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.
9 Reviews
So THATS what that footage was all about?
Spuzzlightyear12 January 2005
Although I'm not the greatest Hendrix fan in the world. This concert footage IS pretty amazing. We start with an AMAZING painting being done by a street artist of Hendrix, a little background, then finally, his performance at Monterey which proceeded to blow everybody away. His guitar playing is absolutely ridiculous, and it comes down to the finale, where WHOOSH! The guitar is in flames! and BANG! The guitar goes into a million pieces. I actually felt bad for the guitar, because such a piece of history to go to waste (actually, some pieces are in the experience Museum in Seattle). This is a great concert film for anyone, as I really enjoyed it.
Jimi's Legendary Performance, Is A Must Watch For All Classic Rock Fans
ArmandoManuelPereira24 May 2020
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.
Not very long, but essential viewing for Hendrix (and most rock) fans
Quinoa198428 January 2005
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.
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.
Ageless and Exciting after 30 Years
Popeye-816 May 2000
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.
music icon
SnoopyStyle4 December 2019
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.
Definitely a Wild Thing...
classicsoncall14 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
As a companion piece to the 1968 movie "Monterey Pop", this relatively short film of Jimi Hendrix performing his entire act often comes across better than it's predecessor. It starts out oddly enough, with a manically crazed street artist flinging paint up against an alley wall that magically turns into a portrait of Hendrix by the time he's finished. I really have to admire someone with that kind of skill, who looks like he's about to ruin a decent painting and winds up taking it into an entirely different but effective direction. So that was interesting. Hendrix himself is about the most colorful entertainer you're ever liable to come across. Try to picture a black artist wearing red pants, orange ruffled shirt, multi-colored jacket topped off by a huge pink feather boa. Later on, Jimi removes his jacket to reveal a studded black vest to go with the rest of his ersatz outfit.
Jimi's play list included a nice mix of his own songs and familiar tunes written and originally introduced by other artists, among them 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' and Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone'. His virtuosity on the guitar is demonstrated by playing with his teeth and behind his head on 'Hey Joe', but you could tell the audience wasn't quite prepared for the theatrics demonstrated by his humping the giant speakers with his guitar, and lighting it on fire during a scathing performance of 'Wild Thing'. You know, I've seen the clip of 'Wild Thing' any number of times over the past half century and it still amazes me with it's sound and Jimi's showmanship. You really owe it to yourself to see it if you're a Hendrix fan, and even if you're not.
Among the Monterey crowd, you can catch occasional glimpses of music legends like Janis Joplin, Mama Cass, Michelle Phillips, Art Garfunkel, and Ravi Shankar, all of whom are about as perplexed with Jimi's style as the regular audience. Their looks of awe say it all. The brief film is narrated by Papa John Phillips, he of The Mamas and The Papas who enjoyed notoriety during the era, and as an added bonus, if you're quick you can catch all four Beatles and Mick in spot cameos as the camera caught them in the crowd.
Jimi's play list included a nice mix of his own songs and familiar tunes written and originally introduced by other artists, among them 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' and Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone'. His virtuosity on the guitar is demonstrated by playing with his teeth and behind his head on 'Hey Joe', but you could tell the audience wasn't quite prepared for the theatrics demonstrated by his humping the giant speakers with his guitar, and lighting it on fire during a scathing performance of 'Wild Thing'. You know, I've seen the clip of 'Wild Thing' any number of times over the past half century and it still amazes me with it's sound and Jimi's showmanship. You really owe it to yourself to see it if you're a Hendrix fan, and even if you're not.
Among the Monterey crowd, you can catch occasional glimpses of music legends like Janis Joplin, Mama Cass, Michelle Phillips, Art Garfunkel, and Ravi Shankar, all of whom are about as perplexed with Jimi's style as the regular audience. Their looks of awe say it all. The brief film is narrated by Papa John Phillips, he of The Mamas and The Papas who enjoyed notoriety during the era, and as an added bonus, if you're quick you can catch all four Beatles and Mick in spot cameos as the camera caught them in the crowd.
That's What He Does
boblipton8 September 2020
I don't know why it took 19 years for D.A. Pennbaker's and Chris Hegedus' movie to make it from performance on stage to screening at the Toronto Film Festival. I suspect it was because every time they went into the editing booth, they got such a contact high that all they could do was giggle at the fug. Jimi was a monster in the original sense of the word, something you came to gawk at, a creature from some weird planet where the visible spectrum did not include light as we know it - which is the only explanation I can think of for his clothes -- and selective breeding had produced people who came out of the egg brilliant at the guitar, and then spent the next twenty years trying to get competent.
Jimi and his sidemen do a half-hour set. I'm exhausted.
Jimi and his sidemen do a half-hour set. I'm exhausted.
Jimi Hendrix makes his mark at Monterey
Woodyanders20 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Jimi Hendrix's incendiary set at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival has become the stuff of legend and rightfully so because there's no denying that when Jimi was in the zone he was one exceptionally dynamic and magnetic performer: Jimi not only positively shreds with his guitar, but also wields said guitar like some kind of sexy weapon and even plays it with his teeth. Among the songs Hendrix performs with astonishing animalistic aplomb and abandon are the fantastic "Foxy Lady," a rousing rendition of "Rock Me Baby," and an especially raucous cover of "Wild Thing." Moreover, Jimi also offers a fine bluesy take on Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" and shows a more sweetly mellow side with "The Wind Cries Mary." Best of all, Hendrix concludes the stirring shebang by setting fire to his guitar. Drummer Mitch Mitchell and bass player Noel Redding are also in top form as they match Jimi every step of the way, with Mitchell in particular proving to be a total beast on drums. Simply spectacular stuff.
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