It was 41 years ago this week, when psychedelic guitarist, Jimi Hendrix, died in a London apartment.

Without question one of America’s greatest guitarists, Hendrix got started strumming on a broomstick. But when 15 year-old Hendrix was given an acoustic guitar by his dad, he went from novice to legend; learning how to play from local Seattle musicians.

It was only after Hendrix was discharged from one of the Army’s famous divisions that his funk blues styling and outrageous stage performances changed the rock world.

Jimi Hendrix was in the 101st Airborne Division, and was kicked out just one year later. His commanding officers considered him to be a subpar soldier.

Hendrix’s career skyrocketed in London with his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience. His American success arrived when Paul McCartney helped Jimi’s band onto the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival. It was at this festival that Hendrix gave birth to that iconic fantasy almost every guitarist mimics: smashing their guitar on stage. Another music festival helped propel Hendrix into Rock lore: his funky guitar rendition of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock.

A little more than a year after his Woodstock appearance, Hendrix was dead from a drug overdose.

Here is a look at the performing antics that made Jimi a Rock icon.

See more great Jimi clips… click NEXT!