Eric Barrett, a longtime roadie and tour manager, has recounted his experiences working with some of the biggest names in pop music over nearly five decades in his new memoir, *Experienced: On The Road With Jimi Hendrix And Beyond*, published this week. Barrett’s career spanned across legendary artists including The Beatles, David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Madonna, George Michael, Luther Vandross, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Billy Idol, and Aerosmith. Yet, he remains best known for his role as Jimi Hendrix’s roadie during the early 1970s.

Barrett, originally from Coatbridge near Glasgow, Scotland, began his career in music after a brief stint as a musician himself. He initially worked with the Liverpool band Koobas before joining Hendrix’s team in his early 20s. Reflecting from his home in Santa Monica, California, Barrett describes his three years with Hendrix as a defining chapter in his life and one marked by both intense friendship and tragedy. Hendrix, who died aged 27 in 1970 from an accidental overdose, left a profound impact on him.

Barrett has remained largely silent about that turbulent period for over five decades but admits that in earlier interviews he deliberately downplayed Hendrix’s drug use to protect his legacy. He describes Hendrix as a shy and insecure man who was uncomfortable with the spotlight despite his extraordinary talent. Barrett emphasizes their bond beyond their professional relationship, saying Hendrix was not just his employer but also his friend.

In the immediate aftermath of Hendrix’s death, Barrett took on the difficult responsibility of managing the situation at the Samarkand Hotel in Notting Hill, London, where Hendrix died, helping to shield the musician’s girlfriend, Monika Dannemann, from the press. Barrett also experienced his own near-fatal overdose on the sedative Mandrax, highlighting the pressures and dangers faced by those in Hendrix’s close circle.

Among the personal mementos Barrett kept was Hendrix’s prized Gibson Flying V guitar, which was gifted to him by the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s drummer, Mitch Mitchell. Although Barrett originally vowed never to sell the instrument, he later parted with it to cover personal expenses, including an expensive divorce and raising his children. The guitar eventually sold for a fraction of its later value and is now displayed at the Hard Rock Cafe in London, reportedly purchased by the chain for $1 million.

After Hendrix’s death, Barrett resumed his career in the music industry, working as a lighting director for James Taylor and subsequently as a tour manager for artists such as David Bowie. He described Bowie as the greatest showman he ever worked with and expressed deep sorrow at Bowie’s passing.

Barrett’s memoir also details his experiences working with Madonna in the 1980s, portraying her as a hardworking but demanding performer. He recalls moments of intense pressure on tour and offers candid anecdotes about life behind the scenes with some of pop music’s most iconic figures.

Now approaching 80, Barrett has decided to retire from the music industry after decades of travel and witnessing significant moments in music history. He reflects on the toll of the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle, admitting to past struggles with substance use and chaotic environments typical of the era. Despite stepping away, he says the desire to relive those days lingers, wistfully expressing a wish to receive one more call from Hendrix to “do it all one last time.”