Hendrix Said He Was Gay to Avoid 'Nam

[Kire]

Book: Hendrix Used Gay Ruse to Avoid 'Nam

By GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer Mon Aug 1,10:37 AM ET

SEATTLE (AP) — Jimi Hendrix might have stayed in the Army. He might have been sent to Vietnam. Instead, he pretended he was gay. And with that, he was discharged from the 101st Airborne in 1962, launching a musical career that would redefine the guitar, leave other rock heroes of the day speechless and culminate with his headlining performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock in 1969.

Hendrix's subterfuge, contained in his military medical records, is revealed for the first time in Charles R. Cross' new biography, "Room Full of Mirrors." Publicly, Hendrix always claimed he was discharged after breaking his ankle on a parachute jump, but his medical records do not mention such an injury.

In regular visits to the base psychiatrist at Fort Campbell, Ky., in spring 1962, Hendrix complained that he was in love with one of his squad mates and that he had become addicted to masturbating, Cross writes. Finally, Capt. John Halbert recommended him for discharge, citing his "homosexual tendencies."

Hendrix's legendary appetite for women negates the notion that he might have been gay, Cross writes. Nor, Cross says, was his stunt politically motivated: Contrary to his later image, Hendrix was an avowed anti-communist who exhibited little unease about the escalating U.S. role in Vietnam.

He just wanted to escape the Army to play music — he had enlisted to avoid jail time after being repeatedly arrested in stolen cars in Seattle, his hometown.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050801/ap_en_mu/hendrix_biography

[Crazy Guggenheim]

1. 'Scuse me while I kiss this guy"

[Kire]

2. LOL

:rofl:

[Archae]

3. Better than the chickenhawk Nugent.

That coward dodged the draft in a way that stinks. (Literally!) :mad:

[Kire]

4. really?

how did he dodge the draft?

[Goldom]

5. I was happier before I just looked it up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Nugent#Draft_Dodging

[JohnKleeb]

7. and now hes a big warhawk, thats why I cant stand guys like him.

[Kire]

8. uh....thanks....

...interesting...

[Crazy Guggenheim]

9. He said that he hates hippies?!?! Look at him!

[Archae]

6. He bragged about it.

He walked into the induction center, having not bathed in weeks, or even took off his stinky clothes, and he pissed and shit in his pants for days beforehand.

Now why couldn't he have done it honestly, by asking if burning women and children in Vietnam was moral, after being caught littering in Stockbridge MA? :D