Greatest Festival Moments in Rock and Roll History: Monterey 1967

Monterey Pop Festival, 1967

Big Brother and the Holding Company

Big Brother and the Holding Company's performance at the Monterey Pop Festival was so powerful, the festival organizers hastily provided a second performing slot for the band to ensure it was captured by D.A. Pennebaker's film crew. Janis Joplin's performance of "Ball and Chain" was a small part of the energy and power of that performance, but it was a major part of helping them to get signed to Columbia Records later that year. Established artists such as Cass Elliot stared in jaw-dropping wonder as Joplin delivered a blues-soaked performance.

Jimi Hendrix Experience

Rarely does a performer debut as a fully formed artist. The Jimi Hendrix Experience's appearance at Monterey instantly placed the group as the most incendiary in rock and roll and made a legend of Hendrix.

Otis Redding

Backed by fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Booker T. and the MG's, Otis Redding put on a devastating set of soul music, some of the finest of its day. Redding was riding a wave of success at the time, but he was known primarily to African-American audiences. Monterey put him in front of the largest white audience of his career to date, and the crowd went crazy. Redding died just six months later, and the performance is one of the high water marks of his career.

Otis Redding at Monterey Pop, 1967.

Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin, "Ball and Chain," Monterey, 1967.

Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin, "Combination of the Two," Monterey, 1967.

Brian Jones introduces Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Foxy Lady," Monterey, 1967.

The Who's Pete Townshend talks about Hendrix's performance; followed by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Rock Me Baby," Monterey, 1967.

Performances from the Monterey Pop Festival not released on the original documentary by D.A. Pennebaker.

Search through the Rock Hall's archival collections here, including photographs, manuscripts, business records, posters, handbills, recordings, and much more from performers, bands, record label executives, recording studios, and the fans themselves!

These books can be found at the Rock Hall's Library and Archives, but you can also click the links to see if they are available at a library near you!

These recordings can be found at the Rock Hall's Library and Archives, but you can also click the links to see if they are available at a library near you!

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These recordings can be found at the Rock Hall's Library and Archives, but you can also click the links to see if they are available at a library near you!