Season 3 Episode 7 // JIMI HENDRIX AT 80, an interview with his sister Janie Hendrix

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Janie Hendrix, the sister of the legendary musician Jimi Hendrix. And let me tell you, if you thought Zoom interviews were tough, try conducting one with a connection that keeps dropping like a rollercoaster. This was one of the shortest interviews I've had, and it's not because Janie wasn't a great interviewee - trust me, she was fantastic - it's just that the connection kept breaking and it was a tedious task to try to go in depth.

Listening to the interview now, it seems all over the place, but hey, what are you gonna do? That's just the way it is. Despite the technical issues, it's still a fascinating glimpse into the short life of a genius guitar player. Janie shared with me her insights on Jimi's life and career, including her own experiences seeing him perform and the process of putting together a book on his life. 

We talked about the book, which is a coffee table affair featuring high quality reproductions of pictures and other memorabilia from Jimi's life and career. It includes rare and previously unseen material, like childhood drawings and handwritten lyrics, as well as stuff borrowed from collectors. The book chronicles Jimi's life and career in a comprehensive and chronological way, making it a must-have for any Hendrix fan or anyone interested in music history. It's a high quality product, with a heavy weight and beautiful reproductions of the pictures, and I have a feeling it's gonna be a hot item for collectors.

We also talked about Johnny Hallyday, the French rock star, and I was really interested to discover in the book that Johnny had something to do with Jimi's rise to fame. As a French person myself, I was fascinated to learn that it was actually Johnny who first hired Jimi on a tour in Europe. And it was because of this tour that they built the Jimi Hendrix Experience band around him!

Now, I'll be honest with you, I usually prefer in-person interviews because they allow for a deeper and more personal connection. But even though this interview was over Zoom and had all the technical finesse of a drunk giraffe, I have to say it was a real honor to speak with Janie on the occasion of her brother's 80th birthday. And let me tell you, this book she's releasing for the occasion is gonna be a must-have for any Hendrix fan. Don't sleep on it.

If you want to get in touch with us, you can find us on Instagram at @hangingonsunset or via email at [e-mail]. Here's to a great new year, and all the possibilities it brings!

Let’s do the show!