Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy [Paperback]

Harry Shapiro (Author), Caesar Glebbeek (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1995

September 18, 1995, marks the 25th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's untimely demise. To commemorate this event, the authors have revised and updated over 200 pages of Electric Gypsy, the record of Hendrix's legacy as the music world's most talented guitarist.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sympathetic and comprehensive, this biography of left-handed guitar wizard Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) features an exhaustive Hendrix discography, a list of his equipment and a file of film and photo appearances. Shapiro ( Waiting for the Man: Drugs and Popular Music ) and Glebbeek, founder of the Hendrix Information Centre in Ireland, regale the reader with quotes, anecdotes, song analyses and mini-bios of Hendrix colleagues, including the Jimi Hendrix Experience's drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding. The musician is portrayed as a perfectionist, brilliant composer whose imaginative sound effects were limited only by equipment; a black artist under pressure from radical black groups because his audience was predominantly white; a dedicated guitarist overwhelmed by his lifestyle. Hendrix's drug abuse and death from a probable barbiturate overdose are not sensationalized as the authors concentrate on his formidable music legacy, flamboyant individualism and sense of humor. Photos.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Shapiro and Glebbeek, founders and curators of the Hendrix Information Center, have created a magnum opus that is at once both the definitive biography and reference work on guitar genius Hendrix and his band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. In addition to a 500-page biography, this Hendrix cornucopia offers all the bells and whistles of a 100-page discography, with over 200 photographs, mementos and pieces of correspondence, a detailed chronology, and a unique appendix delineating Hendrix's guitars, equipment, and playing techniques, all of which contain sumptuous notes. Of the Hendrix mystique and deification since his death at age 27 in 1970, the authors write, "it would be a fitting tribute to Jimi's memory if his substance could begin to predominate over his image." Shapiro and Glebbeek have made a contribution of inestimable value toward this goal. One of the year's best popular music biographies and a mandatory purchase for all libraries. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/91.
- Barry Miller, Austin P.L., Tex.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 784 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (August 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312130627
• ISBN-13: 978-0312130626
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Only REAL Hendrix Biography..., May 3, 2000

By 

"tall_guy" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy (Paperback)

Forget about the photo-filled leaflets produced by McDermott/Kramer and Mitch Mitchell. "Electric Gypsy" is the only "real" Hendrix biography available.

Shapiro avoids the usual trap of obsessing over his subject, and gets down to the business of telling the story of an amazing life. Even more incredibly, Shapiro writes in such matter-of-fact language that Jimi's life seems real. A far cry from the cosmic freakshow that is Michael Fairchild (see the liner notes to "Blues").

Yes, Jimi Hendrix was human. "Electric Gypsy" portrays him as a human, not a god. If you want to read about Jimi's life without the clutter of some massive cosmic conspiracy, start here.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jimi Fans Rejoice!, August 3, 2002

By 

Mark Pollock "educator" (Davis, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy (Paperback)

An exhaustive biography, lacking in lurrid details, but filled instead with the story of Jimi's life, and how his life affected his music.

It seems to me that this author decided that, since most people are interested in Jimi Hendrix for his music, then took that to be the perspective from which this book is written.

The narrative is good, and the pictures are very nice.

However, the most amazing part of this book is the appendices, which take up a full third of the book. They cover all the equipment that Jimi used, and a tremendous list of releases both official and otherwise. The amount of information included in this book is amazing, although some of it is now a bit dated.

Hightly recommended for Jimi fans and guitar equipment wonks of all kinds.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good rock bio...this is rare!, July 28, 2002

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy (Paperback)

Probably the only book you'll ever need on one of the century's most important rock artists. That does count for something. This mind-boggling exhaustive treatment runs through 500 pages of text, and then dives into a 200-page appendix that details Hendrix's vast recorded output. The writing style is plain and unpretentious and gives you the straight facts on his career. The only downside is that the appendix is poorly organized and unindexed, making it difficult to find anything. Also, there could have been more analysis and discussion on Hendrix's contributions as a composer.