When Janie Hendrix and The Friends of Jimi Hendrix Park began developing plans for the project at 2400 S. Massachusetts St., there was a lot of debate about whether or not the iconic statue on the corner Broadway Ave. should be relocated.
The debate is over. Jimi isn't leaving Broadway.
Hendrix said she discussed the issue at length with Michael Malone, the owner of the statue and the building on the corner of Broadway and Pine that had been home to Everyday Music and will soon be home to Blick Art Supplies.
"We've realized that Capitol Hill doesn't want to lose the statue," said Hendrix. Hendrix, CEO and president of Experience Hendrix LLC, is currently on tour with a 19-city tribute concert series.
If the news gives you the urge to kiss the sky, there's actually a new Jimi Hendrix album available. Valleys of Neptune is a collection of recordings from 1969, a little over a year before his death and after the release of Electric Ladyland. Sony Legacy Records and Experience Hendrix LLC are planning to release other memorabilia this year, the 40th anniversary of Jimi's death. There will be a new DVD documentary, a Hendrix-themed iPod and "Rock Band" video game, plus a re-release of all his major albums.
Could be something to add to your collection when Everyday Music opens in its new location next to Elliott Bay Book Co. in April.
UPDATE 10:10 AM
From the CHS comments, thanks to Cory for pointing out that Jimi has a new neighbor. Welcome, Chuck!
Photo: Cory Johnson
"We sat down and discussed how we can solve the issue and have Jimi represented on Broadway and at the museum, and decided to create a totally different design," said Hendrix. "He was very charismatic when he was playing, so we can come up with something unique and different for the park that also represents him."
Hendrix hopes to have a statue commissioned and installed for the park's grand opening, tentatively slated for 2012, the year Jimi would have turned 70.
"We had a community meeting about a month ago, and a lot of people came out and were really supportive with nice ideas," said Hendrix. "We want to include a butterfly garden and rain drums, and are working on a crop circle design that would look like him from the sky."
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