NONFICTION

Jimi Hendrix

A Brother's Story
by Leon Hendrix
with Adam Mitchell. Jimi Hendrix: A Brother's Story. Thomas Dunne: St. Martin's. May 2012. c.304p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780312668815. $25.99. MUSIC
COPY ISBN
Rock legend Jimi Hendrix would have turned 70 in 2012. Writing with Mitchell (coauthor, with Danny Seraphine, Street Player: My Chicago Story), Jimi's younger brother Leon Hendrix here presents an intimate look at his own and his brother's formative years. The Hendrix boys had a disruptive and tumultuous childhood; however, in the most memorable parts of the book, Leon portrays Jimi taking apart a radio to see where the music comes from, creating sounds by tying string between his bedposts, and learning to play the ukulele. Leon also recounts a few dizzying months, after his brother reached global fame, that he spent in the celebrity orbit of a rock star who just happened to be family. Leon relates his own struggles with drugs and recovery after Jimi's death in 1970 and the legal squabble surrounding his older brother's estate and musical legacy.
VERDICT Devoted Jimi Hendrix fans will want to read this, especially for the accounts of his youthful musical beginnings; those wanting a more complete biography should go with Charles R. Cross's Room Full of Mirrors. [See Prepub Alert, 11/14/11.]
Reviewed by Jim Collins, Morristown-Morris Twp. Lib., NJ , Apr 15, 2012
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

GRAPHIC NOVELS

Milk Without Honey
by Harms, Hanna
GRAPHIC NOVELS

Brittle Joints
by Sweeney, Maria
NONFICTION

Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen
by Chu, Jon M.
NONFICTION

36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem
by Le, Nam
NONFICTION

Trouble in Censorville: The Far Right’s Assault on Public Education and the Teachers Who Are Fighting Back
NONFICTION

A Year of Granny Squares: 52 Grannies To Crochet, One for Every Week of the Year
by Moleta, Kylie
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?