This "Hendrix Fire Letterpress" is an iteration of a Jimi Hendrix portrait I made but never released outside of inclusion in my "50 Shades of Black" boxset. I've been a fan of Jimi Hendrix since late high school. After what I call my "punk rock orthodoxy" phase waned, I was open to looking back to older music that had some of the same attitude and expression as punk. Hendrix stood out to me as being soulful and cool, but also intense and feral. The debut Hendrix album, Are You Experienced, is a masterpiece all the way through, and though it opens with the banger "Purple Haze," I really love the groove and vocal swagger of the song "Fire." To me, "Fire" has a heavier funk feel, almost like James Brown with more guitar power. Most people focus on Jimi's guitar prowess, but I think he was a great vocalist and songwriter with his guitar brilliance, just adding flair to superb songs. I made several homemade Hendrix shirts when I was in high school and college just to have one for myself. One of the first "art" prints I ever made was a tribute to John Van Hamersveld's Pinnacle Hendrix poster from 1968. I saw Hendrix as a cultural icon to reference and honor, even as I subverted his image. This one, however, is a pure, sincere tribute!
-Shepard
PRINT DETAILS: Hendrix Fire Letterpress. 13" H x 10" W. Letterpress on cream cotton paper with hand-deckled edges. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Numbered edition of 450. Obey publishing chop in lower left corner. Comes with a Digital Certificate of Authenticity provided by Verisart. $65.
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