1. Look closely at this photo. Guess who this person is. Write two sentences about this person, whatever you may know about him or his life. His first name is Jimi.

2. Hendrix had parted ways with his group The Jimi Hendrix Experience and recorded this with his new group, The Band Of Gypsys, which included Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums. The album Band Of Gypsys was recorded live at The Fillmore East in New York City on New Year’s Day, 1970. Hendrix needed one more album to fulfill his contract with Capitol Records, and decided a live album would be the easiest way to do so.

3. Up to this point, most of Hendrix’s songs were about spirituality or love. This was a change of direction, as the song is told from the perspective of a soldier trapped in a war. The song was inspired by The Vietnam War, the Black Panther Party, and the business struggles Hendrix was dealing with.

4. Hendrix introduced this song by dedicating it to “All the troops fighting in Harlem, Chicago and, oh yes, Vietnam.” When Hendrix sings, “I pick up my axe and fight like a bomber,” his “Axe” is his guitar (as it’s commonly known in England).

5. Your Assignment Listen to the song “Machine Gun” quietly. Listen to the song “Machine Gun” quietly. Please write about any topic you wish in your spiral notebook. You need to keep writing as long as the music is playing. Please write about any topic you wish in your spiral notebook. You need to keep writing as long as the music is playing. If any student is talking, I will turn off the song and we will move onto the next assignment. If any student is talking, I will turn off the song and we will move onto the next assignment. Listen to the song “Machine Gun” quietly. Listen to the song “Machine Gun” quietly. Please write about any topic you wish in your spiral notebook. You need to keep writing as long as the music is playing. Please write about any topic you wish in your spiral notebook. You need to keep writing as long as the music is playing. If any student is talking, I will turn off the song and we will move onto the next assignment. If any student is talking, I will turn off the song and we will move onto the next assignment.

6. Early on September 18, 1970, Jimi Hendrix died in London. He died of a drug overdose. He died of a drug overdose. He was only 27 years old. He was only 27 years old. He died of a drug overdose. He died of a drug overdose. He was only 27 years old. He was only 27 years old.

7. Schedule for Wednesday, Oct. 28 Jimi Hendrix free write Jimi Hendrix free write Mission Statement Mission Statement Library Library Break, if earned Break, if earned Peer Editing Peer Editing In-class Reading In-class Reading Jimi Hendrix free write Jimi Hendrix free write Mission Statement Mission Statement Library Library Break, if earned Break, if earned Peer Editing Peer Editing In-class Reading In-class Reading