Jimi Hendrix estate challenges auction

An upcoming auction claims to be offering the rights to the Jimi Hendrix catalogue, but the estate of the late guitar legend says the auction house if off-base. Ocean Tomo Auctions sent out word last week that they had been retained by the estate of a Michael Frank Jeffery to sell Jeffery's "rights, title, and interest in the entire Jimi Hendrix music catalogue." However, Experience Hendrix, which oversees the Hendrix estate, gave us this statement:

"Experience Hendrix, the family company entrusted with maintaining the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix, has become aware of an auction which purports to offer the entire Jimi Hendrix catalog for sale to the highest bidder. Experience Hendrix is not party to that auction and has no intention, whatsoever, to dispose of these properties. This position is in accord with the wishes of Al Hendrix, Jimi's late father and heir, to keep the assets of the Jimi Hendrix Estate intact under the administration of Experience Hendrix, the company he formed for this purpose. The assertion that the catalog is the property of the Michael Jeffery Estate is a specious one which has never been upheld by any court. When the Jeffery Estate asserted a similar claim against Warner Records in the late 1990's, a New York court rejected same as a fabrication. Experience Hendrix hereby gives notice to any would-be seller or buyer that it will use all measures to honor its mandate to vigorously protect its rights to the Jimmi Hendrix catalog."

There is one bit of uncontested Hendrix music in the Ocean Tomo auction. It's an unreleased song called "Station Break," which Hendrix recorded in New York City in 1966. The winning bidder will get the actual reel-to-reel tape, along with one-half of the copyright on the song, while the other half stays with Experience Hendrix.

The Ocean Tomo auction is set for October 26th in New York City. For more information, go to oceantomoauctions.com.
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