Robin Z.
Yelp
I know nothing of the dirty little details behind the accomplishments or foibles of the late Jimi Hendrix (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=jimi%20hendrix&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDwQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FJimi_Hendrix&ei=1k8UT9uXFqfYiAKsp-m6DQ&usg=AFQjCNELRbrJHugf4M8diUbPq8Qag4Edag), nor do I care to know. He would either hate or love this gaudy, over-the-top memorial (he did have flamboyance going for him, didn't he?). How do I rate this gross monstrosity? What does it mean? Who the fuck cares? From what I understand, he wanted to be buried in England yet here he is, chilling under marble in Renton,WA. (shoulda had a will)
All I know for sure is that at one major crossroad of my life, his music meant a lot to me. As a young soldier, overseas and alone, I'd hear "All Along the Watchtower"(http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=all%20along%20the%20watchtower%20lyrics&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lyricsfreak.com%2Fj%2Fjimi%2Bhendrix%2Fall%2Balong%2Bthe%2Bwatchtower_20071646.html&ei=W1YUT5-GEM3XiQLqt-HSDQ&usg=AFQjCNFu2QFhOg6ddxOOpDGoryCslHTtew) and it put me into another world. I can't describe it but It was as if Jimi saw where I was, heard the loud, noisy rotors beating the air as soldiers, burdened with gear, up-assed into the waiting bird and he knew, my brothers and sisters, he knew. Some of us may not be coming back, would anyone know the cost, the worth? The music had to be loud and pure and from the first note to the last, he touched my life with that song. It was Jimi that heard me, not Dylan. And of all the songs I've ever heard, it will be Jimi's guitar-work on this song that gets me down to the core, forever. Maybe you'll say I've smoked too much pot, dropped too much acid, flew too high or been held underwater too long. It doesn't matter. This is MY review, my 500th at that. And this one is for Jimi...so 'scuze me while I kiss this guy.
P.S., and it's my opinion they should back-hoe it all up and move it next to Pike Market Place. Yeah, you know what I'm talkin' about. And stop acting so crazy!