“Hey Joe!...where you going with that gun in your hand?”

Jimi Hendrix’s army service records of 1961, released this week, show that he was a lousy marksman, crap at making beds, owed $80 in laundry fees, slept while he was supposed to be working and most embarrassing of all, was caught by two of his fellow grunts jerking off in the dunnies.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0803051jimi1.html has 18 pages of Jimi Hendrix’s service records. And interesting reading they make too.

His commanding officer recommended that Jimi be given an Undesirable Discharge from the United States Army after reports from his Sergeants, Platoon Leader and Army Doctors showed

“The individual is unable to conform to military rules and regulations. Misses bed check; sleeps while supposed to be working; unsatisfactory duty performance. Requires excessive supervision at all times. Was caught masturbating by members of platoon...he appears to be an extreme introvert”.

Hendrix spent a total of 13 months in the army whilst playing guitar in a band when off duty.

His C.O. said: “At times Hendrix isn’t able to carry on an intelligent conversation, paying little attention to having been spoken to. One point it was thought perhaps Hendrix was taking dope and was sent to be examined by a medical officer with negative results. Private Hendrix plays a musical instrument during his off duty hours, or so he says. This is one of his faults, because his mind apparently cannot function while performing duties and thinking about his guitar...I recommend without hesitancy that Hendrix be eliminated from the service as expeditious as possible”.

After leaving the army Hendrix and his black Fender Stratocaster went on to become the greatest rock guitarist the world has ever seen. He played the right-handed Strat. upside-down and left-handed. And was renowned for playing it behind his head, with his teeth and sometimes setting it on fire.

I'm curious. What song do you reckon he might have been penning whilst in the brasco?  Check these lyrics for clues -

A. Wild Thing

Come on man sing it with me

Wild thing, you make my heart sing

oh

you make everything, groovy

wild thing

wild thing I think you move me.

B. All Along the Watchtower

There must be some kind of way out of here

Said the Joker to the thief

There's too much confusion

I can't get no relief

C. Foxy Lady

Ah, baby listen now

I've made up my mind

I'm tired of wasting all my precious time

You've got to be all mine, all mine

Foxy Lady

Here I come

D. Manic Depression

Music, sweet music

I wish I could caress, caress, caress

Manic depression is a frustrating mess

E. The Wind Cries Mary

Will the wind ever remember the names it has blown in the past

And with this crutch it's old age and it's wisdom

It whispers no this will be the last

And the wind cries Mary.

String it all together and it reads - 

Wild thing, I think you move me

I can't get no relief

Here I come

Manic depression is a frustrating mess

Will the wind ever remember the names it has blown in the past?

Hendrix bought the farm choking on his vomit after accidentally overdosing on sleeping pills a girlfriend gave  him. He died September 18, 1970. But the legend lives on.

Comments

[Robert Rowley]

Nice one Wally. Hendrix was a wanker!

[Ueda Fa Kawi (Sydney)]

Aw c'mon Bob - You can't be serious! Hendrix could hold his own against any guitarist that ever lived.

Anyway he was probably just practising some fancy guitar moves and in the absence of a real axe had to make do.