Hospital Bill to Jimi Hendrix from Maui Medical Group, August 20, 1970
Musician Jimi Hendrix flew from Seattle to Maui, Hawai’i, on July 28, 1970. The next day, along with bassist Billy Cox (b. 1939) and drummer Mitch Mitchell (1946-2008), Hendrix played a concert at the Haleakalā crater in Maui, Hawai'i. An audience of 500 gathered, grouped according to astrological sign. Hendrix and band took the stage while the crowd chanted “AUMMM,” and launched into two sets, which were captured on camera for the 1972 counterculture film Rainbow Bridge.
Two days later, Hendrix flew to Honolulu for his last Hawai’ian concert, and on August 2nd, while Cox and Mitchell flew back to the mainland, Hendrix returned to Maui. While hanging out with Rainbow Bridge cast member Melinda Merryweather (b. unknown), Hendrix cut his foot on the beach, and played up the injury in order to stave off his management and extend his stay.
According to this bill for $25.27 from the Maui Medical Group in Wailuku, Maui, Hendrix visited on August 11, 12, and 14 for an examination, immunization, and supplemental dressings. In Charles Cross’ biography Room Full of Mirrors (Hyperion, 2005), Merryweather says, “We put on about twenty times the amount of bandages it needed and took pictures to make it look like he was seriously injured.” Hendrix was burnt out from constant touring and needed a break. For a while longer, he was able to ignore the burden of being a superstar, but on August 14th, Jimi flew back to New York and his turbulent life. A little over a month later he would be dead.
Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who gained mainstream prominence in the late 1960s with hits such as “Hey Joe,” “Purple Haze,” “All Along the Watchtower,” and “Fire,” and is now celebrated as one of the most influential electric guitarists of all time.
