The Matadors Guitarist Strikes Up Controversy by Announcing Plans to Perform as Jimi Hendrix in Blackface

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Nov 14, 2013

The guitarist for London, ON horrorbilly unit the Matadors has stirred up all sorts of controversy by announcing he'll be playing an upcoming charity show in blackface as Jimi Hendrix.

Earlier this week, Hooch Parkins posted a picture of himself on Facebook (see above), showing him in a get-up of black makeup and a curly-haired wig. After receiving some scathing critiques for the move, he explained that it's part of his Hendrix costume for this weekend's Get Party Records 3rd Annual Movember Cover Show, which is raising funds for cancer research on November 16 at London, ON's Call the Office venue.

"I decided to do Jimi Hendrix. I can do a tribute to one of my all time favourite guitar players AND raise money for cancer research," Parkins wrote in a post that's since been taken down. "You cant REALLY do Jimi without doing the full character and costume can you? no you cant!! SO.... this is what I'm doing. Its not racist. I love Jimi Hendrix. And fuck you. Yes this is really happening."

After coming under fire on the Facebook event page and via media, he later admitted that the move was in part a publicity stunt: "I totally did it on purpose. its marketing. NOW tons of people will talk about it, come to see the spectacle AND more money will be raised for a good cause."

He also added: "im not NEAR as stupid as i look."

Nevertheless, that has done little to stem the accusations of racism, which you can wade through in the Facebook comments sections.

The fundraiser will have the Matadors performing as Motörhead. Also playing will be Wasted Potential as Minor Threat, School Damage as the Descendents, Johnny Terrien and the Bad Lieutenants as Social Distortion, Pie in the Sky as the Clash, and the Filthy Radicals as Operation Ivy.

Thanks to AUX for the tip.

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