Jimi Hendrix and the Samarkand Hotel in Lansdowne Crescent.
It sounds like a movie but in fact in September 1970, Jimi Hendrix tragically died of a drug overdose here in Norland in the Samarkand Hotel. He was only 27.
On that fateful night Jimi was with his girlfriend at her basement flat in Lansdowne Crescent at the Samarkand. Monika Danneman woke up to find Hendrix unconscious. He was rushed to hospital but never recovered. The forensic examiner concluded that he had choked on his own vomit after having taken at least 9 or 10 of her barbiturates chased down with alcohol.
Jimi Hendrix portrait
Although Jimi’s fame lasted only 8 years, he was an unforgettable talent remaining unrivalled as rock guitarist supremo. Notwithstanding a glittering rise to the top Jimi Hendrix’s life was hard, his childhood unrelentingly difficult. His parents struggled with alcohol, joblessness and poverty. He was abused often rootless. He and his siblings spent time in and out of care. Music was a partial release
In a morbid twist of notoriety, dying violently aged 27 places Hendrix into the so called ‘27 Club’. Several popular musicians who have died similarly aged 27 often from overdoses find themselves unwilling members of The 27 club.
To name and to honour a few. Make some noise for Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones.
Thank you for the music!
