Jimi Hendrix at 23 Brook Street, 1969.(c)Barrie Wentzell

The main room of 23 Brook Street, now Handel & Hendrix in London. Credit Michael Bowles Handel & Hendrix in London

Speaker: Chuck Rolando (Standard American accent)

The London apartment of American guitarist and rock legend Jimi Hendrix has been restored as a museum. Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. He and his girlfriend, Kathy Etchingham, lived in a top floor flat of an 18th-century house in London’s Mayfair neighbourhood in 1968 and 1969.

in detail

Every detail of the living space has been re-created. Persian rugs are on the floor, a Victorian shawl hangs above the bed, on the dresser there are newspapers and a clamshell ashtray.
Another room of the new museum has a wall of album covers, including Hendrix’s Are You Experienced? and some of Hendrix’s own album collection – including a copy of Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited stained with Hendrix’s own blood.

classical

The apartment at 23 Brook Street is next to the former house of composer George Frideric Handel. Handel House has been open to the public since November 2001, and Hendrix’s flat was the office for its staff. Hendrix’s old apartment had been open only for special events. Museum directors decided to open a permanent museum in the flat.

swinging london

Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle and was almost unknown when he first came to London in 1966. Word soon spread in the music community of his extraordinary talent. The following year he released his debut album, Are You Experienced? with his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience. It made him an international star.

COMING HOME

Hendrix spent much of his time on tour, but he always returned to London: the Brook Street house is his only surviving home.
Barrie Wentzell is a former photographer for Melody Maker magazine. He photographed Jimi Hendrix in the flat in the 1960s.  Some of his images are on display in the exhibit. He says Jimi would be pleased.
Jimi Hendrix died in London – but at a different location – in September 1970. He died of a drug overdose, at the age of 27. Had he lived, he would now be 73.

Find out more at: www.handelhendrix.org