A RENOWNED Jimi Hendrix biographer is heading to Freshwater on the Isle of Wight this weekend.

Harry Shapiro can be found at Dimbola Museum and Galleries on Saturday, August 12, where he will be giving a talk on Jimi, entitled The Year of Living Dangerously.

Harry’s talk will focus on the events of late 1969 and 1970, leading up to the Isle of Wight festival, which was held at Afton Farm, just up the road from Dimbola.

After the interval, Harry will cover the aftermath of the following three weeks, leading up to Jimi’s untimely death.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A session.

Dimbola already has an exhibition on the 1970 festival, and a bronze statue of Jimi Hendrix in its garden, commissioned by Isle of Wight Festival promoter John Giddings.

“Jimi Hendrix was under intense pressure during the last year of his life,” said Harry.

“Record companies and management wanted a new album, fans just wanted to hear the hits, but even more to see the performance.

“Jimi was saddled with debt, facing litigation and following a drug bust, could have gone to prison for ten years.”

Doors open at 6.30pm and the talk starts at 7pm.

All profits will go to the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust.