July 17, 2008

By By Associated Press

Jimi Hendrix is coming to "Guitar Hero."

The Seattle-based company Experience Hendrix, which controls the rock icon's musical legacy, is providing Hendrix's music and likeness for the latest "Guitar Hero" video game, Aaron Grant, a spokesman for publisher and developer Activision and Red Octane, told The Associated Press on Thursday.

It's the first time Hendrix's likeness will be showcased in the game.

An avatar of Hendrix as well as the song "The Wind Cries Mary" and a live version of "Purple Haze," which was recorded in 1969 at the San Diego Sports Arena, will be included on "Guitar Hero World Tour" -- the fourth edition of the popular game franchise scheduled for release Oct. 27.

"World Tour" will be the first "Guitar Hero" to feature playable drums and a microphone.

Experience Hendrix provided Activision and Red Octane with various songs from Hendrix, who famously played the Woodstock music festival in 1969 and died of a drug overdose in 1970. Other Hendrix tunes would be released in the future as downloadable content for the game, Grant said.

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