Spin Magazine’s 100 Sleaziest Moments in the History of Rock. A rather tame example:

With his moccasins, Moroccan shirts, and impressive ‘fro, hippie deity

Jimi Hendrix seemed an unlikely candidate for gangster’s paradise. But in

the fall of 1969, he and his band Gypsys, Suns & Rainbows performed at

the opening of the tiny, reputedly Mob-owned Manhattan club Salvation

as a favor to the joint’s promoter – Hendrix’s coke dealer Bobby Woods.

After the gig, he and Woods took off to score some blow, hanging out

until morning. Late that evening, Woods was found murdered – a

gangland-style hit – and Hendrix was kidnapped by goons eager to grill

him about his ties to the pusherman. Hendrix’s enraged manager, Mike

Jeffery, quickly dispatched a few of his own well-connected brutes, who

sped to the funky Woodstock-area retreat where the guitarist was being

held. Jeffery’s boys were further up the Mafia food chain than Jimi’s

oppressors, who quickly fled the scene. Though Hendrix was reportedly

amused by the charade, rumors have persisted that the Mob may have

played a role in the odd circumstances surrounding his 1970 death. So

much for flower power.

Hmmm, second Jimi Hendrix post in a week…