Jimi Hendrix’s shows at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall in February 1969 were both captured by an American company, McCann Filming, and released as a concert movie later that year. This hour-long compilation uses the best available video and audio sources from the second of the shows (from February 24th) and features some rare and previously unseen footage of Jimi backstage and after the show, an interview at Jimi’s London flat, and two acoustic covers filmed at the same location.
Guitar hero Jimi Hendrix has a special association with the Royal Albert Hall, with the venue being the site of some of his most notable British gigs, including The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s final UK concert.
Within months of arriving in Britain in September 1966, The Jimi Hendrix Experience (featuring bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell) were already making waves on the UK music scene. Jimi’s virtuosic guitar had propelled their debut “Are You Experienced?” to No. 2 in the charts, and the country was quickly becoming addicted to the band’s psychedelic, rainbow blues sound.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience sold out the Hall easily, supported by Mason, Capaldi, Wood and Frog and The Soft Machine on 18th February, and by Van Der Graaf Generator and Fat Mattress on 24th February.
Tensions had been growing between band members and management for several months, but these were put aside for these two concerts, which would be remembered as some of the band’s best and most successful late performances.
Throwing out their usual set list, Hendrix and the band instead included several of his blues songs including Hear My Train a Comin’, Red House and Bleeding Heart.
Setlist:
- Intro
- Lover Man
- I Don’t Live Today
- Red House
- Foxy Lady
- Fire
- Room Full of Mirrors / Jam (featuring Dave Mason, Chris Wood, Kwasi “Rocky” Dijon Dzidzournou and… the lucky little kid Charley Weber !)
- Purple Haze
- Wild Thing / Star Spangled Banner / Smashing of Amps
Extra material (mostly unreleased previously):
- Backstage + aftershow scenes & speaks
- Interview at Jimi’s London flat
- Hound Dog / Two Old Maids (acoustic cover, 2 versions), with Kathy Etchingham & friends, at Jimi’s London flat
The Fat Angel Sings 