Starting At Zero
His Own Story
Published on 27. November 2013
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-4088-4214-0 (ISBN)
Description
It took just four years in the spotlight for Jimi Hendrix to become an international cultural icon. The sheer impact and originality of his music and his unique mastery of the guitar placed him for ever amongst musical giants. But what of the man behind the public image?
Modest and intensely private by nature, Jimi was shrouded in intrigue from the moment he first came into the public eye, and the mystery has only grown with time. Much has been written about him by experts, fans and critics, some of it true and some of it not. He did, however, leave his own account of himself locked away like a Chinese puzzle in his many interviews, lyrics, writings, poems, diaries and even stage raps. Starting At Zero brings all these elements together in narrative form. The result is an intimate, funny and poetic memoir - one that tells, for the first time, Jimi's own story as only he could tell it.
Modest and intensely private by nature, Jimi was shrouded in intrigue from the moment he first came into the public eye, and the mystery has only grown with time. Much has been written about him by experts, fans and critics, some of it true and some of it not. He did, however, leave his own account of himself locked away like a Chinese puzzle in his many interviews, lyrics, writings, poems, diaries and even stage raps. Starting At Zero brings all these elements together in narrative form. The result is an intimate, funny and poetic memoir - one that tells, for the first time, Jimi's own story as only he could tell it.
Reviews / Votes
Starting At Zero is the real deal. It's the first book I've ever read entirely in Jimi's own words, uncensored and unadulterated. I can hear his voice in my head as I read it * <b>Leon Hendrix</b> * The nearest we'll ever get to an autobiography by the guitarist who redefined pop ... The book contains both snippets that confirm hunches one had about both man and music, and others that confound the stereotype of a wild reckless genius who played himself into an early grave in 1970 ... Fascinating -- <b>Ed Vulliamy</b> * <b>Observer</b> * A startling first-person narrative, this is an engaging and immersive work that will delight those fascinated by the guitarist's legacy * <b>Sunday Times Books of the Year</b> * The legendary guitarist had a gift with words ... articulate and instinctively wise on life's vicissitudes ... What pervades every page ... is a man thoroughly alive * <b>MOJO</b> **** * The virtue of this book is its revelation of the restless, curious, creative, self-contradictory mind of a musical genius as he grappled with fame, fellow musicians, inspiration, doubt and life under the competing spotlights of adulation and criticism. A must-read * <b>Kirkus</b> * Documentary filmmaker Neal and record producer Douglas have astutely and seamlessly assembled Hendrix's long-scattered writings into a confiding, funny, and wrenching memoir of a life lived on the edge and passionately devoted to music and freedom * <b>Booklist</b> * A chronological account of Hendrix's life told exclusively in his own words, painstakingly researched over two decades. The result is a first-person narrative ... an intimate look inside the musician's thoughts ... Thrilling * <b>Wall Street Journal</b> *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
2-color illustrations throughout
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 170 mm
Weight
623 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4088-4214-0 (9781408842140)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2013
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
€14.49
Available for download
Person
JIMI HENDRIX (1942-1970) was one of the most important musicians of the 20th century.
ALAN DOUGLAS is a record, book and film producer. He was a friend of Jimi Hendrix and produced many of his posthumous releases.
PETER NEAL is a documentary film maker. In 1967-8 he made a thirty-minute film portrait of Jimi Hendrix called Experience. It was the first film of the artist to be completed, and the only film to be publicly screened in Hendrix's lifetime. He has also directed and edited a series of concert films, music documentaries and promotional shorts with the Incredible String Band, Jethro Tull, Yes, Steve Howe, The Who, Free, Cat Stevens and Black Sabbath. Together with producer Alan Douglas, Peter Neal spent years pulling together the collected words of Jimi Hendrix and editing them with the reverence and light touch they deserved. The result is Starting At Zero.
ALAN DOUGLAS is a record, book and film producer. He was a friend of Jimi Hendrix and produced many of his posthumous releases.
PETER NEAL is a documentary film maker. In 1967-8 he made a thirty-minute film portrait of Jimi Hendrix called Experience. It was the first film of the artist to be completed, and the only film to be publicly screened in Hendrix's lifetime. He has also directed and edited a series of concert films, music documentaries and promotional shorts with the Incredible String Band, Jethro Tull, Yes, Steve Howe, The Who, Free, Cat Stevens and Black Sabbath. Together with producer Alan Douglas, Peter Neal spent years pulling together the collected words of Jimi Hendrix and editing them with the reverence and light touch they deserved. The result is Starting At Zero.