Prone to bouts of depression and self doubt, and living a lifestyle that could be generously described as uneven, he claimed much of his "sound" came to him in dreams or "while lying about the house.  In fact, it kind of spoils it if you try and get it on the guitar." (2)  Even if much of his claims are dismissed as overcasual, or even drug induced, after these are stripped away, a surprising amount of his output can only be described as other-worldly.   Much of it fails to fall into any established category even now, and through a stream of consciousness style of writing, inventive chord structures, and memorable guitar playing, pictures are painted of a timeless world in which the stars themselves are within reach.  His closing song at Woodstock, the instrumental Villanova Junction, reflected the deep emotion of a generation uncertain of the future.

Musicians often use drugs as a stimulant, and this was common practice in the 1960's.  But it has also to be admitted there is no example of any lasting music created solely by the influence of such substances.  For example, the Beatles' experimentation was only a backdrop to some superb musicianship, underpinned by very talented musical and orchestral arrangements.  The resulting tracks, such as Strawberry Fields and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (or LSD) are powerful compositions, whose creation the blunting of precision typical of drug taking would surely have prevented.

Over a period of only four years, nearly every track on six separate albums, two released posthumously, were written, arranged, sung and played by him.  Other musicians and recording staff, accomplished players and engineers in their own right, were also often directed by Hendrix.  His live performances reveal an astounding dexterity with the guitar, and, even for a performer, an ability to tap into the emotions of the crowd in an extraordinary way.  As a result he became an influence for two generations of musicians, numbering among them stars such as Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana, who continue to perform covers of his music to this day.

In all, more than 473 albums are known to have been compiled after his death: these include officially released studio material, recorded concerts, bootleg albums, and re-mixes of sessions taking place before 1966.  More individual records have been made by or attributed to him than almost any other performer of the 20th century. 

"Protest is over with.  It's the solutions everyone wants now, not just protest.  The Beatles could do it, they could turn the world around, or at least attempt to.  But you see it might make them a little more uncomfortable in their position.  What I have to say, I'd be glad to say it." (3)

"If you say you are playing electric church music people go 'gasp, gasp' or 'exclaim, exclaim'.  The world church is too identified with religion, and music is my religion.  Jesus shouldn't have died so early and then he could have got twice as much across.  They killed him and then twisted so many of the best things he said.  Human hands started messing it all up and now so much of religion is hogwash." (4)

"If there is a God and He made you, then if you believe in yourself, you're also believing in Him...it does mean that what you are and what you do is your religion.  I can't express myself easy in conversation -- the words just don't come out right.  But when I get up on stage -- well, that's my whole life.  That's my religion.  My music is electric church music, if by 'church' you mean 'religion'.  I am electric religion." (5)