Jimi Hendrix – Wild Thing [live, Monterey Pop Festival, June 1967]
Considered one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in rock music history, Hendrix finally became famous in the US after his June 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in California, the precursor to Woodstock.
In fact, it was his performance that made the festival a legend. His set was 45 minutes long: a very fast arrangement of Howlin’ Wolf’s 1965 R&B hit “Killing Floor,” then an equally lively rendition of B.B. King’s 1964 R&B hit “Rock Me Baby,” Tim Rose’s “Hey Joe” and Bob Dylan’s 1965 Pop hit “Like a Rolling Stone.” The set ended with The Troggs “Wild Thing”, and Hendrix’s iconic act of burning his guitar on stage, then smashing it to bits and tossing pieces out to the delirious crowd who were watching Hendrix’s first-ever American show.
