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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 6. 4th April 1973

Books

page 11

Books

Hendrix: A Biography by Chris Welch. Published by Alister Taylor. Price $2.95.

Books header

Chris Welch's biography of Jimi Hendrix is one part resume, one part 'critical comment' (culled no doubt from Melody Maker's files), three parts interview transcripts and 15 parts photographs. If you're the type that purchases books to leave lying discreetly on a coffee table in full view of Visitors, this could be the one. Right at the end of the introductory paragraph, it says : "Jimi's death was an accident, as avoidable as the nonsense that pursued his career". The nonsense which followed his death, which includes this lavish production, has not yet ceased. Hopefully, it will.

Reading this book leaves one with a nauseous feeling — like watching a movie of a buzzard tearing decaying flesh from a corpse. Perhaps anticipating this, Hendrix said : "It's funny the way people love the dead. Once you are dead you are made for life. You have to die before you are worth anything". Obviously, some people are taking full advantage of this. Then there are the others. The one who refuses to come to grips with reality. "People say he's still here", one of the Hendrix groupies is quoted as saying. "But mentally and physically he isn't here. That's why he said: 'When I die, just keep playing the records'." If you take that advice at face value, you'll learn a hell of a lot more about Hendrix than this book will ever leach you.

There is, however, a need for a definitive biography, not just a poking about among the bones. Hendrix was, after all, one of the rock culture's unique personalities — but it needs to be written by someone with more empathy towards his subject, someone not quite so obviously blinded by the flashing of dollar signs that he can't see the typewriter keys. The major problem with such a biography (and the same problem that Scadutto ran up against with his Bob Dylan book) is that no one really knew the complete Hendrix. This quandary was encapsulated by the Hendrix road manager, Gerry Stickells: "To everybody he had a different side. I don't think anybody knew him. I knew one side of him. I don't believe anybody knew where Jimi was really at, or what he was thinking about at any point, although a lot of people profess they did".

Photo of Jimi Hendrix

Welch is one of the older style of music writers, and when he escapes from transcription, this particular fact is painfully evident. The only 'original' comment in this conglomeration of recycled cliches is banal restatement of the obvious : "When a great talent dies early, it is often said that perhaps it was just as well, as the talent was obviously on the way down, and that a lifetime of mediocrity lay ahead", and so on.

The most enlightening section of the book is Keith Altham's interview with the man himself, conducted a few weeks before Hendrix's demise, Marred as it is by the fatuous introduction, it does show that there is not necessarily a link between illiteracy and stupidity, even though the reverse may apply in Welch's case. Rapping about change he would like to see, Hendrix surfaces with this comment : "You have to be a freak in order to be different. And them freaks are prejudiced. You have to talk in a certain way to be with them. And in order to be with the others you have to wear your hair short and wear a tie. So we're trying to make a third world happen. . .".

If you feel that you must have this book, pick it up as a bonus with a subscription to Rolling Stone, and make you own comparisons. Alternatively spend the money on Elia Katz's "Armed Love".

* * *

The First New Zealand Whole Earth Catalogue

Front cover of The First New Zealand Whole Earth Catalogue

A mighty fine publication that will be bought, and should be bought by every hippy household in New Zealand, that will be read by every hippy member of every hippy household, and which will then lie in the bottom of the hippy bookshelf (because it is too big to stand up), until the marijuana planting season, or maybe the time of the year when you breed pigs.

Every page opens a fascinating insight in a world where practical earthy things are no longer practical. If you ever have opportunity to fatten a nice little sow, or run a milking cow on your two acres of lush grass it is likely that you won't need the whole earth catalogue. The information is there, but surely it is information which is inborn into practically every rural area in New Zealand. If you don't have the information inborn, just slip along to your nearest Government Bookshop, or your friendly Agriculture Department Farm Advisory Officer, and the book you buy off the man you ask will tell you all you need to know.

But who could tell you all the plants in New Zealand which can get you "high" not your Farm Advisory Officer, only your Whole Earth Catalogue. Who, apart from your fellow penal inmates could give you such a wealth of information on how to shoplift, only your Whole Earth Catalogue. Who, apart from your wealthy, trendy and well (if conventionally) educated friends could tell you about all the modern, trendy schools which provide the only decent education in New Zealand for those whose parents can afford to send their children there, only your Whole Earth Catalogue. Who . . . how to turn a railway carriage into a house . . . Who . . . how to start your own underground newspaper . . . Who . . . how to build a geodesic dome, buy a typewriter, make wine and beer, beat your landlord, buy a good book, start a real revolution, grow coffee, alter your consciousness . . .

There can be little doubt that this book is fascinating to read, fascinating to dream about, occasionally (for some people) fantastically useful, worth every cent of the $4.95 it costs (no profit, it claims, to the publisher) and due for a second edition this year. It's a bit like the Values Party.

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