An upcoming book entitled ‘Rock Roadie’ is claimed to be an insider information from one of the former production assistants of legendary rock singer Jimi Hendrix. According to James ‘Tappy’ Wright, one of Hendrix’s roadies, Hendrix’s manager Michael Jeffery, ‘made a drunken confession a year after the star’s death in September 1970’ that he killed the rock star. The motive: an insurance scam. Manager allegedly told assistant that ‘he had taken out a life insurance policy on Hendrix worth $2million (£1.2million) with Jeffery as beneficiary.’

Wright reveals in the book that Jeffery said, “I had to do it, Tappy. You understand, don’t you? I had to do it. You know damn well what I’m talking about.’

It will be recalled that Hendrix died when he was 27 by choking to death on his own vomit. The circumstances surrounding Hendrix’s death has been a mystery all this time, though. Wright offers an explanation when tying up Jeffery to the death scene when he writes that ‘Jeffery said he went to the hotel room and stuffed Hendrix full of pills and wine.’

Officially, Jimi Hendrix died of ‘barbiturate intoxication and inhalation of vomit,’ according to the coroner.

It is understandable that a big star such as Hendrix will send shock waves to his staff should he decide to fire them, and this is probably what happened to his manager Jeffery who was ‘worried that Hendrix was preparing to find a new manager when their deal was due to end in December 1970.’

Wright quotes Jeffery: ‘I was in London the night of Jimi’s death and together with some old friends …we went round to Monika’s hotel room, got a handful of pills and stuffed them into his mouth …then poured a few bottles of red wine deep into his windpipe. I had to do it. Jimi was worth much more to me dead than alive. That son of a bitch was going to leave me. If I lost him, I’d lose everything.’

Very little alcohol was found in Hendrix’s bloodstream.

Via Mail Online