Ralph Nader (serial presidential candidate, consumer champion, pain in the arse of car makers, general all round good guy in other words) warned us in 1969 that loud rock music would make us all go deaf. I SAID THAT LOUD ROCK MUSIC WOULD MAKE US ALL GO DEAF…..

I so want this to be true, James Marshall Hendrix was honorably discharged from the US army on this day in 1962 after nreaking his ankle on his 26th parachute jump. I want it to be true but there is quite a lot of evidence that Jimi’s departure from the army was less, well, honorable. A terrible Marksman, truant, subject of negative statements by his fellow soldiers, and he did not protest when it was suggested that he should be discharged.  On the other hand, I never felt comfortable with one of my heroes being a model soldier.

What is reassuring is that one of the greatest guitarists ever (Zappa, Robert Quine, Rheihard, one of those is the best) could not hold a conversation while thinking about his guitar.  Somethings are more important than being a soldier.