Customer Reviews

Jimi Hendrix: Live at Monterey

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jimi Hendrix's closing set at the Monterey Pop Festival (following the Who's destruction of their own instruments) was only 40 minutes long - but what an impressive 40 minutes! Will anyone who has seen the footage of him burning his guitar on stage (shown on the cover of this DVD) every forget that image?

This reasonably priced DVD from Experience Hendrix (managed by Jimi's sister Janie) contains those 40 minutes and so much more. Guitar aficionados will appreciate the option to see different camera angles (my DVD player shows the angle image throughout so it wasn't important to me). Archivist types will enjoy the inclusion of the earliest existing footage of the Hendrix band playing in a small club in 1967. The new documentary "American Landing" has some fascinating interviews with those involved and is useful in explaining Hendrix's popularity to the next generation of fans.

Another bonus which I found as a "hidden gem" is "Music Love and Flowers" a nice mini documentary on the Monterey Pop Festival itself. Sure the complete festival is out there on video on D.A. Pennebaker's film, but this short extra gives the background and contains new interviews with Lou Adler and John Phillips who basically organized it. This makes this package of interest even to fringe Hendrix fans.

If Jimi was alive now he'd be eligible for Medicare this week! Can he have been gone so long and died so young (27!)?

If this isn't in every Hendrix collector's DVD collection, I don't know why not.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

If you already have this on DVD from Criterion then there's no need to rush out and get this. In the past, Experience Hendrix has done a great job of supplementing their DVDs with great behind-the-scenes docs or additional material. The Band of Gypsies and Woodstock being prime examples, where the docs run almost twice as long as the performances. While the extras on this are good (read other reviews for details), they simply don't justify the extra expense, in my opinion. Yes this is one of the most legendary rock performances ever caught on film, and it's nice to have the extra angles but in comparison to the other Experience Hendrix releases, I felt sorta ripped off after the half hour or so it took to watch this DVD.

Jimi's historical Monterey, CA show is fanastic! If you are a Hendrix fan this is a must have. Before this show a very small precentage of the US even knew about him, but after Monterey he became a household name. One of the best live recordings ever. Jimi's attitude is very carefree and his personality really shines through. As a guitar player he had no equal in 1967 and this DVD proves the point well.

If you have never seen Jimi play, it will blow you away. I first saw the movie in the theatre when I was 13 in 1977. I was spellbound. From that moment on, Jimi has been my favorite guitar player of all time. To understand Hendrix, you need to see live footage to appreciate his amazing technique and vibe. Incredible. If you have kids aspiring to be guitarists, I recommend this, although you may want to preview it first.

Yes, I have to say that this Hendrix performance is quire possibly the finest live performance I have ever purchased. Most certainly, watching Jimi do his thing for the first time in America, "Pulling all the stops," as Jimi put it, is a treat for the heart and soul of true rockers. This DVD is necessary for those who love Hendrix, but most importantly, Hendrix's Monterey performance is for those who need a lesson on Rock's finest hour. Buy it for yourself. Buy it for a friend. Buy it for a youngster who needs some rock and roll education. Two thumbs way up!

I've had the album of Hendrix' Pop Festival performance for more than forty years. I believe his performance there was never surpassed. This video captures that performance, and puts it into the context of the Festival's evolution. I think this video is superb. Music performance videos have certainly evolved over the years, some ways to their benefit, other ways...maybe not so beneficial. But this video has the impact of a well-produced documentary, done by people who loved the music and the performers, and who recognized the significance of the magical times they were living in.

I would recommend this to every Hendrix fan,the quality of this dvd was like being at the concert itself!!!!!!!!

I was simply listening to something from Jimi Hendrix on a random TV or news show and thought, I wonder about any Hendrix live DVDs.... So I searched Amazon and found about 3 or 4 that seemed like good choices. Rather than go with the Woodstock classic or something, I wanted to try this Monterey Pop Festival first because of the history of Jimi's return from success in London on the English music scene. I'm a typical mid-40s buyer, really nice HDTV widescreen and sound system, to give you a flavor of how I listened to this. I was absolutely impressed with the historical aspects of the opening sequence of interviews, especially the old footage of the planners, and the current interviews with the Hendrix bass player and drummer. Then the performance itself, it sounds great on my system in 5.1 (don't be a complainer, its like 44 year old recording) and the video shots are great. The climactic Wild Thing with guitar on fire and craziness is something to be seen. I fully recommend getting this DVD.

Probably the two most important Jimi Hendrix performances were at the beginning...and likewise .... near the end of his time performaing in the U.S. I'm speaking, of course, about the sacrifice of his guitar to the audience at the end of "The Combined English and American Anthems", i.e. "Wild Thing" ... at the close of his performance at the Monterrey Pop Festival. Similarly, his performance of "The Star Spangled Banner", near the end of his show at Woodstock nearly bookends his short American career. Both of these performances have to be seen to be believed and appreciated.

The guitar sacrifice at the Monterrey Pop Festival is depicted here powerfully. The cameras pan out on a couple of audience members who were obviously "stunned" by this legendary, shocking and masterful performance by a true guitar, musical and performance genius. This is an Iconic Moment in Rock and almost has to be seen by anyone who truly wants to know Rock and Roll, whether it be the music..or the lifestyle.

The main difference between this and Criterion is that Criterion also has Otis Redding's performance, also Criterion is Region 1, whereas this version is all regions.