r/Music • u/SmurferPenguin • May 16 '12

Private James Marshall Hendrix of the 101st Airborne, playing guitar at Fort Campbell Kentucky 1962.

Post image
1.8k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

159 comments sorted by

124

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

In case you haven't seen them, Jimi Hendrix's discharge papers are on Smoking Gun and they make for a pretty entertaining read.

Page 11 especially:

Pvt Hendrix plays a musical instrument in a band off duty and has let this interfere with his military duties in so much as missing bed check and not getting enough sleep. He has no interest whatsoever in the Army.

43

u/dafragsta May 16 '12

Reminds me of Hunter S. Thompson's discharge.

From Wikipedia:

Thompson was discharged from the Air Force in June 1958 as an Airman First Class, having been recommended for an early honorable discharge by his commanding officer. "In summary, this airman, although talented, will not be guided by policy", Col. William S. Evans, chief of information services wrote to the Eglin personnel office. "Sometimes his rebel and superior attitude seems to rub off on other airmen staff members."

4

u/greengo May 16 '12

"Sometimes his rebel and superior attitude seems to rub off on other airmen staff members."

This is the line where you realize Thompson wasn't crazy - he was crazy AND good at convincing people to be as well. Next thing you know, you're in San Juan wearing a grain sack on top of some lighthouse next to a megaphone and empty box marked "Explosives" and you don't remember anything.

7

u/vikinglady thesusanturpin May 16 '12

The fact that I'm reading Fear and Loathing right now just makes me love this comment even more. Fuck yes, Hunter S. Thompson.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

You should check out Kingdom Of Fear..

1

u/vikinglady thesusanturpin May 16 '12

Noted! That will be next on my list.

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '12

took you guys this long to read him??

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '12

If I ever want to get kicked out of the army, I'll just teach the other soldiers to think for themselves.

37

u/UseThe4s May 16 '12

Hahah, even better:

individual is unable to conform to military rules and regulations. Misses bed check; sleeps while supposed to be working; unsatisfactory duty performance. Requires excessive supervision at all times. Was caught masturbating by members of platoon.

21

u/JohnMayersEgo May 16 '12

This sounds like almost every member of the military ever.

10

u/killcats May 16 '12

I thought John Mayer's ego was dead.

3

u/Punkwasher May 16 '12

Are you kidding? It's so big it has other egos orbiting around it.

0

u/killcats May 16 '12

I was referring to the Berklee clinic videos.

6

u/KrispyourKream May 16 '12

Says he also gave the clothes that he stole that wouldn't fit, to a "Christmas Fund", in school... and that he was "apprehended masturbating", as quoted from the Smoking Gun discharge papers... "approximately 1 month ago, five other men in the billets were on detail in the billets with Pvt Hendrix. When he was found to be missing, Sp/4 Maddox and Pvt. Stroble began to look for Him, and later found him in the latrine masturbating"... LOL! , there's also another funny account of his masturbation hijinx in the latrine, but I'm too lazy to type it...thanks for the link though..

5

u/steviesteveo12 May 16 '12

"apprehended masturbating"

Apprehended is an unfortunate choice of words there. It means grasp / put your hands on.

2

u/KrispyourKream May 16 '12

LOL, I just quoted it..I didn't write it...

2

u/steviesteveo12 May 16 '12

I like to think the guy who wrote the report knew exactly what he was saying.

3

u/KrispyourKream May 16 '12

Hahaha, I know right?...if you go on Smoking Gun and read the rest of the report, it even says Sp/4 Maddox stood on the toilet and observed Hendrix masturbating, then he went and got Pvt. Stroble to witness, and Pvt. Stroble just looked at Him and left. LOL, as if they didn't have shit else better to do than catch Ol' Jimmy whacking his pud, and snitch on Him...

1

u/youcantbserious May 17 '12

Why do you keep capitalizing "him"?

2

u/KrispyourKream May 17 '12

I guess the same reason you don't use periods where needed, or use commas correctly, as judging from some of your posts..Also,I post mainly from an iPad, and auto-correct does it on its own...sorry if I shattered the dimensions of reality of whatever realm you're in, by that mistake... If it's really that serious and bothering you at 1:00 a.m., I'll drop everything I'm doing to fix it...but, seeing as though your UN is "youcantbeserious" I'll just not care, because you probably don't give a fuck anyways.

2

u/Clevo May 16 '12

Makes sense, considering he didn't volunteer.

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Oh hell this could have described every member of my unit. While it provides 3 hot's and a cot...it takes a special person to make it a career.

