jimi hendrix-an aspie?

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There's plenty of press on Jimi Hendrix lately, illuminating what could be a variety of Asperger's characteristics:

From the Hendrix bio DVD:

His daycare provider quoted as saying little Jimi would not hang out or play with the other kids and was very happy just to be by himself.

His Dad asking Jimi to sweep out his room, only to have him play "air-guitar" with the broom all day alone.

His Seattle girlfriend claims he was hyper-focused on Bob Dylan songs and would read his lyrics endlessly. Jimi's own lyrics have a certain unique sound and cadence in many songs.

Another female aquaintance talked about how in spite of being the focal point of many parties, Jimi would try to get away from people, seeking solitude, instead.

His Television interview on the Dick Cavett Show--while he was articulate, he made very little eye contact.

Echolalia via the guitar (he would play from his head and the guitar seemed to be a physical extension of his body). His left-handed technique on a right-handed guitar was unlike any other player; incorporating the use of his thumb with his fingers and other unusual approches based on making amazing sounds coming from his mind and through the instrument. His unique self-trained approach was extremely different from any other player.

His pursuit of self-medication as a form of escape.

The smokingun.com account of Jimi's military service talks about his unwillingness to asimilate to the Army and his inability to communicate with others--all from his official military service records.
He was sent to the Army's "mental hygene" department.

He was very particular about the clothes he wore and his mode of dress was considered unusual by even his rockstar contemporaries.

His hyperfocus on the guitar itself could make AS a worthy of consideration in Jimi's gifts.

These are just a few of the things I have noticed that make me wonder.

It's suprising how shy and withdrawn people say he was off-stage.

Some people are just shy and withdrawn. I think we're in no position to diagnose someone.

Yeah, although his guitar style and lack of sanity while playing it do remind me of DannyB1234567

Don't know about Hendrix.

But, I was watching a show on the History of Jazz last night on Public Television,
and man Thelonious Monk sure was.

He wore strange hats, spoke in halting phrases, would bury himself in his apartment with his piano. He was denounced by critics early in his career for his profound lack of social graces, but the musicians loved him as he pushed the boundaries of Jazz.

http://www.monkinstitute.com/index11.html

I think it's possible. He was also unusually handsome, as well.

I thought he was supposed to have manic depression (bipolar), because one of his most well known songs is called "Manic Depression", but hey, you can have both AS and bipolar I spose.

I agree, I get a bit sick of every famous person who is remotely shy or nerdy being called an aspie on here.

While I understand we are in no position to diagnose (and it may be forensicly impossible, anyway) I just found the preponderance of evidence interesting.

Without seeking to be embraced by either the Black or White musical communities, his uniquely hybrid approach to music remains pretty vibrant. I particularly enjoy "Third Stone From the Sun" and his lyric,"You, the people of Planet Earth, I can not understand...."

But, at the heart of the matter would be why he did these things. We talk about our perceptions. Our feelings of being outsiders, feelings that fit into an overall diagnostic picture. I'm old enough to know that much of what you describe about Hendrix simply fits into the whole 60's "freak" world view.

Very true, Litguy. One of Hendrix' early supporters was Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones and Brian was considered "esoteric" by his peers. (from the Stones' bio "Everybody's Lucifer")

Jimi Hendrix was Manic Depressive (Bipolar Disorder). Some of the symptoms of Bipolar are similar to AS.

I was just watching part 2 (I've seen part 1 but haven't seen part 3 yet). In one interview, Jimi says he can't express himself that well and that got me thinking he was on the spectrum. Also one of his friends (forget the guy's name) said Jimi had one of the worst ADD/ADHD symptoms the guy ever saw when he tried to talk to him. It is VERY possible he had manic depression, add/adhd, and asperger's. Everyone on the documentary including his family (One of his brothers and his niece, etc) said he kept to himself and hated conversations especially when it did not interest him at all. And everyone also said that he was very strange/weird and eccentric, etc. Yes back then in the 60s people were out there w/the drugs and such but before Jimi did any of that stuff, his family and friends all said the same things that I mentioned above. My gut feeling is that he definitely had some form of ASD. Jimi has always been my favorite guitar player too! much love to him! <3

I took a history of jazz course in the community college, and the instructor told us an anectdote about Thelonius Monk: he was playing at a club in 1947, and people told him that "there's a cat gigging on the piano across who looks just like you". So he crossed the street ot check it out, and when he meet the guy he said "Yeah, you do look like me..". In 1952 he meet that same musician again, and the first thing out of his mouth was "...but you're uglier than I am."

He finnished a sentence he had started five years earlier.

It's possible. My grandma actually knew him back in the day, I wonder what she would think.

If we're going down this road, how about a Star at the top of his particular tree, who chose to live on his own in the Mojave Desert, Don Van Vliet

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzk6lTjL_dQ[/youtube]