The more things don't make sense the more I like them; the stupider the better. Confusion and contradictory marketing concepts excite me as consumers simultaneously scratch their heads and reach for their wallets.
Jerry Garcia had a line of neckties that certainly didn't coincide with his hippy ideals, or those of his followers on their long, strange, casual Fridays. George Foreman has his grill, but it's so popular now that it virtually eclipses its heavyweight namesake (I'm sure there are people that think he's actually named after the machine). And of course if you ever venture down to Memphis you can get Elvis' face or signature on anything - combs, mirrors, beach towels, candy bars, tampon carrying cases, lip balm, you name it. I was gonna bring up Billy Beer, too but that actually makes sense.
And now there's The Jimi Hendrix Liquid Experience Energy Drink. The folks at Beverage Concepts sent me a few samples of Voodoo Vibe, a lightly carbonated (two exploded in the package) sweet berry-flavored drink that makes for some groovy burps. We passed it around the office and decided it tasted like a kid drink with a slightly bitter aftertaste. We then waited for the buzz to kick in, but alas, we saw no purple haze, no red house over yonder. I mean, Christ, we work at a newspaper and mainline coffee, so it takes a pretty big kick to get liftoff. It didn't taste bad. It's just that it makes no sense...and I love that.
Call it exploitation, call it a pop cultural non- sequitur, but proceeds from this drink go to MusicCares, which is probably the only aspect of this product to coincide with its unwitting icon's vision.
In the meantime, be on the lookout for the James Earl Jones line of toenail clippers, Angelina Jolie ski wax, and The Larry The Cable Guy Signature Series Town Car. Buy ‘til you die.