EMP commemorates 40th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's death

Forty years ago on Sept. 18, James Marshall Hendrix was found dead in his London apartment, the victim of an apparent accidental overdose of sleeping pills. The 27-year-old Seattle-born guitarist — at that time one of the world's brightest pop stars — left a legacy that spans generations.

This weekend, Experience Music Project at Seattle Center commemorates Hendrix's death with a two-day tribute. Janie Hendrix, Jimi's half-sister, will introduce an 11 a.m. Saturday showing of "Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child," a new biographical documentary she coproduced. Also on display, from EMP's collection of more than 8,000 artifacts, are rarely seen Hendrix ephemera like handwritten lyrics to "Black Gold," one of Jimi's final songs; Hendrix's Martin D-45 guitar; and an official invitation to the grand opening of Electric Lady Studio, Hendrix's custom-built New York City recording studio.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids under 17; EMP is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Film screenings — at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday — are included with admission.

New Hendrix collectibles

If you and your wallet have yet to reach capacity on Hendrix-related swag, you're in luck — there's a slew of books, DVDs, album reissues and other items in the offing. The most potentially exciting is "West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology," a five-disc box set of four hours of rare and unreleased music, out Nov. 16. Also vying for your dollar is "The Experience: Jimi Hendrix at Mason's Yard," a book of iconic and never-seen-before photos from a famous shoot; "Jimi Hendrix: The Guitar Hero," a documentary narrated by Slash of Guns N' Roses; and "Becoming Jimi Hendrix," a biography about Hendrix's early years.

Jonathan Zwickel: 206-464-3239 or jzwickel@seattletimes.com