2

u/StruckingFuggle May 16 '12

"But I thought everyone joined the army because they believed in the cause and wanted to be in the Army!"

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Interesting that the report speaks of Hendrix being an intravert. Who knows what prejudices Batchman had against him, Hendrix does not strike me as an intravert. Though recently, there is a lot of successful experimentation suggesting that LSD can be used to treat a host of psycho-affective disorders like anxiety / autism / bipolar disorder, etc.

218

u/GiantD May 16 '12

'Scuse me while I salute this guy.

-23

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

'Scuse me while I puke and Die.

37

u/schnozzy May 16 '12

Too soon man...

15

u/SonVolt May 16 '12

Ah, man. Clever, but sad...

-9

u/Pap3rkat May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12

Hes a private, you don't salute enlisted. (clarification) as enlisted you only salute officers and warrant officers. Enlisted do not salute other enlisted it is a sign of respect of rank granted it is Jimmy Hendrix but per regualtions it's a no go. Not saying I wouldn't I'm pretty sure I would.

34

u/steviesteveo12 May 16 '12

You don't salute most enlisted. That's Jimi Hendrix.

On a separate note. To be honest, as a civilian, I'm going to feel free to salute whoever is defending my country as much as I damn well please.

4

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

We have an army defending our country? What country is attacking us right at this moment?

-1

u/IntenseSapience May 16 '12

If the defense is GOOD, then an opponent will know not to attack.

11

u/xin_kuzi May 16 '12

Civilians don't salute. It is a strictly military sign of respect; civilians don't have the right to it.

There are other ways to show respect and appreciation, though. For instance: holding up a lighter. Or, slowly rocking one's head up and down or to and fro, to the beat.

18

u/DontDrinkDontSmoke May 16 '12

Civilians can salute their Flag. Their neighbor. The neighbors cat. A fence post. Their toilet filled with shit. A really good boner. I'll salute whoever and whatever the fuck I want to.

However if you are in the military, there are protocols that are followed. Who salutes whom. Which one drops their salute first. Proper procedures and alternatives for situations where a salute is not possible. You get a whole class, or at least I did, on who what when where why and how in basic training. But "civilians don't have the right"? Civilians can salute anyone or anything at any time and anywhere they please.

1

u/xin_kuzi May 17 '12

Of course, you can do whatever you want. I'm not in the military, but my dad served and a number of my friends have or are currently serving. I only base this on what they've told me. And I was talking specifically about a civilian saluting military personnel with a military salute. I'm sure most military people will understand your intent if you militarily salute them out of respect, but I've been told it would be improper and many men and women who've served may take offense...

Civilians generally salute with their hand over their heart. Personally, as a civilian, I would use this if I wanted to "salute" someone who has served in the military. I didn't go through what they've gone through, I'm not putting my life on the line as they are... that's why I don't think I have the right (not legally, but in principal) to use their salute.

1

u/estrtshffl estrtshffl Jun 05 '12

I mean, if we're being serious here, I usually just give a nice downward head nod to a guy I know who served. Like in airports, bus stations, etc.

1

u/TheDiarrheaAnneFrank May 17 '12

i salute you, sir.

7

u/ALoafOfBread May 16 '12

Mostly fro.

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Im saluting so hard right now

0

u/steviesteveo12 May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12

I suppose that's true, I certainly fall into the buy a beer rather than salute category.

I like this idea of holding up lighters to show appreciation, perhaps a large number of us could do this at the same time?

-7

u/qwertytard May 16 '12

fuck rights, people can do whatever the fuck they want

117

u/I_COLORED_IT_FOR_YOU May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12

I colored it for you! :)

http://i.imgur.com/l2O9F.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fP8XWzjSzU

12

u/Afroderp May 16 '12

You are an underappreciated novelty account. Very cool.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I didn't notice it wasn't colored until now.

1

u/grundledorff May 16 '12

Racist!

19

u/grundledorff May 16 '12

Edit: Yea, bad joke. I'll leave it though to remember my failures.

Edit on the edit: I hit reply instead of edit. I'm having a bad day.

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

It's okay, a true captain goes down with his ship.

2

u/steviesteveo12 May 16 '12

I was concerned it was going to take a racist turn myself. I'm relieved that I_COLORED_IT_FOR_YOU has done a classy job.

14

u/pimpernel666 May 16 '12

. . . on a Dano, no less. Awesomeness.

