"Jimi Homeless" (born James Allan Holmes) is a Skid Row native who has been homeless since birth. He was mentored from age 10 by homeless blues legend named James "Hurricane" Finlay from New Orleans.
After Jimi discovered a one-string electric guitar in a dumpster, he formed "The Jimi Homeless Experience" and began performing alongside the Salvation Army Band at soup kitchens. His band plays 1970s-style blues-rock originals about the struggles of street life, but audiences find them comically endearing. Some say the songs sound strangely familiar, but no one dares say anything to Jimi's face.
After meeting record producer and manager "Lonesome Jon" Kinyon, they record under Kinyon's MK-ULTRA RECORDS label, gig at Sunset Strip venues like The Roxy, Viper Room, and Whisky a Go Go, and hit strip clubs.
One night at Jumbo's Clown Room, Jimi was approached by major label execs. He signs a deal and soon, studio drama ensues. Jimi's no-shows for week and suffers brutal hangovers when he finally does show.
A replacement singer for the band, who we will call "Fake Jimi," takes the helm and The Jimi Homeless Experience is once again in the spotlight. The audience isn't thrilled with the new singer's "clean" voice, some are outright repelled. Then Fake Jimi becomes plagued by statutory rape accusations and by rumors of gang "hits" being put out on his life. He turns to harder and harder drugs and becomes even worse than the real Jimi Homeless–forcing Jimi's return.
The band continues to play gigs and meeting with growing success in Hollywood, which sparks copycat parody and comedy bands like REO Speedealer, Dixie Pricks, ZZ Topless, Jefferson Airplane Glue, and The Hateful Dead.
Jimi morphs into a multimedia artist, he designs gig posters and merch for his band; he published a book of called "Street Smarts," and he begins doing stand-up comedy. All to great success.
He then engineered and produced three blues records for Hurricane James Blues Project.
A documentary film on Jimi Homeless's life has been shot but lacks the funds to be completed. Hopefully, filmmaker Jon Kinyon will find a way to finish it.