Top Ten Acts That Performed at the Monterey Pop Festival
The Monterey Pop Festival is one of the most famous music festivals in rock history, taking place right in the middle of the Summer of Love in 1967. The festival was particularly known for exposing The Who and The Jimi Hendrix Experience in particular to bigger American audiences, and the film from the concert, called Monterey Pop, is deemed to be one of the best concert documentaries of the 1960s. I intend to be taking the acts' performances at the festival in consideration with the ranking of the list. If I missed your favorite act, don't worry; you can add it to the list.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience was an English-American rock band that formed in Westminster, London, in September 1966. Composed of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding, and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969. During this time they released three successful studio albums. Jimi Hendrix gained a wide fanbase from his performance at Monterey. His rendition of "Wild Thing", which ended in loud feedback and Jimi burning his guitar, is one of the most iconic rock performances.
The Who is an English rock band formed in London, England in 1964. The most recognizable lineup was Roger Daltrey (lead vocals), Pete Townshend (guitar), John Entwistle (bass guitar), and Keith Moon (drums). They are best known for their live performances and hit songs Baba O'Riley, My Generation, and Won't Get Fooled Again. Some noted achievements were their rock operas, Tommy (album), Quadrophenia (album), and A Quick One, While He's Away (song). ...read more. The Who also gained notoriety after smashing their equipment onstage during their last number, My Generation. Even though they had been doing it for three years prior, American audiences hadn't really taken notice.
Big Brother and the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Blue Cheer, and Jefferson Airplane. Their set was so awesome that executives from Columbia Records, who attended the festival, signed them to a record deal.
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. Prior to this show, Otis hadn't performed very frequently in front of white audiences. Nonetheless, the audience loved it, and it's considered to be one of the highlights of the festival.
Jefferson Airplane was a San Francisco, California-based band who pioneered the American counterculture movement as well as psychedelic rock.
Members: Grace Slick - vocals, piano, organ, recorder
Marty Balin - vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass guitar
Paul Kantner - rhythm guitar, lead guitar, vocals
Jorma Kaukonen - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals
Jack Casady - bass guitar, rhythm guitar, lead guitar
Spencer Dryden - drums They were one of the most important acts on the festival, being one of the most successful psychedelic bands to emerge from San Francisco.
They were the first band to perform on Saturday, the second day. I love their performance of "Rollin' and Tumblin'" at the festival.
Ironically, their former lead guitarist Mike Bloomfield was there, and he ended up performing afterwards with his new band, The Electric Flag. They closed their set with an awesome rendition of "Driftin' and Driftin'".
I really wish I'd been around to see this - especially to see it end with Paul and THAT incredible harp solo to my favourite PBBB songs: Driftin' and Driftin'. *Sigh*
Love this list, by the way.
Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They got overshadowed by many of the other acts on the stage, but they were there, playing an acoustic set. They sounded great on stage.
Moby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting, which collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz with rock and psychedelic music. One of their most important performances. Unfortunately, their manager demanded a million dollars for the rights to include their performance in the film, so they didn't make it in there at all.
Monterey was one of his first major performances in America. He was angry after watching The Who and Jimi Hendrix destroy their instruments (in India, musical instruments are respected, almost like a part of God), and he refused to go on stage until the organizers agreed to move his set to Sunday, the last day of the festival.
Opening act; a bunch of straight-looking guys in suits singing "Along Comes Mary". Only the hippest at the time knew it was about marijuana.
These guys are still touring, with two surviving original members as of 2018.