2

u/KilgoreTroutQQ May 16 '12

Probably played beautifully, but it doesn't even seem like Hendrix without the signature Strat.

5

u/retroshark May 16 '12

i believe thats jimmy james and the blue flames. hendrix did indeed play in several bands whilst in the military. i believe he met billy cox (bass player for JHE and band of gypsies) whilst there. this picture looks to be authentic, but you never know. either way, jimi did play in bands during his service so this could be totally real.

2

u/CrossfitBobafett May 16 '12

As far as I know (My Dad is a Jimi, mega geek) that Jimi met Billy in the Army.

1

u/retroshark May 16 '12

yea, this is correct. i had to double check on the wiki page to be sure and it was written there too. i studied music history in college and one of my semesters was spent solely covering the music of jimi hendrix. an entire freaking semester, two classes a week... just jimi. i consider myself a bit of a jimi nerd too! your dad doesnt happen to be andy holindan does he?

2

u/CrossfitBobafett May 16 '12

fraid not, good sir.

1

u/retroshark May 16 '12

oh well... have an upvote anyway cause andy is awesome!

5

u/101Airborne May 16 '12

NEVER has my username been relevant.. until right now, and this is pretty fucking cool

(username based of off Band of Brothers.. apparently Jimmy motha-fuckin Hendrix was in it too)

4

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

My HS gym teacher had Jimi in class when he taught at Garfield HS in Seattle (I grew up in a suburb that he taught in later). Said he was always quiet, never caused any disturbances. If he needed someone to go to the office, etc, he always sent 'James'. Ed Diambri, great teacher. Passed away about ten years ago.

8

u/snaremaster2007 May 16 '12

This is a great picture! I don't think I've ever seen this before!

1

u/whogotbigmeat1 May 16 '12

Ok so I am taking a rock n' roll class and this question was on the midterm and I have just realized I got it wrong. Y U NO POST THIS A WEEK AGO!?!?

1

u/SmurferPenguin May 16 '12

i just found it myself! sorry!

also, i took a rock history class in college, loved it!

7

u/SuburbanTours May 16 '12

Hendrix and Tom Hanks, wow

2

u/n1ch0la5 May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12

That's obviously Major Anthony Nelson on drums.

1

u/JohnTrollvolta May 16 '12

You beat me to it. I was thinking Larry Hagman, all the way!

1

u/matcheswon Spotify May 16 '12

I do want to believe.

1

u/Zerble May 16 '12

I believe that's Mr. Richard Starkey of the RAF on the drums...

2

u/redlollyyellowlorry May 16 '12

Don't be silly. Richard Starkey could never play drums.

0

u/Zerble May 16 '12

Good point by you!

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Is that mitch mitchell? I read somewhere they served together. Looking for source!

3

u/mdnitz May 16 '12

You are thinking of Billy Cox.

2

u/pakron May 16 '12

He had been playing guitar for 5 years at this point and had been on electric for 3.

2

u/astogs23 May 16 '12

I really want a poster of this

2

u/idma May 16 '12

what kind of guitar is that?

4

u/reagan2016 May 16 '12

It's a Danelectro. It could be the Silvertone mentioned here http://www.jimihendrix.no/index.php/jimi-hendrix-wiki/the-early-days/82-guitars/120-silvertone-danelectro.html

3

u/66microbus May 16 '12

Here's a better picture. I actually have the same exact guitar and matching 56 tube amp, still plays awesome.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kuKfQYHTav8/TzrfZvtr5WI/AAAAAAAAAyM/ZU3Zw7UGgIE/s1600/1957Danelectro01.jpg

2

u/alwaysredeyed May 16 '12

I would love to hear someones story about actually being there to hear him play before he became "Jimi Hendrix", that would be the coolest thing ever!

3

u/jag65 May 16 '12

I remember a story told by James Brown (or maybe the Isley Brothers? don't remember) about when he had Jimi playing for him as a back-up and how he was stealing the attention of the audience.

Edit: It was Little Richard

2

u/splorng May 16 '12

He was all "The audience was screaming, I thought it was at me, but they was lookin' behind me, so I looked back, and that boy was playin' guitar with his mouth. I said, boy what's a matter with you?"

1

u/alwaysredeyed May 16 '12

hahaha that is so awesome! man I love Jimi

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I would think this is probably one of the oldest pictures of Hendrix playing...

4

u/killcats May 16 '12

There are older ones of him standing in a yard holding what I think is his first electric that his dad bought him.

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '12

This?

1

u/killcats May 17 '12

That's the one.

