4 Thursday, November 24, 2016 Island Beat Hawaii Tribune-Herald ‘Hendrix On Hendrix’ Noted Jimi Hendrix historian Steven Roby will host a Jimi Hendrix Birthday Bash at 2 p.m. Sunday at Honokaa People’s Theatre. The event will feature a brief presentation by Roby on his best-selling book “Hendrix On Hendrix” and a showing of the movie “Rainbow Bridge” a 1972 documentary about a New Age gathering on Maui containing archival Hendrix concert footage. Roby will sign copies of his book, which just came out in paperback, in the lobby. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for senior citizens, available at the door. Opening will be guitarist Roger Winter, best known for his work with the University of Hawaii at Hilo Jazz Orchestra. Roby said Winter will start playing at about 1 p.m. Sunday would’ve been the 74th birthday of the rock guitarist many consider the greatest ever, who died in London of a barbiturate overdose on Sept. 18, 1970. Roby’s best-selling book, “Hendrix on Hendrix,” was released in paperback earlier this month. Roby said there’s a lot of misinformation and apocryphal quotes attributed to Hendrix and he researched Hendrix’s interviews in an attempt to “set the record straight.” Now a Honokaa resident, Roby researched Hendrix’s voluminous interviews and recorded encounters to debunk misinformation about and apocryphal quotes attributed to the guitar innovator. Roby was in his early teens when Hendrix died, but told the Tribune Herald he was fortunate enough to see him live in concert three times. “I grew up in San Francisco during Haight-Ashbury days and discovered him on what was called underground FM rock radio at the time and became a huge fan, bought his records and finally got to an age when I said, ‘Hey, I want to go to my first rock concert,’” Roby said. For his 14th birthday, Roby’s parents bought him a ticket to see Jimi at the Oakland Coliseum in 1969. “And there were two others after that, Berkeley in 1970, and then, my parents and I was here, on Oahu in August of 1970, he recalled. “I said, ‘He’s playing over here.’ They said, ‘You just saw him in Berkeley’ back in May.’ But they said OK, and that’s how I got to see his last show.” The show Roby referred to was Hendrix’s last American concert, Aug. 1, 1970, at the Honolulu International Center Arena, now known as the Neal Blaisdell Center. Roby, who has a deep, resonant, laidback voice reminiscent of a 1960s FM rock disc jockey, said when he discovered Hendrix’s music, it became an obsession. “I listened to the Beatles and the Stones at the time, but there was something when I first heard him play on FM radio at the time that stood out above the rest, that made me want to go spend my weekly allowance on a British import (album). It was just a unique sound that I’d never heard before,” he said. “Hendrix On Hendrix” is Roby’s third book on the guitar god. He said Hendrix’s style comes “from Jimi’s deep love of the blues.” “Even though he’s known as psychedelic rock, what he plays is heavily laced with the blues,” Roby said. “I’ve seen a lot of people try to copy him and try to do cover versions and interpretations and things like that. But, to me, I think he took chances and took risks and never gave up. And that’s what I think his message should be. Despite his being fired (as a sideman) by Little Richard and the Isley Brothers, he never gave up. He was determined to be a star. I think Jimi’s message is ‘Never give up. Never say no. Just keep on pushing.’” Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune herald.com. Celebrate guitar legend’s birthday Sunday in Honokaa By JOHN BURNETT Hawaii Tribune-Herald The show Roby referred to was Hendrix’s last American concert, Aug. 1, 1970, at the Honolulu International Center Arena, now known as the Neal Blaisdell Center.
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