Former JIMI HENDRIX Bandmate Accuses Author Of 'Revisionist History'

September 16, 2005

Ernest A. Jasmin of The News Tribune has isued the following report:

Contrary to the story told in a new biography of rock legend Jimi Hendrix, the Seattle-born guitarist did not pretend to be gay to get out of the U.S. Army, according to former band mateBilly Cox.

"That is a lie," Cox said during an appearance Wednesday night at Seattle's Experience Music Project to promote the new "Jimi Hendrix Live at Woodstock" DVD.

Cox met Hendrix in 1961 when both served in the Army and were stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky. And later he performed in Hendrix's backing group, BAND OF GYPSYS. He was responding to the new Hendrix biography, "Room Full of Mirrors" ($24.95, Hyperion) written by Seattle rock historian Charles Cross.

In a telephone interview Thursday, Cross clarified the sources used in the book — including military documents and a Hendrix childhood friend — and accused Cox and others of "revisionist history."

Hendrix was discharged for medical reasons, Cox said. "He had hurt his leg at one point and then he hurt his back," he said, also suggesting that military medical reports could easily be falsified. "You just take a picture of it and crop it and put it in there." he said. "There's misinformation from people who weren't there."

Read the rest of the article at The News Tribune (free registration required).

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