Few musicians in history have reached the same legendary status as Jimi Hendrix. A trailblazing force within psychedelic rock and guitar mastery, Hendrix is responsible for popularising many of the archetypal rock star tropes that musicians have been attempting to recreate for decades. During his relatively short career, the guitarist certainly made a name for himself, remaining an icon of rock music to this day. However, for all this fame, very little is known for sure about Hendrix’s early life and lineage.
During interviews, Hendrix would often show himself to be somewhat cagey about his pre-rockstar life. After all, the musician was constantly looking to the future, pioneering exciting new sounds and inventive tracks. Being rooted in the past did not really suit the work or personality of Hendrix, especially given the idea that he essentially found fame by running away from America, establishing himself in London after fleeing the Vietnam draft. Perhaps the only aspect of Hendrix’s heritage that he celebrated was his Cherokee heritage.
According to the guitarist, his grandmother, Nora Rose Moore, had told him of the family’s Cherokee heritage. Although it is not known for sure whether or not Moore was actually descended from the indigenous tribe, it must be remembered that she existed in a time of great oppression of both First Nations and Black Americans, so the chances of documentation confirming or denying the heritage is fairly slim.
Nevertheless, Hendrix took pride in the Cherokee roots of his grandmother throughout his life and career. From embracing indigenous imagery and fashion in his performance to occasionally speaking about his indigenous roots in interviews, it seems as though this aspect of his heritage was one of the only parts of his part the guitarist was willing to share. The most prominent example of Hendrix celebrating his cultural heritage is the incredible song ‘Castles Made of Sand’, released in 1967.
Taken from his second album, Axis: Bold as Love, the song sees Hendrix take on an uncharacteristically mellow sound. In contrast to the psychedelic adrenaline of popular tracks like ‘Fire’ or ‘Stone Free’, ‘Castles Made Of Sand’ is a melancholic ode to self-reflection and one’s past. Dealing with the inevitability of death and how hopes and dreams can be cut tragically short, the lyrics detail the stories of various characters, including one described as “a little Indian brave”.
As the verse continues, the young indigenous boy dreams of being a fierce warrior and chief, only to be suddenly snuffed out by a surprise attack in the middle of the night. The tale is interspersed with other depressing tales, including a disabled girl committing suicide. For the musical accompaniment, Hendrix recorded the guitars and then played them in reverse, giving the song an outlandish, psychedelic atmosphere in keeping with the rest of the guitarist’s work.
While this piece is, by no means, an autobiographical tale of Jimi Hendrix, it nevertheless offers an insight into his heritage and his celebration of Cherokee roots. Especially within the context of the time the track was released, writing about indigenous people within a rock song was a fairly brave and important thing for Hendrix to do, as First Nations faced a great deal of oppression and cultural erasure at the time.
