September 18, 1970: The Death of Jimi Hendrix in London
Purple Haze Over London
Jimi Hendrix spent his final night, September 17–18, 1970, at the Samarkand Hotel in Notting Hill with Monika Dannemann. She later told investigators that Hendrix had taken nine Vesparax sleeping tablets, a dose designed for half a pill. She found him unresponsive around 11:18 a.m. Paramedics transported him to St Mary Abbot’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m.
A post-mortem confirmed that Hendrix had asphyxiated on his own vomit while intoxicated with barbiturates. He was 27 years old.
The 27 Club Is Born in Myth
Hendrix’s death was one of several in a string of tragic early exits that formed the basis of the so-called 27 Club. Alongside Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison, Hendrix’s passing at 27 became part of a cultural narrative about talent extinguished too soon. The phrase “27 Club” itself wasn’t coined until the 1990s, gaining broader use after the death of Kurt Cobain.
Monika Dannemann and the Rumors
Dannemann, a former German figure skater and painter, had met Hendrix in 1969. They resumed their relationship in mid-1970. Her version of the final hours changed slightly over time, but the core timeline holds. There is no evidence of foul play, despite later rumors. Claims that his body was cleaned of drugs or drowned in wine remain speculative and unsupported.
The coroner recorded an open verdict, citing insufficient evidence to determine whether the overdose was accidental or intentional. Friends and collaborators have long believed it was accidental.
London’s Role in His Rise
Though Hendrix was born in Seattle, London is where his career caught fire. Brought to the UK in 1966 by former Animals bassist Chas Chandler, Hendrix quickly formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell. Their debut single, “Hey Joe,” hit the British charts that December and launched a string of hits, including “Purple Haze” and “Foxy Lady”.
American audiences were slower to respond until the Experience torched the stage at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. After that, U.S. media and fans took notice.
What the Autopsy Revealed
The autopsy found Hendrix had ingested roughly 18 times the recommended dose of Vesparax and had consumed red wine. No other drugs were found in lethal quantities. There was no indication of trauma or foul play. The medical cause was clear: barbiturate intoxication complicated by inhalation of vomit.
Whether Hendrix intended to take his own life remains unknown. His team was negotiating new record deals, and he was actively working on new music. His death likely came at a moment of physical collapse, not personal finality.
Work in Progress
Hendrix had been recording material for a planned fourth studio album. His collaborator Eddie Kramer, along with drummer Mitch Mitchell, later compiled the tracks into The Cry of Love (1971) and, later, First Rays of the New Rising Sun.
Posthumous standouts include:
- “Freedom”, his first posthumous single, released in March 1971
- “Angel”, a ballad first demoed in 1967 and later finished
- “Night Bird Flying”, a multi-guitar studio piece Hendrix considered complete
- “Dolly Dagger”, inspired by Devon Wilson, released on Rainbow Bridge and charted modestly at No. 74
These tracks hint at a shift in sound. Hendrix was exploring layered studio production and moving beyond the power trio format that had defined his earlier years.
Ten Essential Tracks to Remember Hendrix By
Purple Haze (1967)
Debut album: Are You Experienced
A psychedelic anthem built around the staccato tritone and the now-famous “Hendrix chord” (E7#9). It cemented his status as the face of the late ’60s guitar revolution.
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (1968)
Album: Electric Ladyland
A thundering, wah-heavy improvisation that closes the album and became his only UK No. 1 single after his death.
All Along the Watchtower (1968)
Album: Electric Ladyland
A Bob Dylan cover that eclipsed the original in both chart success and cultural impact. Reached No. 5 in the UK and No. 20 in the U.S.
Little Wing (1967)
Album: Axis: Bold as Love
A delicate, lyrical ballad inspired by the Monterey Pop Festival. Rolling Stone ranks it among the greatest songs ever written.
Red House (1967)
UK release: Are You Experienced
One of the few traditional blues tracks in Hendrix’s catalog. A straight 12-bar form delivered with molten phrasing and tonal finesse.
The Wind Cries Mary (1967)
Single release: May 5, 1967
Reached No. 6 in the UK. A mid-tempo breakup tune with subtle bends, clean tones, and unexpected harmonic turns.
Hey Joe (1966)
Debut single (UK): December 1966
The first track to bring Hendrix to public attention. It peaked at No. 6 in the UK but failed to chart in the U.S.
Machine Gun (1970)
Live album: Band of Gypsys
A 12-minute anti-war piece using feedback and rhythmic shifts to mimic battlefield sounds. A performance, not just a song.
If 6 Was 9 (1967)
Album: Axis: Bold as Love
An experimental cut driven by counterculture defiance and flute-like recorder. Never a hit, but widely influential.
Castles Made of Sand (1967)
Album: Axis: Bold as Love
A melancholy ballad about impermanence. Features a backward guitar solo and some of Hendrix’s most introspective lyrics.
From Woodstock to the Grave
In 1969, Hendrix delivered his most iconic performance at Woodstock with a blistering rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” His guitar imitated bombs and sirens, turning patriotism inside out.
But just a year later, he was worn down by legal disputes, management struggles, and constant touring. The experimental momentum he carried into Electric Ladyland had given way to exhaustion.
His death felt both sudden and inevitable.
Lasting Influence
Jimi Hendrix reshaped the electric guitar and redefined what rock could sound like. His use of stereo panning, fuzz, feedback, reverse tracking, and the wah-wah pedal built a new sonic vocabulary.
He remains a touchstone for guitarists and producers alike. Prince, Lenny Kravitz, and John Frusciante all cite him as a primary influence. Hip-hop artists have also sampled his sounds, including OutKast, J. Cole, and Kanye West.
Songs like “Machine Gun” inspired a generation of protest music. His legacy lives on not through imitation, but through the doorways he opened.
Final Rest, Eternal Riff
Jimi Hendrix is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton, Washington, near his mother’s grave. A granite dome marks the site, carved with images and lyrics. Fans visit every year, leaving picks, flowers, and love notes.
Shutterstock
Fifty-five years later, Hendrix’s music still shimmers with urgency. He did not live long enough to grow old, but his tone never aged.
On September 18, we remember what was lost, but more importantly, we remember what was created. Hendrix didn’t just change rock. He transformed sound itself.