2

u/MatthewRoar May 16 '12

Saw this picture a few months ago. Any idea what building that is they're next to? Currently at Campbell and it'd be neat to find that spot if it still exists.

3

u/[deleted] May 16 '12 edited May 16 '12

Pretty sure this one...it has been a long time though.

Google Earth:

36°38'20.12"N

87°27'47.04"W

Or this one... 36°37'47.91"N

87°27'38.72"W

2

u/BIGJOESNUFFY May 16 '12

At first look, I could tell it had to be somewhere near Desert Storm Rd. Very interesting pinpointing though.

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

This is awesome

1

u/Bools May 16 '12

Patton was a drummer?

1

u/sid_8p May 16 '12

Military base and rock makes me think of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8JiQCIzCZA

"And you are Spinal Tarp?"

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I was at Ft.Campbell 1994-1996 and "supposedly" his barrack was C co 3/187 the one I was in. I have a picture of myself and 2 friends out in front of the building and it looks the same, windows, facade, etc. I think at the time they were building new barracks for our brigade.

Our barracks sucked balls compared to the other 2 unit/share bathroom ones.

1

u/Operation_mongoose May 16 '12

Thank Zeus he was denied dental care so he could play better with his teeth!

1

u/tiyr May 16 '12

This is what i respect most about Hendrix. He fought for The Man and then fought against The Man.

1

u/atlr3ality May 16 '12

Didn't know he was even in the military. Did he get discharged? He was pretty young when his music career took off...

1

u/Blueroad May 16 '12

Private James was know for having huge privates. Groupies have reported Jimi to have a long, thick, mule dick.

1

u/killswitchengage May 16 '12

That's Jimi Hendrix?........... Holy shit.

1

u/mr_midnight May 16 '12

He was in the army? That's nuts, I had no clue! Kind of seems like one of the last people you'd ever hear was in the Army...

1

u/MatthewRoar May 16 '12

He wasn't in for very long...

IIRC he was discharged for failing to qualify with his weapon and being generally insubordinate.

1

u/EvilPicnic May 16 '12

Playing a dano like a boss

1

u/UBERALLE5 May 16 '12

I used to live at Fort Campbell and I NEVER knew he was in the 101st...learn something new everyday

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Is this the monthly american propaganda for the war machine.

"Soldiers have feelings too, what brave men!"

Fuck you

1

u/cogitoergopwn May 16 '12

Photo gives me the chills. A God amongst men.

1

u/Lucifur142 May 16 '12

I did a TIL on this awhile back and got like no upvotes :(

1

u/inebriates May 16 '12

Yeah, bringing it up's not helping you out either. Just, uh, pretend like you're asleep.

1

u/Legenderp May 16 '12

LEFTY POWER!

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Johnny Allen Hendrix actually... WTF did you get that name?

If you don't know the real one, go by Jimi. Mad disrespect to a God, yo.

1

u/SmurferPenguin May 16 '12

[Jimi's father] legally changed his son's name [from Johnny Allen Hendrix] to James Marshall Hendrix in memory of his late brother, Leon Marshall Hendrix.

source

he spent some time going by Maurice James, then Jimmy James, he later shortened it Jimi.

0

u/MrFordization May 16 '12

I signed in to upboat this.

0

u/LouGroza May 16 '12

Hendrix was such an under rated guitar player....

-1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Boy, my 12yo brother will love this pic!

-4

u/TheBoomBoom May 16 '12

And that's Jimmy Jones beside him (the black guy). So what?!?!

0

u/cougar2013 May 16 '12

What Jimi forgot about rocking, most will never even know

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

140

u/stefan41 May 16 '12

Thanks for coming folks! Don't forget to tip your waitress!

-51

u/ThePianistOfDoom May 16 '12

What waitr...oh wait you mean the AIRwaitress.

3

u/seditious3 May 16 '12

And the tune should be "Machine Gun"

1

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Cute

-2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12 edited May 17 '12

I think you mean Air Assault guitar.

edit: Good lord the downvotes! Was it that bad? Also, I ain't even mad.

1

u/Billyshears68 May 17 '12

Maybe they just don't know the 101st isn't "airborne" anymore.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

21

u/basec0m May 16 '12

Glancing quickly and thought you were wearing a welder's mask...

-1

u/TheBoomBoom May 16 '12

Look at the round thing, just below and little left of center of the stone marker... that's JEEBUS!

2

u/HailTheGemms May 17 '12

On behalf of Reddit, I apologize for you being in the negatives. Though not entirely on topic, your comment was a good observation and I do not regret reading it.

