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Star Spangled Hendrix

BBC Radio 4

When Jimi Hendrix returned to his native America as a star,

the country he knew had changed.

This programme, presented by Tom Robinson

to tie in with the 40th anniversary of the guitarist's death,

explores the pressure Jimi was under to make an explicit political declaration.

Tom explores Hendrix's 14 months

in the Screaming Eagles 101 Airborne Division

that saw him parachute a total of 26 times

before he was invalided out with a broken ankle.

Brother Leon Hendrix discusses his elder bother's time in the military,

along with comments from author Charles Sharr Murray.

Singer and friend Eric Burdon explains how, after the riots in Grosvenor Square,

Jimi trotted out the American government's party line on Vietnam

- the so-called "Domino Theory".

The Soft Machine supported Hendrix as they travelled across America.

Drummer Robert Wyatt recalls how Jimi responded to media questions

about the war and the emergence of the Black Power movement.

Hendrix was receptive to the Black Panther Party

and found the Seattle Chapter of the organisation

run by two former high school friends.

Panthers, Aaron and Elmer Dixon talk

about how receptive Hendrix was to the cause.

The programme culminates with Jimi's Woodstock Festival performance

of 'The Star Spangled Banner',

an eloquent (and wordless) statement against the Vietnam war.

In retrospect, it can also be read as a swan song for the era of peace and love

and for Hendrix himself, who died in his sleep the following year.

Jimi Hendrix is more than a blues guitarist who got lucky in the 60s.

He did the best he could to be his own man without openly taking sides,

and we are still trying to get to know him 40 years after his death.

Now 55 years

regards

Titus

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