A VALE man who gave Jimi Hendrix his big break in the UK has released an ebook on the legendary rock star.

Rod Harrod, from Dinas Powys, gave Hendrix his first booking at the The Scotch of St James in London almost exactly 50 years ago.

And now he has released a book called Jimi Hendrix- 50 years on- The Truth detailing some new information about one of the world's most legendary guitarists.

It went live on Amazon Kindle on Monday (September 26) and contains unique photographs and many bits of information that have never previously been disclosed.

This is the first of a series of planned books with the title Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll - I Was There

In the book, Mr Harrod - who began his journalistic career at the Penarth Times aged 14, working part time alongside John Humphrys - outlines the performance, the songs and who was there that night.

He also mentions the record deal struck at this gig just two days before Mr Hendrix's UK visa was due to run out.

He aims to correct many of the statements made over the years about Hendrix, particularly about his death four years and nine days after the historic London gig.

Mr Harrod said: "If I hadn't given Jimi Hendrix the Monday night slot, the world may never have seen him because his visa was due to run out and he would have had to return to America.

"His manager asked me to put him on before that so he could be seen. I said I would consider it and he played on the Monday."

He added: "With simple facts I can prove many of the statements made about Jimi Hendrix wrong. Was it murder, by one of many, or suicide, or accidental death?

"This is the truth from someone who can say I was there."