Iconic musician Jimi Hendrix will always be known as one of the talented artists of all time, but there are some little-known facts about this rock star that might surprise you. Here, we present 15 things you didn’t know about Jimi Hendrix in two parts. See part one of the 15 things you didn’t know about Jimi Hendrix below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: He Wasn’t Always Jimi Hendrix. “Jimi” was actually born Johnny Allen Hendrix. Jimi’s mother and father did not have a very good relationship, so when Jimi went to live with his father after he gained custody, he father renamed him James Marshall Hendrix. He didn’t actually spell his name “Jimi” until 1966.
Number Fourteen: He Played the Broomstick. Before Jimi got his first guitar, he would pretend he knew how to play guitar using just an old broom. He was even rumored to have brought the broomstick to school with him, and he would often dance with it.
Number Thirteen: He Also Played the Ukulele. Though you could argue his first instrument was the broomstick, his first real instrument was the ukulele. However, it was a special ukulele – he found it in the trash, and it only had one string.
Number Twelve: He Dropped Out of High School. Though Hendrix went on to become wildly famous and successful, he never even finished high school. He dropped out before he enlisted in the military.
Number Eleven: He Used the Military to Avoid Prison. Speaking of the military, the only reason Hendrix enlisted was to avoid prison. Hendrix was caught in stolen cars on two occasions when he was growing up. He had to choose jail or the military, and he made his choice.
Number Ten: There Are Numerous Conspiracy Theories About His Death. One conspiracy theory, in particular, alleges that Hendrix was actually murdered. The conspiracy theory states that his girlfriend at the time, Monika Dannemann, made him overdose.
Number Nine: He Belongs to the 27 Club. Also related to his death, Hendrix is a member of the 27 Club, the group of famous artists who died at the age of exactly 27. Other members of this club include Amy Winehouse and Jim Morrison.
Number Eight: His Childhood Wasn’t Easy. Hendrix had a very tumultuous relationship with his mother. Many people think this is because his mother was an alcoholic.