On 24 September 1966, Jimi Hendrix arrived in London. Within weeks, he had formed the Jimi Hendrix Experience and recorded the group’s first single, ‘Hey Joe’. Released that December, the record marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey that would transform music.
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Hendrix’s arrival in London, Genesis is returning to its landmark limited edition, Classic Hendrix, for a final release of 90 copies.
The release comprises 30 specially numbered Archive Copies, each accompanied by an original framed Baron Wolman print, and 60 Final Copies from within the numbered edition. The Archive Copies are issued as Publisher’s Proofs, specially numbered in Roman numerals from P.P. I to P.P. XXX.
Long out of production, no further copies of Classic Hendrix will be created.
Classic Hendrix is a comprehensive visual memoir of Jimi Hendrix, bringing together more than 250 photographs by 34 of the most celebrated names in rock photography.
With forewords by Jimi Hendrix Experience bassist Noel Redding, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and legendary recording engineer Eddie Kramer, the book also features reminiscences from Mitch Mitchell, Chas Chandler, Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood and many more of Hendrix’s friends and peers. Its biographical text draws upon archival quotations from Jimi himself.
The photographs range from defining images of Hendrix on stage to intimate and previously unseen portraits, creating an extraordinary visual record of his life and career.
‘I hope that Jimi, Mitch and I gave you some musical pleasure. Then and now. I hope you enjoy this wonderful book.’ – Noel Redding
An extraordinary visual record
Thirty-four of the most celebrated names in rock photography contributed more than 250 photographs to Classic Hendrix. They include Elliott Landy, Jean-Pierre Leloir, Gered Mankowitz, Jim Marshall, Jerry Schatzberg, Baron Wolman and Linda McCartney.
Acclaimed rock photographer Ross Halfin, who selected the photography for the book, travelled through Japan, the United States and Europe to uncover an extraordinarily diverse collection of images, ranging from the iconic to the previously unseen.
'I can't think of any single pop musician today meriting the deserved intense photographic coverage that Jimi provoked and which is reflected in these photos.' – Chris Morphet
Told in the words of Hendrix and his peers
Written by former Guitar World editor-in-chief, author and lifelong Hendrix devotee Brad Tolinski, the manuscript provides a compelling account of Hendrix’s career, placing each photograph within the context of his remarkable story.
Arranged chronologically, the photographs are accompanied by archival quotations from Jimi himself and first-hand recollections from his fellow musicians, friends and collaborators.
Beginning in 1966 with the newly formed Jimi Hendrix Experience playing its first concerts in France, the book follows Hendrix’s extraordinary ascent and concludes with his final concert appearance at the Isle of Fehmarn in September 1970.
'Turn to any page in Classic Hendrix, be absorbed by the text, examine the photograph. The joy, the pain, the confusion and the triumph variously registered by Hendrix will, I believe, be even more affecting as you discover the specific circumstances behind them. You will come away saddened, gladdened, and even stunned. This book is the Jimi Hendrix experience filled – like the best of his work – with beauty, great grandeur and transcendent human spirit.' – Brad Tolinski
'I couldn't believe how good he was. Part of me wanted to run away and say, "Oh no, he's everything I want to be - I can't handle this," and part of me just fell in love. It was a really difficult thing for me to deal with, but I just had to surrender and say, "This is fantastic."' – Eric Clapton
'Back in those days, all us skinny white British kids were trying to look cool and sound black. And there was Hendrix, the ultimate in black cool. Everything he did was natural and perfect.' – Ronnie Wood
From the other side of the glass
Across more than five decades, recording engineer and producer Eddie Kramer has worked with Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Eric Clapton and David Bowie. He is best known, however, for his defining collaboration with Jimi Hendrix.
Kramer became an integral part of Hendrix’s creative process, working with him on all four albums released during Hendrix’s lifetime. Together, they pioneered studio techniques – including phasing, backwards echo and innovative uses of reverb – that became hallmarks of the Hendrix sound.
Kramer also documented life in the studio with his camera. His portrait of Hendrix, ‘From The Other Side of the Glass’, was taken during the recording of Electric Ladyland at the Record Plant in New York in 1968.
The photograph is reproduced on the Perspex cover of every book in this final release, each of which is signed by Eddie Kramer.
'I was fascinated by photography. I was in the middle of engineering but I kept my camera next to me on the console, ready to shoot.' – Eddie Kramer
Jimi Hendrix, New York City, 1970
Each of the 30 Archive Copies is accompanied by an original print of Jimi Hendrix, signed by Baron Wolman, Rolling Stone magazine’s first chief photographer.
Wolman photographed Hendrix on 4 February 1970 at the New York City apartment of his manager, Michael Jeffery. Hendrix was being interviewed for Rolling Stone alongside Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, and the resulting feature appeared in the magazine on 19 March 1970.
