Jimi Plays Monterey

The generation of the 60s had the privilege to be one of the first in history of music which enjoyed the advance of technology as well as the interest of film makers, who recorded on film many of the major events as well as the sounds and image of the best artists and bands of the time. This is how we have Woodstock on film for example, and the film became associated with the festival and the festival with the film. The Monterey festival one year earlier than Woodstock was another major milestone of the era, and we are so lucky to have it recorded on film quite extensively. Here is the concert of Jimi Hendrix, which is the core of the documentary. We would have liked maybe to hear more about the rest of the career of Hendrix and about the impact he made on other artists, but maybe this would be left to another ultimate film about Hendrix. Here the music plays the major role and the music is really fabulous.

Jim's big break in the U.S was at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. The film is a record of that legendary performance and gives you an excellent idea of both how incredible a musician he was and how much of a showman he could be. Though his concert performance is now over 50 years old, it is still mesmerizing to watch and I would say essential viewing for all Classic Rock fans.

John Phillips recounts seeing Jimi Hendrix for the first time. There is a performance in London to start this documentary off where he plays Sergeant Pepper. He gives a bit of his anti-war sentiment and Phillips raves about his guitar playing. The meat of this film is the Monterey Pop Music Festival. It doesn't get better than Foxy Lady, Wild Thing, and his iconic burning of his guitar. I have never listened to Jimi all the way through. I've obviously seen snippets of guitar burning and snippets of his song hooks. He has real stage charisma and energy. It's easy to see why he's a music icon.

Still one of the most famous rock festivals of all time, Monterey Pop brought together much of the music that was striking chords with young people all over America- some of the talent that had been obscure or small time in the US (Otis Redding and Jimi Hendrix), while others were huge smash bands (The Who, Simon & Garfunkel, Mamas and the Papas), not to mention a breakthrough performance for Ravi Shankar. With this accompaniment to the feature film, which was released twenty years or so before this, Hendrix and the Experience brought their sound for the first time after being the cult favorites in the UK. It's not a long concert, but it can certainly be counted as one of his most notorious.

There were allegations, which perhaps could or could not be true (I haven't read any biographies about the concert, but I heard the rumors), that Hendrix was on acid during the set. Whatever he was on or wasn't on, the songs that come through (filmed with superb documentary detail by DA Pennebaker, with assistance from Albert Maysles) are none-the-less mesmerizing. Aside from what has been played over and over to show the insane magnitude of Hendrix (burning his guitar after a crazed rendition of "Wild Thing"), there's also a turn of "Like a Rolling Stone", "Hey Joe", and a beautiful bit with "The Wind Cries Mary". There could've been more in the way of interviews, but as it is, Jimi Plays Monterey is a fine little companion piece to the film.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience, at the height of Jimi's powers. No wonder Pete Townsend and the WHO refused to follow them on the concert's bill...one of rock's finest hours. Jimi's introduction to "Like a Rolling Stone" may be the finest moment in live rock history.