Synopses & Reviews
On the 35th anniversary of his death comes the definitive biography of rock 'n' roll legend Jimi Hendrix by the
New York Times bestselling author Charles R. Cross.
Coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's tragic death in 1970, Room Full of Mirrors is the definitive biography of rock'n roll's greatest guitarist. Meticulously researched and based on more than 300 interviews with those who knew him best more than half of whom have never spoken about him before this landmark book recounts the entire arc of Hendrix's life, from his troubled childhood in Seattle's projects and the early loss of his mother to his struggles against racial prejudice as a young musician and his rapid ascent to the top amidst the swinging London scene, and finally to the apex of his career headlining Woodstock in 1969, with his death occurring a year later.
This is a book as colorful and large as the decade of the sixties. It is the story of an outrageous life with legendary tales of sex, drugs, and excess but it also reveals a man who struggled to accept his role as an idol and who privately craved the kind of normal family life he never had. Using never-before-seen documents and private letters, Room Full of Mirrors unlocks the vast mystery of one of rock's most enduring legends.
Review
"[O]ne of the best [Hendrix] biographies to date....Cross distinguishes this effort with information gleaned from interviews with primary sources....Admirably comprehensive and well referenced, this is the Hendrix biography to acquire if you can acquire only one." Booklist
Review
"Kurt Cobain's biographer takes on the great rock guitarist's legacy and misses the mark....One ultimately understands that Hendrix was crushed by the burden of celebrity, but the sources of that celebrity remain vague. Hendrix's story is finally lost in a purple haze." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
It has been more than thirty-five years since Jimi Hendrix died, but his music and spirit are still very much alive for his fans everywhere.
Charles R. Cross vividly recounts the life of Hendrix, from his difficult childhood and adolescence in Seattle through his incredible rise to celebrity in London's swinging sixties. It is the story of an outrageous life--with legendary tales of sex, drugs, and excess--while it also reveals a man who struggled to accept his role as idol and who privately craved the kind of normal family life he never had.
Using never-before-seen documents and private letters, and based on hundreds of interviews with those who knew Hendrix--many of whom had never before agreed to be interviewed--Room Full of Mirrors unlocks the vast mystery of one of music's most enduring legends.
About the Author
Charles R. Cross, author of the New York Times bestseller Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain, was editor of The Rocket, the Northwest's highly regarded music and entertainment magazine and the first publication ever to do a cover story on Nirvana. He is the author of three other books: Led Zeppelin: Heaven and Hell; Backstreets: Springsteen, the Man and His Music; and Nevermind: The Classic Album. His writing has appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire, and Spy, among many other publications. He lives in Seattle.