JIMI HENDRIX’s brother cannot share in the royalties from the guitarist’s posthumous releases and merchandise, a US judge has ruled.
Brother Leon claims he was unfairly written out of Jimi’s father Al’s will at the behest of his stepsister Janie Hendrix.
However, a Seattle judge has upheld the will of Al Hendrix.
According to BBC News, Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ramsdell said: “Janie was the family member Al trusted most.”
Al, who died in 2002, inherited Jimi’s rights in 1970.
Judge Ramsdell listed Leon’s battles with drug addiction, his failure to complete a treatment programme, his unwillingness to work and his continual demands for money as the major reasons that Al Hendrix cut his younger son from the will.
The Experience Hendrix LLC estate – which is said to be worth $80 million – is run by Janie along with Jimi’s cousin Robert.
Leon Hendrix was due to get 24% of the estate, with Janie Hendrix receiving 38%, in a 1996 version of Al Hendrix’s will but it was rewritten the following year excluding Leon.
John Wilson, Janie Hendrix’s lawyer, said that Al Hendrix decided by himself to write his son out of the will, though Leon’s lawyer claimed that Al was infirm in his old age and could not comprehend even simple legal issues.
Janie, who was adopted by Al and her mother June Jinka in 1968, told reporters: “The judge has upheld my dad’s will and the way it was written.”
She added: “I had a great partnership with my dad, and now it’s time to heal.”
Outside of the court, Leon criticised the decision, saying: “This is the Hendrixes. This is the family right here, you know, bloodline.”
Experience Hendrix LLC’s Bob Merlis said: “Janie and Robert are happy that her father’s wishes were honoured, but she feels sad that Leon and her father were estranged. They are a responsible company that tries to honour the legacy of Jimi Hendrix and they want to keep doing their job.”
Jimi Hendrix left behind a vast catalogue of unreleased material despite recording just three albums before his death aged 27 in 1970.
No decision has yet been made on a possible appeal.