Fifty-four years on from Jimi Hendrix’s death at the age of 27, new information about the man who transformed guitar music continues to surface.
One such example is a stash of four never-before-heard Hendrix demos from 1968. The tapes are part of a “treasure trove of rock music history” heading for auction at Propstore in London on November 15. They have been given an estimate of £200,000 ($261,000).
The collection of tapes include never before heard Hendrix tracks. Photo: courtesy Propstore.
Although Hendrix grew up in the U.S., his career is strongly connected to the English capital, which was an epicenter of rock, pop, and blues culture in the late 1960s. It’s said the weather reminded him of his native Seattle. Hendrix moved to London after being scouted in New York by the Animals’ Chris Chandler and fell in with the likes of Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, and Pete Townshend. The tapes, which include “Up From the Skies,” “Ain’t No Telling,” “Little Miss Lover,” and “Stone Free,” hail from Hendrix’s period in London and once belonged to Mike Jeffery, the musician’s manager from 1966 until his death in 1970.
The collection of Hendrix memorabilia could fetch up to $391,000. Photo: courtesy Propstore.
Mark Hochman, Propstore’s music consultant, has described the demos as “tight,” “smooth,” and guitar-centric. “We were immediately captivated by the depth and significance of the material,” Hochman said. “[It] transports you back to a pivotal moment in music history.”
Jeffery, as with Hendrix, died prematurely, a casualty of the 1973 Nantes air disaster. His secretary Patricia Sullivan collected the demos, along with a host of other archival material, after his central London offices had been stripped of valuable items by bailiffs. Sullivan, whose job included booking recording sessions, planning itineraries, and sometimes accompanying musicians on tour, has held onto the archive ever since.
A handwritten U.S. form by Hendrix requesting a birth certificate. Photo: courtesy Propstore.
These include dry-cleaning bills for a some of Hendrix’s iconic psychedelic outfits, a note from Hendrix’s record label informing him of his eviction from Ringo Starr’s apartment on account of noise complaints, a handwritten U.S. form by Hendrix requesting a birth certificate, and pay slips for his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience. An estimate of £300,000 ($391,000) has been set for the whole of the Sullivan collection.
The Hendrix sale is taking place as part of a wider November auction of music memorabilia at Propstore. The four-day, 350-item auction includes a black and gold military jacket from Michael Jackson, estimated at £200,000 to £400,000 ($250,000 to $500,000); John Lennon’s first Vox amp used as a Beatle, estimated at £100,000 to £200,000 ($125,000 to $250,000); and a synthesizer used by Prince estimated between £50,000 and £100,000 ($62,500 and $125,000).
“Propstore are thrilled to bringing this exceptional content to auction this November to give fans the opportunity to own a true piece of music history,” Hochman said.