Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix » (Reprint)

On the 35th anniversary of his death comes the definitive biography of rock 'n' roll legend Jimi Hendrix -- by the New York Times bestselling author Charles R. Cross.

Coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's tragic death in 1970, Room Full of Mirrors is the definitive biography of rock 'n' roll's greatest guitarist. Meticulously researched and based on more than 300 interviews with those who knew him best -- more than half of whom have never spoken about him before -- this landmark book recounts the entire arc of Hendrix's life, from his troubled childhood in Seattle's projects and the early loss of his mother to his struggles against racial prejudice as a young musician and his rapid ascent to the top amidst the swinging London scene, and finally to the apex of his career headlining Woodstock in 1969, with his death occurring a year later.

This is a book as colorful and large as the decade of the sixties. It is the story of an outrageous life -- with legendary tales of sex, drugs, and excess -- but it also reveals a man who struggled to accept his role as an idol and who privately craved the kind of normal family life he never had. Using never-before-seen documents and private letters, Room Full of Mirrors unlocks the vast mystery of one of rock's most enduring legends.

Charles R. Cross, author of the New York Times bestseller Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain and three previous books, was editor of The Rocket, the Northwest music and entertainment magazine, from 1986 through 2000. He writes for numerous newspapers and magazines.

The New York Times - Janet Maslin

Charles R. Cross's Room Full of Mirrors is a good, solid, surprisingly touching version of Hendrix's story. Its ideal reader is someone who doesn't know or remember all the minutiae of Hendrix's career (there have been many other books for that) but would like to see an insightful omnibus version. Mr. Cross conducted more than 300 interviews, many with Hendrix's fellow musicians. His diligence casts light on poignant, little-known parts of the Hendrix family history, too.