This is without a doubt the best film about Jimi Hendrix ever made. I loved it when it was released in 1973 (3 years after he died in September, 1970). I should note my (now deceased) older brother went to almost every Pop Festival from 1967 to 1970. Almost everything was word of mouth. No internet, No cell phones, No cable TV, No MTV, no FM radio, etc. Therefore, what my brother (& in turn, I) did was a key fact. We spread the word. I heard "Are You Experienced", his debut album, when it was released in 1967. I was 13 years old. It (honestly) changed my life. I lived in Louisiana, in a city with a population of 200k. My family didn't have much money. However, my mother always saved a little cash; she bought me a cheap electric guitar & paid for me to see a guitar teacher. I saw him twice, then quit because I couldn't stand what he was playing. I taught myself, but didn't get serious until I was 19. I saw a girl who I had a big (& my very 1st) crush on in middle school. She was dating a guitar player I knew of who played in a local band & also tutored a few students. We met, & he said I had a lot of potential; he also told me he would teach me anything for free & I didn't even own a guitar. He taught me scales, chords, etc. I would practice on my fingertips; even when I went to bed, before falling asleep. BTW, I never learned to read or write music. In 1974, we went to Dallas & I bought a brand new black Ibanez "Custom Agent" for $300 from Larry Morgan; he even gave me a Gibson Les Paul hard shell case (not like the plastic ones now). It is now over 40 years old. It has the fastest neck, plays & sounds better than any electric guitar I have ever played. Not too long after, he opened a big guitar store. It was named "The Guitar Shop", & he offered me a job as a salesman. I agreed. I was in heaven. Prior to this, there was really only 1 music store where in town. If you were very lucky, they might offer you a 5-10% discount on an instrument. We killed them. As the authorized dealer for Gibson guitars, Marshall amps, Pearl drums, Moog synthesizers (a new thing then), etc. we would give anyone a 30% discount off a brand new Les Paul, or any other guitar or amp; some we sold for 40% off. We also bought & sold many used guitars, & I saw & played them all. More than a few were old and some were very old: Les Pauls, Stratocasters & Telecasters from the 1950s! Some are very valuable today; a few extremely valuable: The best was a mint condition 1960 Les Paul 3 (gold) pickups "Black Beauty" (we bought it for $400!). It is now worth $100K. I bought the mate amplifier to it for $40; a 1960 Gibson "Ranger". So, this is all way too much about me. I apologize. For me, Jimi Hendrix is the greatest and most original rock guitar player of the electric era. "Rolling Stone" magazine ranked Hendrix #1 in their top 100 Rock & Blues guitar players. Although I disagree with their top 10 order, I totally agree with this rank. They have Eric Clapton 2nd, Jimmy Page 3rd with Jeff Beck 4th. I would reverse 2, 3, & 4. Ironically, all 3 were in the Yardbirds. I have seen them all play in person; some several times, especially Jeff Beck. I think he is the greatest living player. I have seen him play 3 times; twice in small clubs in NYC. Again, I apologize for digressing. As far as this film, I own ALL of his documentary, live playing or interview documentary films. I own no docudrama films, for the simple reason that no one could play or imitate him in a film. This film is only 98 minutes long; however, it has hours of interviews, photos, etc. They have a lot of time with his father, along with other musicians & friends. It has a photo of him when he was 13, with a guitar his dad bought from a pawnshop for $5. It is a very linear film, well spaced, well done. I should mention Eddie Kramer, a (genius in his own right) recording engineer and a permanent one for Hendrix. He recorded all 4 Jimi Hendrix albums he made while he was still alive: "Are You Experienced", Axis: Bold as Love", "Electric Ladyland" and "The Cry of Love". He also recorded all of the posthumous albums. In addition to all of this, he was the recording engineer for countless top shelf Rock & Blues bands (shortly afterwards Jazz & Pop) of this era. I don't have room for all, so I will name only 10: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Traffic, Santana, The Kinks, Dionne Warwick, Bowie, Small Faces, & Carly Simon. He was the audio recording Engineer for "Woodstock" in 1969. In 1970 he oversaw (with help) the construction of Jimi Hendrix's state of the art studio "Electric Lady Studios" on West 8th Street in Manhattan (I have walked by it dozens of times). It cost $1 million; an unbelievable sum then. Kramer has been the recording engineer and producer of countless Rock, Blues, Jazz, etc. documentaries to this very day. So the bottom line is this: Of all Jimi Hendrix films, whether authorized or not, this one is the very best. I love the ending of the film. Peace.

The Strength of this Documentary is that it was Made Only a Few Years After Jimi Passed On. But of course, the Filmed Performances, Mostly Shown in Near Entirety, are a Goldmine for Newbies and a Welcome Flashback for Die-Hard Fans.Many Headliners and Friends are Interviewed and Offer then Recent Recollections of Their Initial Introduction to Hendrix's Guitar Playing and Style and the Word is "Blew my mind." Nothing Like it Before, and as Pete Townsend of "The Who" says..."Jimi made the guitar an instrument". Seems Simplistic and Obvious but Before Hendrix the Guitar was Mostly an Ensemble Part with an Occasional "Lead" Spotlight.But, Jimi Hendrix Made it THE Spotlight, THE Instrument, THE Focus, Taking it to Unexplored Heights and Boldly Went Where No Guitarist had Gone Before. This is a Near Perfect Introduction and Reflection to a Humble, Insecure, Musical Genius, that was and is a Sign Post to that "Twilight Zone" Counter Culture Explosion of the Late Sixties.A Must Have Visual and Audio Timecapsule for Anyone Interested in Rock, Heavy Metal, Pop, Blues, Soul, and Psychedelic Music (Acid Rock). An Incredibly Insightful and Delightful Look at a Time and Place, and a Musician and Man, that will Never be Forgotten.

this is without a doubt one of the best documentaries of all time. it's one of my all time favorite's and Jimi Hendrix was the best guitarist in human history he's only real rivals are Carlos Santana, Andres Segovia and Jimmy Page.Jimi Hendrix is one my all time favorite musicians even thought i'm 17 years old i'm his huge fan.he was without a question guitar hero.one of the greatest ever. Jimi Hendrix was definitely genius and interesting person.even Mick Jagger said that he was amazing man.Jimi Hendrix was definitely one of the best musicians in 60s and one of the leading musicians in 60s.it can be only one Jimi Hendrix and American music will never see anyone like him.Jimi Hendrix was without a doubt in the mainstream of 60s rock.Jimi Hendrix change the world and he never left us.he was master rock.one of the greatest songwriters ever.he's debut album Are You Experienced? is the greatest debut album ever.Best 60s artist's were The Doors,Jimi Hendrix,Janis Joplin and The Beatles.

This documentary will give you the heart and soul of James M Hendrix, from the people who loved him to the thoughts and performances of the man himself. The performances are predominately taken from The Monterey Pop Festival, widely regarded as the best set Jimi ever played. Unlike most music biopics that seem to be afraid of the music they chronicle, this one gives you nice long stretches of performance, never cutting off a solo to give some little pearl of wisdom. Songs are played in their entirety.The interviews are engaging and sometimes enlightening; such as The Who's Pete Townshend explaining how the appearance order at Monterey was decided, and Jimi's long-time girlfriend Fayne Pridgon retelling tales of Jimi turning her on to such new experiences as LSD and a strange little folk singer named Bob Dylan.I HIGHLY recommend this movie to anyone who loved Hendrix for his amazing contributions to the halls of rock history. He truly was the impresario of his generation, and maybe all others, before and since. Turn the speakers way up, sit back, and ENJOY! You will not be disappointed.