Hendrix auction set to be biggest in rock history

ABOUT 50 hours of unreleased Jimi Hendrix music is being sold in the world’s largest auction featuring the star next month.

A series of around five auctions will be held at the re-launched Marquee Club where, before it moved location, Hendrix once gave some of his most electrifying performances.

The collection, sold by an anonymous American, is so huge that so far only a fifth of it has been brought to Britain and the founder of auction house Cooper Owen, Ted Owen, has spent a year sorting through the pieces which number more than 20,000.

The collection, expected to fetch between £8 million and £15 million, was built up by American Bob Terry, who started on a tiny scale at the age of 17. In recent years, he sold his collection, the world’s largest of Hendrix memorabilia, to another American collector.

Highlights of the auction include 300 hours of video and film footage of Hendrix in the studio, in concert or even walking around a Paris market place - of which 60% have never been seen before. There is also around 50 hours of unreleased music, much of it on tapes Hendrix recorded in the studio and brought home to listen to or work on.

Two other lots include a white Fender Stratocaster guitar being sold by Hendrix’s road manager Bob Levine.

The 1965 guitar, heavily scratched by Hendrix’s rings and his tendency to run the guitar down the mic stand, is expected to fetch around £250,000.

A Cherokee Indian jacket - which Hendrix loved because of his own roots - is expected to fetch £30,000.

Hendrix’s poems and record artwork will also go under the hammer.

Speaking at the launch in the Leicester Square Marquee Club, Mr Owen said: “There is nothing about this collection that is ordinary. It’s mind-blowingly unique.

“Hendrix revolutionised music and London was his spiritual home. This monster collection covers every aspect of his life.”

A date for the auction has not yet been set.