have been slammed for repeating the revelations of Devon ’ s words ... I stand here now ... before you and the world and God and the very spirit of Jimi Hendrix himself and proclaim my honesty ... Let there be no doubt ... Regardless of speculation or so-called medical documentation or the conflicting words of those who were not even standing right there ... such as family members or other self imposed ... supposedly more relevant persons other than Marquise and I ... who were the only two people solely present as Devon Wilson told us she heavily dosed Jimi ’ s coffee .. the night before his death in September of1970 ... at a party in London ... saying “ The only time we were lovey dovey was when we were on the drug .” ... You have said you never doubted my word ... Is that so ???
DK : That is true , I believe that Devon said that to you , but I also believe that Devon was a liar as most junkies are . And she may have said that to shift the blame and protect someone else . It was well known by people close to Devon that she was on Michael Jeffrey ’ s payroll to spy on Jimi and his whereabouts . Although she loved Jimi , she was strung out and did certain things for money that I know she regretted . She was also close to Alan Douglas , a shady character , who Jimi by many accounts did not want involved with his business .
MBW : Can you tell us anything about Jimi ’ s family ... I know they have so much power and so much to say ... even though they were not even there at the time ???
Randy California and David Kramer
DK : The so-called “ Family ” with so much power and money is an adopted step sister that goes by the name of Janie Hendrix . Her real name is Genevieve Lisa Jinka , the illegitimate daughter of a Japanese mother ( Ayako ) and an unknown German father . Jimi Hendrix ’ father Al Hendrix married Ayako “ June ” Hendrix in 1966 when little Janie Jinka was around 6 or 7 years old . Janie met Jimi very briefly when he returned to Seattle to play 3 concerts in the late sixties . She calls herself Jimi Hendrix ’ sister , and the press has often referred to her as Jimi ’ s half sister , but the fact is she is related only by marriage . She gives interviews as if she and Jimi grew up together ... she refers to him as her beloved brother .
Jimi Hendrix ’ real brother Leon , with whom Jimi grew up with and loved , has been completely shut out of the will . It ’ s funny , but she doesn ’ t refer to Leon as her beloved brother . I suppose if Leon was earning millions of dollars , he would be her beloved brother as well . I actually interviewed her mother Ayako , better known as “ June ” before she passed and she was embarrassed by her daughter Janie ’ s astonishing level of greed ... it ’ s very sad . The greed that surrounded Jimi Hendrix in his life continues in his death . And I ’ ll go one step further and say that I believe that greed , sadly , is the downfall of modern civilization .
MBW : This is a fateful moment I have longed for since I ran into unexpected , unfair and unaccounted for speculation concerning this issue ... Forty four years is a very long time to carry such a thankless burden ... It ’ s funny , David Kramer ... This time I am interviewing you ... Tables do turn ... don ’ t they ... So please ... Delight us all with some joyful news about yourself and your work ???
DK : I ’ ve been working in television since 1981 as an artist , producer , and director . I ’ ve produced several music videos and won two Emmy awards . I also produce an annual Jimi Hendrix Birthday Tribute Concert ( each year for the past 8 yrs .) at BB King ’ s Blues Club & Grill in Times Square , NYC . This year it will take place on Saturday , November 29 . In the past I ’ ve had many of Jimi ’ s band members , jamming partners , musicians he ’ s recorded with , musicians he ’ s influenced , and musicians who ’ ve influenced him perform including : Buddy Miles , Larry Coryell , Johnny Winter , Ghetto Fighters , Harvey Brooks , Paul Caruso , Frank Marino , Jack Casady , Vince Martell , Terry Reid , etc . I produce and promote many concert events which has allowed me to interview various artists that might not
Steel Notes Magazine 35