# Jimi Hendrix postage stamp is being issued. Good idea or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 14, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700 "2014-03-14T16:44:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/21 "2014-03-14T17:32:26Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Hendrix definitely had immense talent. I would have loved hearing his music as he matured and grew as an artist. He never got that chance. True. There have always been rumors or reports that he was going to do something with Miles Davis later in 1970 (if we’re talking about why he’s a legend, by the way, let’s talk about the way Davis incorporated some of his style), and that could have been incredible. The blues was really always a part of his repertoire, so describing his music only as “psychedelic rock” is kind of limited. If you’re interested [there’s a great compilation out there called Blues that focuses on this side of his music](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_%28Jimi_Hendrix_album%29): it has a bunch of classic blues covers and some of his own blues-based songs like Hear My Train a-Comin’ and Red House. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/22 "2014-03-14T17:35:23Z")
I’ll check that compilation out. Thank Marley. You probably know Hendrix was a former paratrooper? 101st Airborne. He left the military and jumped right into the rock scene. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/23 "2014-03-14T18:02:32Z")
The post office wants to sell stamps, and also attract younger generations to the hobby of collecting them. There aren’t that many people who actually write letters these days so they are hoping to sell to collectors, to make up the difference. Jimi Hendrix will sell well overseas. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/24 "2014-03-14T18:06:42Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > The post office wants to sell stamps, and also attract younger generations to the hobby of collecting them. :smack: I’m 49, and Jimi was before my time. The simple fact is, he’s an American musician who changed music. It’s not going to appeal to ‘the kids.’ It’s a recognition of his achieving timeless status. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/25 "2014-03-14T18:18:36Z")
> [@bup](#): > > :smack: > I’m 49, and Jimi was before my time. > > The simple fact is, he’s an American musician who changed music. It’s not going to appeal to ‘the kids.’ It’s a recognition of his achieving timeless status. I agree with you, but that _is_ how the post office thinks. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/26 "2014-03-14T18:23:49Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Even Janis Joplin managed to survive rock fame longer than that. She’s getting her stamp later this year. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/27 "2014-03-14T18:27:22Z")
Just thought I’d point out that BB King (like Eric Clapton and James Taylor) is still very much alive. THAT is why he has never been honored with a postage stamp. It goes against USPS policy to issue stamps depicting the living. Rest assured that whenever BB dies, he WILL get a stamp. But I suspect he’d prefer to let the Post Office wait a while longer. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/28 "2014-03-14T18:32:37Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > It goes against USPS policy to issue stamps depicting the living. [Not anymore.](http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2011/pr11_109.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/29 "2014-03-14T18:32:40Z")
Never mind; **Euty** just pwned me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/30 "2014-03-14T18:49:20Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > There’s also a Ritchie Valens stamp. But apparently the official position of the United States Postal Service is “Fuck the Big Bopper.” Off-topic, but after _La Bamba_ and _The Buddy Holly Story_ came out I was so hoping there would be a film called _Helloooo Baby_. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/31 "2014-03-14T19:39:11Z")
JFK didn’t even make it 3 years as president. Fuck that guy! And that Jesus fella, only preaching for 3 years. Whatevs. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/32 "2014-03-14T19:44:40Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Ugh. That’s the brown acid of Jimi Hendrix portraits. I just choked on my own vomit. > > Great idea, bad choice. Quite frankly, I find the image a bit insulting. It is like someone told the “artist” to do some black guy playing a guitar, and make it all wavy-druggy-looking. The visual similarity is not at all good. Being from the PNW, with strong connections to Seattle, it hits too close to home. > [@aceplace57](#): > > Even Janis Joplin managed to survive rock fame longer than that. Bad example: they are both members of the “27 Club” (both 27 years old when they died), and Janis died only a few weeks after Jimi. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/33 "2014-03-14T19:47:03Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Except you don’t lick stamps anymore. 😃 Speak for yourself! After you pay for the stamp, you are free to take it home and lick to your heart’s content. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/34 "2014-03-14T19:49:42Z")
This is tremendous news. Jimi Hendrix is arguably the greatest American musician of the twentieth century. The only sad part is that it took so long. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/35 "2014-03-14T19:50:45Z")
> [@Lukeinva](#): > > The post office wants to sell stamps, and also attract younger generations to the hobby of collecting them. I understand that next year they’ll release a series of stamps based on the Monkees. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/36 "2014-03-14T19:51:22Z")
Hey Joe. Where you goin’ with that stamp in your hand? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/37 "2014-03-14T20:13:02Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > \ I always felt legend is a title that’s earned. Maybe these days we give out that label more easily. You _really_ don’t realize that Jimi Hendrix is on the Mount Rushmore of rock guitarists?!? Really? This is silliness. (Oh, and **Marley** , in Post #17 you point out that Clapton started playing a Tele after seeing Jimi. I am sure I don’t need to point out it was a STRATocaster, but will do so anyway 😉 I am totally revoking your Music Geek card for 37 minutes because of that! And, fwiw, I completely agree about Clapton aping Hendrix, but EC claims there was no connection. Honestly, I don’t think Clapton was the same player since he saw Hendrix…) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/38 "2014-03-14T20:13:27Z")
Argh. That’s funny because a few years ago Pepsi did a commercial where a young Jimi tries to decide if he wants to buy a guitar or an accordion. It’s a clever ad, but for whatever reason I got all annoyed that the guitar was a Tele instead of a Strat. I guess that makes this a very, very delayed **Gaudere** ’s Law type of situation. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/39 "2014-03-14T20:42:23Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Argh. That’s funny because a few years ago Pepsi did a commercial where a young Jimi tries to decide if he wants to buy a guitar or an accordion. It’s a clever ad, but for whatever reason I got all annoyed that the guitar was a Tele instead of a Strat. I guess that makes this a very, very delayed **Gaudere** ’s Law type of situation. Jimi didn’t just play strats. Per Wikipedia, he played a telecaster on “Hey Joe” and “Purple Haze” (though accepting the latter assertion is a great source of cognitive dissonance) and was photographed using a Flying-V on occasion. He also “used Fender Jazzmasters, Duosonics, two different Gibson Flying Vs, a Gibson Les Paul, three Gibson SGs, a Gretsch Corvette, and a Fender Jaguar. He used a white Gibson SG Custom for his performances on The Dick Cavett Show in September 1969, and a black Gibson Flying V during the Isle of Wight festival in 1970.” > **[Jimi Hendrix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimi_Hendrix#Guitars_and_amplifiers)** > > James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, songwriter and singer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in the history of popular music. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a part of his band, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the institution describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music." > Born in Seattle, Washington, ... https://www.youtube.com/embed/zElAYXooppM?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&start=207 ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700/40 "2014-03-14T20:48:01Z")
> [@Eutychus](#): > > [Not anymore.](http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2011/pr11_109.htm) Huh… I stand corrected. I hadn’t heard that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix-postage-stamp-is-being-issued-good-idea-or-not/683700.md?page=3)