Wild Thing: The Short, Spellbinding Life of Jimi Hendrix

The enduring influence of Jimi Hendrix can still be felt fifty years after his premature death in September 1970. During his meteoric rise into the pantheon of rock and roll, he was admired by his peers, from Eric Clapton to Mick Jagger, his guitar skills and showmanship leaving contemporaries in a bemused state. Jimi was born on November 27, 1942, as Johnny Allen Hendrix, the product of a soon-to-be-frayed union. His mother, Lucille, left Jimi in the care of friends, while father Al was in the Army, stationed in the Pacific. The early loss of his mother and affectionless feelings from his father resonated deep within Jimi. Jimi would take to music from an early age. His father viewed Jimi’s love of music with skepticism, but Jimi nonetheless developed a near-obsession with the guitar. His output would be tragically abbreviated but a treasure nonetheless.

Wild Thing charts the all-too-short life of a fallible but phenomenally talented individual. Author Philip Norman pens a moving and winning biography of Hendrix, chronicling the four-year climb of Hendrix, from the cramped confines of New York clubs to the echoes of Stadium Arenas. Norman provides candid insights into the life of a rock god, his loves, and his aspirations. A notable bio for 2020.