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Jimi Hendrix's Family Sues Vodka Company

The family of guitar icon Jimi Hendrix has filed a federal lawsuit against the Seattle alcohol company Hendrix Electric Vodka for wrongfully using trademarked material in a marketing campaign for the newly launched beverage.

Janie Hendrix, Jimi's adopted sister and chief executive of Experience Hendrix, issued a statement saying, "We are greatly concerned that there may be a perception that Experience Hendrix has, in some way, authorized this sale of vodka. As a matter of strict policy, we have never promoted an alcoholic beverage."

Hendrix then added that the vodka branding was a "sick joke," because the guitarist's death was linked to alcohol consumption. Owner of Hendrix Electric Vodka Craig Dieffenbach insists that the lawsuit has no legal basis due to a 2005 ruling that Experience Hendrix only owns the music, but not Jimi Hendrix's name or image.

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
03.07.07