Excuse me while I kiss the Sky
On the 18th September 1970 I walked into Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station, on my way home on leave, when I saw a bill-board announcing 'Jimi Hendrix Is Dead', what, I wonder, would he have been doing today had not tragedy struck?
At long last today I finally paid tribute to the Greatest Hero of my lifetime, Jimi Hendrix. Sunshine had been hoped for while visiting the tomb of not only a legendary guitarist but a philosopher, poet, innovator, inspiration and much more, but the overnight rain had persisted making for a very gloomy Downtown Renton.
Jimi's grave (his second as he was moved from his first resting place) lies in the tranquil Greenwood Memorial Park, in the small Seattle superb.
Number One Fan awaiting the 'Slight Return'!Each of the 3 interior walls hold a depiction of the Man, which has below it on a table of marble a copy of the original written lyric of one of his compositions.
Angel - Angel came down from heaven yesterday, she stayed with me just long enough to rescue me. And she told me a story yesterday, about the sweet love between the moon and the deep blue sea.And then she spread her wings high over me, and said she's gonna come back tomorrow.
Little Wing - Well she's walking through the clouds, with a circus mind that's running round. Butterflies and zebras and moonbeams and fairy tales. That's all she ever thinks about 'riding with the wind'.
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Well, I stand up next to a mountain, and I chop it down with the edge of my hand. Well, I pick up all the pieces and make an island, might even raise a little sand. Yeah, 'cause I'm a voodoo child, Lord knows I'm a voodoo child!
PS - My house is named 'Slight Return'.
Detail of some of the stonework around the plinth.
PS - My house is named 'Slight Return'.
Detail of some of the stonework around the plinth.
The commemorative plaque from Jimi's original grave.
A number of Jimi's ancestors have also been move to the site including his father Al and step-mother Ayako.
The Sun DialHendrix Trivia!
The Jimi Hendrix Experience'Mitch' Mitchell, Jimi, Noel Redding
Chas Chandler of the Animals 'found' Jimi and brought him to England deciding a 3 piece unit would best suit the legend. Auditions were held and Irishman Noel Redding was the unanimous choice as bass player. In the drums department Ainsley Dunbar (ex John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and later to form The Retaliation) and John Ronald 'Mitch' Mitchell were considered equally suitable. The choice was decided by the 'toss of a coin
Hendrix played right-handed guitars upside down. While browsing through some instrument shops in the West End, Eric Clapton found a white, left-handed Stratocaster and bought it for Hendrix. Clapton took the guitar to a Sly and the Family Stone concert at the Lyceum that night, expecting to see Jimi and give him the guitar, but Hendrix never showed up.The next day, he heard that he had died.
'Super Groupie' Cynthia Albritton and Jessica Villines were collectively known in the 60's and 70's as 'The Plaster Casters' making plaster of Paris images of pop stars genitals. Most of the day succumbed to their persuasive powers but Hendrix was the only star to need 2 mixes of plaster!
'Super Groupie' Cynthia Albritton and Jessica Villines were collectively known in the 60's and 70's as 'The Plaster Casters' making plaster of Paris images of pop stars genitals. Most of the day succumbed to their persuasive powers but Hendrix was the only star to need 2 mixes of plaster!
The Plaster CastersIt was reported that after Clapton saw Hendrix for the first time, after the gig he was asked by Kieth Moon of The Who "where are you off to now Eric"? His reply, "home to practice"!
and when asked by the press what it feels like to be the World's Greatest Guitarist, Jimi replied " better go and ask Rory Gallagher" (he idolised the man).
Jimi served with distinction in the 101st Airborne Division before an accident on a parachute jump brought his career to an untimely end.Also within the Greenwood Memorial Park is a most tasteful Japanese cemetery which I felt worth bringing to the readership.
and finally, there were a couple of birds.
When a male Dark-eyed Junco
meets a female Dark-eyed Junco
and have a little canoodle on a wall,
it's inevitable.
Today's White-crowned Sparrow was far more photogenic than yesterday's.After all the Jack's are in their boxes, and the Clowns have all gone to bed. You can hear happiness staggering on down the street, Footprints dressed in red. and the
Wind Whispers Mary!
Wind Whispers Mary!
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