Jimi Plays Monterey (1987): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1987, Jimi Plays Monterey is a music and documentary film directed by D. A. Pennebaker, running about 50 minutes.

What it’s about. It's no exaggeration to say this might be the most intense and groundbreaking 45-minute performance in the history of rock. Jimi Hendrix's debut American set at 1967's Monterey Pop Festival is generally considered one of the most radical and legendary live shows ever. Virtually unknown to American audiences at the time, even though he was already an established entity in the UK, Hendrix and his two-piece Experience explode on stage, ripping through blues classics "Rock Me Baby" and Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor," interpreting and electrifying Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," debuting songs from his yet-to-be-released first album and closing with the now historic sacrificing/burning of his guitar during an unhinged version of "Wild Thing" that even its writer Chip Taylor would never have imagined. Hendrix uses feedback and distortion to enhance the songs in whisper-to-scream intensity, blazing territory that had not been previously explored with as much soul-frazzled power.

Who’s in it. Jimi Plays Monterey stars John Phillips as Narrator (voice), Jimi Hendrix as Self (archive footage), Noel Redding as Self (archive footage) and Mitch Mitchell as Self (archive footage), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, Jimi Plays Monterey has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max and The Coda Collection Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Jimi Plays Monterey page.

If you liked it. Fans of Jimi Plays Monterey tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.