Decades Project: 1960's
Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin: Spiritual Leaders of a Generation
The decade of the 1960's brought about a lot of change all over the country. It changed every area of life for all people. One of the largest areas that it changed was the area of culture and lifestyle. There were certain leaders and advocator of this change. They led the flood of a new, younger, and more expressive generation. The new faces and leaders had their own ideas about life, and they shared them through art. But music conveyed the most influential messages.

Out of Seattle, Washington, a city that has produced the most controversial artist of this generation and the generations to follow, appeared Jimi Hendrix. At a time when blacks were not accepted, Jimi Hendrix stood up and advocated change for what he knew was right. But unlike Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, he stood for a new way of living. His life was one that many people idolized during the 1960's. Jimi Hendrix started a new wave with his pioneering of a electric guitar style of distortion, and his free loving drug use, hair, and cloths promoted the new image of the age. He once said, as a testimony to his thoughts, "When I die, I want people to play my music, go wild and freak out an' do anything they want to do." Jimi's songs, like "Purple Haze" and "Fire" talked about drugs such as LSD and marijuana. Unsurprisingly, he died of a drug overdose in 1970. His life has forever changed the effect the music has on people, and people have on music, and will be remembered for changing his generation forever.

Another advocate for change, and also a revolution singer was Janis Joplin. She lead the way with both her views of how to live, and her musical style. Concerning her live Janis stated, "I would rather die when I'm twenty-five then be sitting in a goddamn rocking chair when im eighty!". The attitude of living a fast and short life became very popular during the 1960's thanks in part to Janis Joplin, who died of a Heroin overdose in 1970. She created a new lifestyle for women. She was truly the first "rocker chick". Before her, all female artists had been sweet singing folk guitarists. With Janis, only the guitar stayed. Yet her meaningful lyrics are still being touched upon. In the Mach 23 edition of the New York Times, a large and colorful headline boldly stated, "Freedom is Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose". That headline is ripped from the famous lines of "Me and Bobby McGee", one of Janis's hits. She was a screamer, yeller, and powerful force in moving her generation in a different direction from the one before it.

Throughout the decade, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix led the way for reformers in the areas of freedom, love, and culture. Their passion for reform and change, along with the support of the next generation made for a powerful movement that changed the thoughts of America forever. Of course they were not the only important leaders, but they were two of the most exciting, exhilarating, and impressive. They captured the spirit of the 60's in their fun loving ways, and also in not so fun loving ways. Both of their deaths were caused by their own mistakes, a common theme in the decade. While continuous drug use and creative thinking helped make this decade the most memorable of the century.
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Turbulent Years: the 1960's, American Century. Time Life Books, 1998

www.bluesforpeace.com/woodstock.htm

www.worcesterart.org/Exhibitions/Past/jimi.html