42 years ago today (9/18/70) Jimmy Hendrix died in London at the age of 27.

There were various theories as to how he died, but the coroner determined that it was “inhalation of vomit due to barbiturate intoxication.”  

Hendrix rose to stardom in England and Europe (where blues were more popular than in the U.S.), but his breakthrough performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 made American audiences sit up and take notice.

That's the iconic performance where he lights his guitar on fire at the end. 

In talking about Hendrix's “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" Long Island guitarist Joe Satriani (a guitar god in his own right) said about the song, "It's just the greatest piece of electric guitar work ever recorded.

In fact, the whole song could be considered the holy grail of guitar expression and technique. It is a beacon of humanity." 

You can read more about Hendrix life here.

Watch the grand finale of that Monterey Pop Festival performance here.