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I used to joke that if Bishop Robert Barron can often reference Bob Dylan in his written columns, then I’m going to write about Jimi Hendrix someday.
Welp, here goes.
We’re in the time of the year when rock radio stations and music magazines remember the “West Coast Seattle Boy” during the anniversary of this death — this year being 50 years on September 18.
Those same media entities will remember his contemporary, the singer Janis Joplin, on the anniversary of her death, also 50 years ago this year on October 4.
Less than a year from now, Jim Morrison of The Doors will also be gone 50 years as of July 3, 2021.
These three have a lot in common other than all dying around the same time, more than likely related to too many substances in their systems.
They were all rock music legends from the late 1960s. They all died at the age of 27, forming the cornerstone of the tragic “27 Club” — musicians that died at that young age which also includes Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones and Pete Ham of Badfinger, along with Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, of more recent memory.
Staying power
Mr. Hendrix, Ms. Joplin, and Mr. Morrison are also still very remembered to this day by many generations listening to their music along with wearing clothing with their pictures on them and decorating their walls (or cell phone wallpapers!) with their images.
That is incredible staying power.
While observing this popularity and consuming their recorded works myself, I sometimes reflect and wonder, what if these three artists had shared more missionary-like messages in their music?
Their lyrics, instrumental achievements, and overall presentation have had effects that had lasted more than five decades, but what if these people, and others like them, shared a Gospel message through their art?
Would they still be as popular all of these years later?
Would their evangelizing effects have seeped into society as much as their creative influences did?
Obviously, we’ll never know.
In some way, they may have been on the right track but didn’t quite have the discipleship know-how to get across what they were trying to say.
Toward the end of his very short career, Mr. Hendrix spoke of his music as “electric church.” Mr. Morrison, in an interview, said it was a goal of his to create music or a piece of art that was, or expressed, “pure joy.”
Drug-influenced ideas, or the right messages lacking a Christian foundation?
Despite how one looks at their reputations, these three souls were given tremendous gifts by God.
Is it too much of a stretch to think He meant those gifts for other good works, they were not used quite according to what He had in mind, but maybe some good can come out of it yet?
I’m not saying toss away the sacred music and replace hymns with selections from Are You Experienced? or I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama!, that’s certainly not appropriate, but maybe we can look at these three as examples of God-given gifts and talents and the importance of using them for the right good.
‘Famous’ Catholics
Not that they have to justify their talents by what the secular world thinks of them, but there are some Catholic giants in the greater world of popular art.
I was a little shocked when I first found out that J. R. R. Tolkien was Catholic and The Lord of the Rings is very rooted in the faith.
Many of my friends in high school who were into his works were very much atheists.
I snicker at the fact they were being evangelized to, and they didn’t even know it.
While we won’t examine his personal life too much, Bing Crosby, who brought us Going My Way and “White Christmas” was a Catholic who was a huge Hollywood star.
In the realm of sports, Vince Lombardi, arguably the greatest coach of all time (seriously, disagree with me and I’ll argue with you) was a daily Mass attendee.
The faith guided these three in their work and the world was and is better for it.
Opportunities lost, lessons learned
Should we lament that not every extraordinary gifted person uses these gifts to bring others to God?
Maybe?
A lot of souls have been lost these past 50-plus years.
What if the Hendrix song “May This Be Love” was really a call to do works of charity?
What if the Big Brother and the Holding Company song “Piece of My Heart” (sung by Ms. Joplin) was a message to unite to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
What if “The Changeling” by The Doors was really about conversion and repentance?
Sadly, they weren’t.
And, for reasons known really only to themselves, these gifted musicians were all called away very young.
There are lessons to be learned there as well.
Talent and popularity do not equate to long life.
Both how you use your talents and how you use your life energies have consequences.
These three were given a chance by God to do something great, and — I suppose we can debate this — but they came up short.
We can listen to “Little Wing” and wonder what if, and we can also realize time is short, but the effects of our work can be long lasting.
Why not leave some good behind.