The relaxed portrait captures Hendrix away from the stage, smiling during a conversation that ranged across the Experience, the Band of Gypsys and the turbulent months that had preceded the interview. The image does not appear within the book and was reserved exclusively for the signed print produced for inclusion with the original Deluxe copies of Classic Hendrix.
Printed using fine FM stochastic screening on heavyweight Italian coated art paper, the surviving archive examples have been preserved by Genesis for more than two decades.
Unlike the prints included with the Deluxe books, these archive examples were retained unnumbered and untrimmed. Each survives as a complete 14 × 12-inch production sheet, with the original hand-drawn trim marks indicating its intended 10 × 8-inch finished format.
The print is conservation float-mounted in a black hardwood frame, allowing the complete sheet and its original production markings to remain visible. Each print is accompanied by a Genesis Certificate of Authenticity confirming its origin and provenance.
Signed by: Baron Wolman
Untrimmed print size: 35.6 × 30.5 cm (14" × 12")
Intended trimmed size: 25.4 × 20.3 cm (10" × 8")
Framed size: 45 × 40 cm (17¾" × 15¾")
Printing: FM stochastic offset lithography
Paper: Heavyweight Italian coated art paper
Release: 30 signed, unnumbered archive prints, each accompanying a Publisher’s Proof copy
Framing: Conservation float-mounted in black hardwood, to display the complete sheet, with UV-protective Perspex glazing
Certificate of Authenticity: Signed by the publisher
From the Genesis archive
Every Archive Copy and Final Copy is accompanied by an original Classic Hendrix publication prospectus, first mailed to Genesis subscribers in 2004.
Folded to A5 size, the double-sided prospectus opens out to an A2 sheet. Its ingenious design evokes a printer’s imposition sheet before folding and trimming: individual panels appear in different orientations across the open sheet, surrounded by registration targets, trim marks and colour-control bars.
Printed in vivid magenta and orange, the prospectus presents photography from the book, quotations from Hendrix’s friends and fellow musicians, details of the original limited edition and behind-the-scenes images documenting its production – from checking page layouts and colour proofs to printing, folding and binding.
Preserved in the Genesis archive since the original publication, one of these rarely seen 2004 prospectuses is included with every copy in this final release.
Date: 2004
Format: Double-sided folding prospectus
Folded size: A5
Open size: A2
Design: Inspired by a printer’s imposition sheet, with registration targets, trim marks and colour-control bars
Availability: Included with every Archive Copy and Final Copy
The Archive Copies combine the signed Classic Hendrix Collector book with an original framed Baron Wolman print retained in the Genesis archive since publication.
The 30 books are issued as Publisher’s Proof copies outside the numbered edition, specially numbered in Roman numerals from P.P. I to P.P. XXX. Each is signed by Ross Halfin, Eddie Kramer and Brad Tolinski.
The book is quarter-bound in fine-grain purple leather, with prismatic silver page edging and Eddie Kramer’s portrait of Hendrix reproduced on its Perspex cover. The finished volume is presented in a black buckram box, silk-screened with six fluorescent guitar strings.
Each Archive Copy is accompanied by an original, signed and unnumbered Baron Wolman print. Preserved as a complete untrimmed production sheet, the print is float-mounted in a black hardwood frame and supplied with a Genesis Certificate of Authenticity signed by the publisher.
Each Archive Copy also includes an original 2004 Classic Hendrix publication prospectus, preserved in the Genesis archive and unfolding from A5 to A2 size.
‘It ain’t no book, it’s a work of art.’ – Baron Wolman
In order to make investing in one of our limited edition books or prints easier, we offer an interest-free option to spread the cost.
For purchases over £150, the payments are spread over three months. For example, for a purchase of £360, £122.40 would be paid today, followed by two instalments of £118.80.
Genesis will dispatch your item once the last instalment is paid.
Limited to 60 copies
Sixty Final Copies are being released to commemorate 60 years since Jimi Hendrix arrived in London.
Each is individually numbered within the original limited edition of 1,750 copies and signed by Ross Halfin, Eddie Kramer and Brad Tolinski.
The book is quarter-bound in fine-grain purple leather, with prismatic silver page edging and Eddie Kramer’s portrait of Hendrix reproduced on its Perspex cover. Each copy is presented in a black buckram box, silk-screened with six fluorescent guitar strings.
Each Final Copy also includes an original 2004 Classic Hendrix publication prospectus, preserved in the Genesis archive and unfolding from A5 to A2 size.
‘Having known Jimi, it’s like taking a very nice walk into my past. I think the book is beautiful.’ – Jerry Schatzberg
Select from the following copies:
The most comprehensive visual memoir of Hendrix ever published with commentary from Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood, Aerosmith's Joe Perry and, of course, Jimi himself.
Since 1974 Genesis has created signed limited edition books on behalf of authors and artists ranging from the Beatles to Buckingham Palace.
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+44 (0)1483 540970
Genesis House, 2 Jenner Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3PL, England
