Seattle Thugs Vandalize Jimi Hendrix Statue

It appears that no statue, no matter who it is of, is safe these days.

Some thugs vandalized (can you believe it?) a statue honoring rock 'n roll icon Jimi Hendrix in Seattle. Hendrix was from nearby Renton, Washington and is buried there.

The following was posted on Facebook:

These morons even vandalized the statue of rock legend Jim Hendrix on Seattle's Capitol Hill. Did these brilliant droolers not realize that Hendrix was a BLACK rock star?

Here's the photo that accompanied the post:

Fun Things To Do In Seattle

Above, Seattle, Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier (in the fog). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While about to start a new job, I took a trip north to Washington state in early 2005 and roamed around Seattle a bit.

I had a good time while there and got to see many things.

Above, the Space Needle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is planning on a vacation trip to Seattle, Washington's biggest city, they should check out an article and video from Travel + Leisure on fun things to do there.

One thing they missed was the tomb of guitarist Jimi Hendrix in nearby Renton, Washington. It was partially completed during my visit.

The Travel + Leisure article on Seattle begins with:

Hailed as one of the Best Places to Travel in 2016, this Pacific Northwest capital of cool has a blossoming culinary neighborhood, Capitol Hill, a vaunted music scene, and no shortage of attractions. 

If you want to know what to do in Seattle, start by ascending the Space Needle—an iconic landmark built for the 1962 World’s Fair. On a clear day, you can see views of the Olympic Mountain Range, Mount Rainier, and Mount Baker from the revolving restaurant at the top. From here, you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the city, and limitless inspiration about where to go next.

Above, the tomb of Jimi Hendrix in Renton, Washington. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Jimi Hendrix Memorial

Above, Jimi Hendrix's grave-memorial. A statue is supposed to be mounted under the domed structure.

Jimi Hendrix Memorial

Photos by Armand Vaquer

A new book by former Jimi Hendrix roadie, James "Tappy" Wright, entitled Rock Roadie, is stirring up a new controversy. In the book, Wright claims Hendrix's manager, Michael Jeffrey, drunkenly confessed to killing Hendrix by stuffing pills into his mouth and washing them down with several bottles of red wine because he feared Hendrix intended to dump him for a new manager.

I have my doubts about this as it has been nearly 40 years since Hendrix's death and Wright never uttered a peep about this until now. Did Wright go to the authorities and report this "confession?"

However, as a Hendrix fan, I made a visit to Hendrix's grave-memorial at the Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton, Washington in February 2005.

At the time, it was written that a bronze statue was being made in Italy to be mounted on a pedestal in the memorial. To date, no such statue has been placed on the grave and it looks the same as it did on my visit except engravings of Hendrix's lyrics and pictures have been added to the three pillars and base walls. According to the official Jimi Hendrix Memorial website, the statue was in the process of being made as of 2003. There's been no updates since 2004.

Here's a couple of photos from my visit:

Above, Hendrix's memorial with the original grave's headstone mounted.

Above, the Jimi Hendrix grave-memorial.