (by Régis Canselier), Good Bye Jimi – The Truth Behind The Tragedy proves that being a longtime fan doesn’t preclude the emotional distance necessary to dissect and reconstruct the musician’s life and work. The subject matter required extensive research, and one truly feels as though one is following a multi-year investigation that unravels the threads of this tragedy. Facts and testimonies are cross-referenced and even re-cross-referenced to make the essential selection needed to reconstruct the artist’s final months and hours as precisely as possible.
While rumors and morbid fantasies, as well as vague conspiracy theories, are swept away—hopefully once and for all—this thorough investigation, conversely, sheds light on his final months of utter psychological turmoil, with Jimi completely drained, both mentally and physically. And the testimonies are revealing; in a way, this end seemed inevitable. Like so many others, in a huge paradox, Hendrix was constantly surrounded by people, but ultimately he was alone, too alone to escape the vicious cycle he was trapped in.
In the end, even for someone who has read most of the reference books, it’s fascinating, moving, and, of course, sometimes harrowing. For me, it’s an excellent complement to the best biographies mentioned on this forum.
To quote the famous Jimi Hendrix Record Guide: Essential. 5 stars
(from the Forum Jimi Hendrix – France)
“Got my copy the other week, it’s a thoroughly good read, and dispels a lot of the myths surrounding jimis untimely death, like all rumours and stories they have all gathered pace over the last 55 plus years, it’s extremely and painfully well researched, I’ve over 70 great books on jimi and this is the most indepth surrounding his death, its more than worth a read, even if you’re not a hendrix fan it’s a great insight into the perils of rock and roll from that era.” 
(Chris Kelly – Facebook)
“Its one of the best Hendrix books and I’ve read a hell of a lot of them…a real page turner…some nice insights into Mike Jeffery too…..a must have for Hendrix fans.”
(Mick Green – Facebook)
 
…and from Steve Hoffman Forums:
  “The book is unusually well edited, comprehensive and a good read. The book makes a great job at dismantling persistent myths.”
“Fantastic (dispelling) read & well written.”
“Great to read a book that isn’t full of gossip, hearsay, lies, innuendo and conspiracy theories surrounding Jimi’s death.”
“Finally a book that dispels all the crap that’s been written about Jimi for the last 55 years. ABSOLUTELY SUPERB.”
 
 

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 “I’m the one that’s gotta die when it’s time for me to die
so let me live my life the way I want to”