Analytical Blog
330-356 (finished)
Leading up to the end of the book, Jimi's life and career caught one final wind before ending. Jimi was struggling with the constant touring and drug abuse. Part of this, the drug abuse, was something that he could avoid. The lack of sleep was not something avoidable due to his constantly busy life. Due to this, he gradually burnt himself out. It was stated that there was many reports of Jimi attempting to stop playing shows and have a private life. In an interview with Keith Altham, Hendrix stated, "I wanted to just lay back and predominantly write songs when I can't go on a stage anymore." (Cross 326) Leading up to when Hendrix stated this, Altham had asked what Hendrix had wanted his life to become and what he wanted to do for the rest of it. His response was to basically just write songs outside of his career. However, with his fame still growing, this was not possible. Jimi had stated many times, as well as whitenesses had stated, that he had wanted to get more sleep constantly. Sleep was a large topic of the last section of the book. Due to his busy life, Jimi was highly sleep deprived and had begun to start taking large dosages of sleeping pills. On top of this, Hendrix was mixing these pills with alcohol and other drugs like cocaine and adderol which he would have taken earlier on in the day to stay awake. This montage of harm that Hendrix caused on his body only wore him out more. He began to date Monika Dannemann, a figure skater from Dusseldorf who provided him a place to stay in London. Dannemann was prescribed Vesparax, a German sleeping medication that was supposedly ten times stronger than the best American sleeping medication. When she was not aware, Hendrix took five of her Vesparax, desperately trying to sleep. Hendrix's body reacted to the drugs and caused him to puke. Already being intoxicated, Hendrix gasped and inhaled the puke causing him to choke and die.
When comparing Clapton's life to Hendrix's, they are both very similar. Both used heavy drugs and drinking to keep them touring. They also hardly slept and spent excessively long hours on the road touring. It is a wonder as to why Clapton did not die in any way close to how Hendrix did. I think the reason that Clapton survived the hardship was due to the constant disruptions in his life. One of the largest happened to be the uprising of Hendrix. Clapton already had an established career by the time Hendrix appeared on the scene. Clapton had played with the Yardbirds as well as Cream. Pre Hendrix, the band was incredibly busy and drug filled. Exactly like Hendrix's life became. However when Hendrix appeared, Cream's touring and efforts slowed down due to the overtaking of Hendrix. This allowed for Clapton to have some space and time for some rest and relaxation. Hendrix never had any moments like this in his life. He just kept on going right from the beginning. This caused him to burn out and ultimately take the sleeping pills which ended his life.
Hendrix's death is due to the abuse and stress that he put on his body while on the road touring. Hard work is absolutely something that one should apply when trying to be the best at what ever it is they are trying to be. However, from what is seen of Hendrix, one should also put aside time in order to make sure they are physically and mentally healthy. This is something that, according to the book, Hendrix never did. It showed in his performances too. It was said that it got to a point that Hendrix was lifeless and disappointing on stage. It was if he did not care for what he was doing anymore. This shows deterioration, not growth! From this one can prove that it is important to keep your mind and body healthy and not to push yourself past your physical and mental limits when trying to be the best you can be at something.
I think that this picture really shows how exhausted Hendrix looked by the end of his career.
This is him before he got tired.
Leading up to the end of the book, Jimi's life and career caught one final wind before ending. Jimi was struggling with the constant touring and drug abuse. Part of this, the drug abuse, was something that he could avoid. The lack of sleep was not something avoidable due to his constantly busy life. Due to this, he gradually burnt himself out. It was stated that there was many reports of Jimi attempting to stop playing shows and have a private life. In an interview with Keith Altham, Hendrix stated, "I wanted to just lay back and predominantly write songs when I can't go on a stage anymore." (Cross 326) Leading up to when Hendrix stated this, Altham had asked what Hendrix had wanted his life to become and what he wanted to do for the rest of it. His response was to basically just write songs outside of his career. However, with his fame still growing, this was not possible. Jimi had stated many times, as well as whitenesses had stated, that he had wanted to get more sleep constantly. Sleep was a large topic of the last section of the book. Due to his busy life, Jimi was highly sleep deprived and had begun to start taking large dosages of sleeping pills. On top of this, Hendrix was mixing these pills with alcohol and other drugs like cocaine and adderol which he would have taken earlier on in the day to stay awake. This montage of harm that Hendrix caused on his body only wore him out more. He began to date Monika Dannemann, a figure skater from Dusseldorf who provided him a place to stay in London. Dannemann was prescribed Vesparax, a German sleeping medication that was supposedly ten times stronger than the best American sleeping medication. When she was not aware, Hendrix took five of her Vesparax, desperately trying to sleep. Hendrix's body reacted to the drugs and caused him to puke. Already being intoxicated, Hendrix gasped and inhaled the puke causing him to choke and die.
When comparing Clapton's life to Hendrix's, they are both very similar. Both used heavy drugs and drinking to keep them touring. They also hardly slept and spent excessively long hours on the road touring. It is a wonder as to why Clapton did not die in any way close to how Hendrix did. I think the reason that Clapton survived the hardship was due to the constant disruptions in his life. One of the largest happened to be the uprising of Hendrix. Clapton already had an established career by the time Hendrix appeared on the scene. Clapton had played with the Yardbirds as well as Cream. Pre Hendrix, the band was incredibly busy and drug filled. Exactly like Hendrix's life became. However when Hendrix appeared, Cream's touring and efforts slowed down due to the overtaking of Hendrix. This allowed for Clapton to have some space and time for some rest and relaxation. Hendrix never had any moments like this in his life. He just kept on going right from the beginning. This caused him to burn out and ultimately take the sleeping pills which ended his life.
Hendrix's death is due to the abuse and stress that he put on his body while on the road touring. Hard work is absolutely something that one should apply when trying to be the best at what ever it is they are trying to be. However, from what is seen of Hendrix, one should also put aside time in order to make sure they are physically and mentally healthy. This is something that, according to the book, Hendrix never did. It showed in his performances too. It was said that it got to a point that Hendrix was lifeless and disappointing on stage. It was if he did not care for what he was doing anymore. This shows deterioration, not growth! From this one can prove that it is important to keep your mind and body healthy and not to push yourself past your physical and mental limits when trying to be the best you can be at something.
I think that this picture really shows how exhausted Hendrix looked by the end of his career.
This is him before he got tired.
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