Review of 'Through Gypsy Eyes'

Through Gypsy Eyes by Kathy Etchingham

In “Through Gypsy Eyes” Kathy Etchingham talks of her troubled early life then her arrival in 1960s London where she quickly got into the music scene and her personal relationship with Jimi Hendrix in the years leading up to his death. Etchingham also details the events that followed including her attempts to dispel myths of the great man and his death as well as find happiness in her life. What is striking is how Etchingham seems to have gone through life in a fairly relaxed manner, taking things as they come and here simply detailing some of them including relationships not only with Hendrix but many other icons of the “British Invasion”, name dropping throughout (Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon…). This somewhat “as it comes” attitude is also reflected in her experience with drugs – Despite having easy access to them she was not interested in the effect they had on her so never really got into the scene despite being surrounded by it.

“Through Gypsy Eyes” does also feel quite honest about Etchingham in that it does not sugar coat her life in any way but at the same time it makes no excuses as she simply relates events as they occurred. The book does not entirely show her in the best light as she does so which is quite refreshing for an autobiography. The book attempts to be as complete and honest as possible but at the same time it is not as tedious as you might expect with Etchingham's concise style making it quite easy to read.

Accompanied by a number of personal photos, “Through Gypsy Eyes” is a great book for those interested in either the “British Invasion” of music acts in the 1960s or, indeed, the phenomenon that was “Jimi Hendrix” whose life was ended far to early.

Rating: “Really good but I have some issues”

Review Date: 2022-09-18

Genre: Autobiography

Publisher: Kathy Etchingham

Publication Date: 2012

ISBN: 9780646954905