Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live at Monterey - Jimi Hendrix DVD Review

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live at Monterey - Jimi Hendrix DVD Review

Jimi Hendrix - Live at Monterey

DVD Review

On the evening of Sunday June 18 1967, the music world was rocked to its foundations, by one man - Jimi Hendrix. This is the story of how Hendrix overwhelmed 50,000 fans at the County Fairgrounds in just 45 minutes. Over the years, there's been a great debate about the greatest gig of all time.

So how does Jimi Hendrix's show at Monterey Pop Festival on June 18 1967 match up? Read on. The theme for the California festival, (officially known as Monterey International Pop Festival '67) was 'Music, Love and Flowers' as it tried to show that it could transcend everything and conquer the world, organised by Mamas and Papas couple John and Michelle Phillips, and Lou Adler. Organisational footage shows committee meetings where they decided who would be suitable for the event. The aim was to, ' attract the finest internationally established young entertainers in the 1967 pop genre and also to showcase little known performers who show unique promise.' It couldn't have been written better for Jimi. Board member Paul McCartney suggested Hendrix (and The Who). It was his first major American appearence.Typically, there was some opposition to the three day event. Organisers tried to convince the city council there would be no drugs, and hippies were the most peaceful and wonderful people in the world and a crowd of 200,000 over three days wasn't going to adversely affect the town of Monterey. They needn't have worried because Hendrix's monumental gig spread positive vibes around the world like wildfire. Monterey was the first pop festival that brought all kinds of music to one event. Jazz and folk had credibility, whereas Pop hadn't, so it was a big gamble. Big pop names Simon and Garfunkel, Otis Redding, The Mamas and Papas (each closing a different night) enrolled even though none of the acts were paid (except Ravi Shankar who got $3,000 for his afternoon slot), with the $1 nominal entrance fee going to charity.According to commentators, 99% of people didn't know who the Jimi Hendrix Experience was. They were about to find out. Because Hendrix had built up a huge live reputation , particularly in London, it was his name on musicians lips. They were expecting big things from him. He delivered the goods, and it became the launching pad for Hendrix in America, becoming the most important gig in his career. Less than a year before, he was playing gigs as an unknown in Greenwich Village NY. He was spotted by Chas Chandler bass player with The Animals who was looking for his first venture into band management. He saw him play Hey Joe at Cafe Wah, later thinking about taking Hendrix to England where he believed he would change the face of music in England.He knew he was going to be a sensation, and he was. A deal (without band members who came later) was struck with Track Records on a beer mat, as he was then unsigned. Eventually, he met Mitch and Noel at a jam session in London, where they played a cover of a Tim Rose track, Hey Joe. As they say, the rest is history. On the DVD, there's interviews with Chandler, Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, bassist Noel Redding, amongst others.

Using archive footage we get a feel for the time, which was at the peak of the hippydom - The Summer Of Love. To everyone's amazement a media frenzy ensued. A cluster of luminaries gathered : Stones' Brian Jones (who introduced Hendrix) Clapton, Townsend, Janis Joplin, and there was a debate as to who would follow who. Hendrix went on before The Who. Silver jacket, fringed orange shirt, red pants, pink boa, Afro hair and headband, Jimi exploded with Foxey Lady and it wasn't long before he began his antics along with some mesmerising guitar licks. As the stage turned red, his version of Dylan's Like A Rolling Stone remains a definitive cover, showcasing some blistering blues tricks and picks. By the time he'd reached Rock Me Baby, he was still nervous, and tending to talk in cliches, though you'd never think it from the mind blowing performance. Six songs in, he showed he could handle a more sedate ballad, The Wind Cries Mary, continuing to chew gum on solos. The came the biggest blast of all. The raucous Purple Haze during which he lifted his guitar to his teeth. Audience clips show genuine amazement. More would come. A screeching intro to Wild Thing was just the start. He cruised through it, with loads of never before seen Rock exhibitionism : one handed playing, behind his back, sliding against the speakers, roll backs, pouting, strutting, and THE moment (shown on DVD and CD packshots ), he set his guitar on fire, smashed it up, while Mitchell and Redding held the fort. Leaving the stage, drums sticks, guitar parts and strap were hurled into the crowd. All over in 45 minutes, they were stunned. Pandimonium broke out as fans went nuts. Jimi modestly summed it up like this. " It was such a good feeling especially in your own home country, and I guess they feel the same way."

The Bonus has an unearthed monochrome low-key performance in Chelmsford England on February 25, 1967 , where he plays Like A Rolling Stone and Stone Free, almost four months before he set his guitar, and the world alight.

Just over three years after Monterey, on September 18 1970, aged 27, Hendrix died in London from 'inhalation of vomit due to barbiturate intoxication.'

His legacy lives on via this brilliant simultaneous release that includes colour booklets with archive photos and memorabilia.

One word. Sensational.

Elly Roberts

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