So I've always been bit of a Hendrix fan, and since the beginning quite suspicious about the events surrounding his death. Statements from his girlfriend at the time contradicted the official reports of ambulance and hospital personel, and Hendrix was found with a stomach full of red wine (yet low blood alcohol levels) and partially-dissolved Vesperex tablets. Very fishy.
Years later, Danneman claimed that former roadies Gerry Stickels and Eric Barrett had been present before the ambulance was called, and had removed some of Hendrix's possessions - including some of his most recent messages. After a bit of digging, I found out that two weeks before his death, at his final concert (Isle of Fehmarn, Germany), Stickels had stormed the box office and attempted to shut the show down. Stickels heckeled the guitarist, and Jimi announced to the crowd that Stickels and Garrett were lovers. A gang of Hells Angels harrassed and attacked the crowd, and one of Hendrix's roadies, Rocky, was shot in the leg. The band fled the set. Photos of Hendrix days before the concert show him with a pistol, indicating that he afraid for his life even before the clash with Stickels.
Why would Stickels and Barrett be so interested in Hendrix's communications in the days leading up to his death? Were they afraid of being implicated?
No doubt, manager Michael Jeffreys would also benefit more with Hendrix dead than alive, so his involvement shouldn't be ruled out, certainly. But the additional evidence of the former roadies' actions does raise some compelling questions, I think.
Hendrix probably didn't die of an overdose of sleeping pills. My opinion is that he was likely injected with a sedative and then force-fed sleeping pills and wine, and then smothered by his assailants.
If all of this had come to light sooner, I think that something would have been done to vindicate the poor fellow. Now, everyone of significance is either dead or obscure, and the chances of clearing his name grow ever slim. Like Jimi used to say - It's such a shame!