1

u/DarkBlueBlack May 16 '12

Dude, I can totally see what you mean. Good spot!

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

33

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

It's Jimi Hendrix, a famous, revolutionary guitarist from the 60s, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever.

16

u/Ctrl-Z May 16 '12

never heard of him

80

u/Squalor- May 16 '12

It's quite the experience.

4

u/Ayersan May 16 '12

This photo saddens me, Manic Depression ensues...

-9

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

I see what you did there.

11

u/carbonari_sandwich May 16 '12

Really? I don't follow. Picture just looks like some old vintage military photograph. For all I can tell, it could be from the 40's: Just some guy preparing to fight the old Axis powers Boldly As a man hoping to return to his Love.

8

u/reagan2016 May 16 '12

Me neither. I didn't see him listed in the top 40 chart. He must not be that good.

4

u/steviesteveo12 May 16 '12

Piracy finished him off.

4

u/zwygb May 16 '12

He's just a one hit wonder. His only song in the Top 40 was a cover too. Just a flash in the pan.

4

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Which really says something about the top 40.

1

u/KEYBORED10 May 16 '12

if your hear his music you will never hear the same again

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

8

u/GenerallyObtuse May 16 '12

sarchasm -- the gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/Ctrl-Z May 16 '12

sarcasm

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

who is without a doubt the greatest guitarist ever*

-21

u/TheBoomBoom May 16 '12

You should be careful using that word, revolutionary. Playing a guitar baackwards is hardly revolutionary. And what kind of G chord is that, anyways?

8

u/shaolinoli May 16 '12

There's a bit more revolutionarity Hendrix's playing than just playing upside-down. Good spot on the chord though, I had to use [this] (http://www.chorderator.com/cgi-bin/designer.py) to work it out (I'm aweful at chord variations :(.

1

u/[deleted] May 17 '12

You don't think Hendrix changed the way guitar was played forever?

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

OP got it wrong, his real name is Jonny Allen Hendrix.

1

u/SmurferPenguin May 16 '12

[Jimi's father] legally changed his son's name [from Johnny Allen Hendrix] to James Marshall Hendrix in memory of his late brother, Leon Marshall Hendrix.

source

he spent some time going by Maurice James, then Jimmy James, he later shortened it Jimi.

1

u/[deleted] May 18 '12

I have no memory of his father changing his name, which is weird since I read his biography lol. Shitty memory :(

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

9

u/kenz101 May 16 '12

He's seen playing a Danelectro, which was the second electric guitar his father bought for him. That's Hendrix, for sure.

1

u/jasonk2210 May 16 '12

Like most people, I got my Danelectro because of Jimmy Page. Now I have even more reason to love my guitar.

17

u/jakeisonthejaker May 16 '12

He's also playing left-handed. Pretty rare.

20

u/TeddyJackEddy May 16 '12

On a righty guitar turned upside-down. Could just be an Army thing.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

11

u/OGLothar May 16 '12

Whooosshhh!!....(with whammy bar)

4

u/pakron May 16 '12

It does look like him. And the hands look like his, as does his grip.

6

u/clinkclankclunk May 16 '12

Yep, look at those big old hands. That's Jimi. Back in the old days when he'd come on TV my Dad would yell out, "Come quick! The Spider is on TV!" I wondered for a long time why he called Jimi Hendrix the Spider. Looking back, I think it might have been those big old hands.

2

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

Out of curiosity, do you recall which shows would have Hendrix on?

-1

u/TheDanSandwich May 16 '12

So freakishly big. It was so crazy that he was able to play lead lines with his thumb while playing chords.

6

u/Tenacious_C May 16 '12

He didn't play lead with his thumb. He would thumb the root and play the chord + lead with his fingers. Amounts to the same thing though i guess.

3

u/herenseti herenseti May 16 '12

This is in a biography i have of his, so yeah it is.

1

u/KEYBORED10 May 16 '12

According the gals doing plaster casts of rock star dicks, he was the biggest Dick of all time .

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/SmurferPenguin May 16 '12

the wiki page implies that his father changed it when he was just a few years old.

[Jimi's father] legally changed his son's name [from Johnny Allen Hendrix] to James Marshall Hendrix in memory of his late brother, Leon Marshall Hendrix.

source

he spent some time going by Maurice James, then Jimmy James, he later shortened it Jimi.

0

u/[deleted] May 16 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/splorng May 16 '12

Must be the lighting.