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Hendrix company to get three million over vodka dispute

By | Published on Thursday 19 February 2009

The company behind a vodka brand which used Jimi Hendrix’s name have agreed to pay the official company who control the legendary guitarist’s estate $3.2 million in an out of court settlement.

The Hendrix Electric vodka case was really part of the long-term dispute between Jimi’s stepsister Janie and his half brother Leon.

The latter was excluded from the official Jimi Hendrix empire by his and Jimi’s father, Al, who died in 2002. Janie runs the Experience Hendrix company, which controls the Jimi Hendrix name and image, and a disgruntled Leon has tried to both get a share of that company and launch his own Jimi ventures over the years.

The vodka brand was a joint venture between Leon Hendrix and his friend Craig Dieffenbach, a Seattle-based businessman who set up an Electric Hendrix company.

The partnership lost a court battle with the Experience Hendrix organisation last year and had been told to cease making the drink, but another court hearing was scheduled for this month to decide what damages Dieffenbach should pay.

But both sides have confirmed that an out of court agreement has been agreed that will see Diefenback pay the Experience Hendrix company $3.2 million. The agreement was approved by the court last week.



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