Court battle over Hendrix tapes

Jimi Hendrix is often said to be the best guitarist ever

The family of Jimi Hendrix have begun a High Court action over tapes of the legendary guitarist before he found global fame.

Experience Hendrix, the US-based family firm that controls his rights, is suing PPX Enterprises over recordings from Hendrix's stint with a group called Curtis Knight and The Squires in PPX's New York studio.

The firm owns all the rights to Hendrix's music except for some recordings he made with other groups before he came to fame.

Its claim against PPX and its president, Edward Chalpin, relates to the alleged breach of a 1973 agreement with the English administrator of Hendrix's estate.

Royalties demand

Experience Hendrix argued there has been non-payment of royalties and that records have been released for which no licence was granted under the agreement.

In an action planned to last eight days, it wants Mr Justice Buckley to grant an injunction stopping future releases on which Hendrix performed - other than 33 master tapes to which it agrees PPX is entitled.

The Hendrix family also wants an account of royalties due, the delivery of master tapes and damages.

PPX insisted there was an oral agreement that it was entitled to every master tape that had been previously released or licensed by it.