Jimi Hendrix was a genius. There have been many attempts to tell his story. On November 27th, PBS’ American Masters presents Jimi Hendrix – Hear My Train A Comin’ – a documentary that unveils previously unseen footage of Hendrix doing what he did best, plus interviews with Hendrix and friends and fellow musicians including Jimi Hendrix Experience rhythm section Noel Redding (bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums), Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, Billy Cox and Eddie Kramer.
Following the jump, check out the trailer and press release to learn more – including details on the first ever release of the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience performance at the Miami Pop Festival in 1968.
American Masters: Jimi Hendrix – Hear My Train A Comin’ Film Synopsis
This new documentary unveils previously unseen performance footage — such as the 1968 Miami Pop Festival — and home movies taken by Jimi Hendrix (Nov. 27, 1942-Sept. 18, 1970) and drummer Mitch Mitchell while sourcing an extensive archive of photographs, drawings, family letters and more to provide new insight into the musician’s personality and genius. The film presents interviews with Hendrix himself, commentary from well-known friends and musicians including Paul McCartney, Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Eddie Kramer, Steve Winwood, as well as revealing glimpses into Jimi from family and those closest to him. The film details the meteoric rise of the Experience, the creation of his groundbreaking music, the building of Electric Lady Studios, his state of the art recording facility in Greenwich Village, and concludes with poignant footage from his final performance in Germany in September 1970, just 12 days before his death at age 27. A pioneering electric guitarist, Hendrix had only four years of mainstream exposure and recognition, but his influential music and riveting stage presence left an enduring legacy. Two hours.
Experience Hendrix LLC & Legacy Recordings Releasing Home Edition of Jimi Hendrix – Hear My Train A Comin’ Documentary on DVD and Blu-ray
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Miami Pop Festival Available for First Time Ever on CD and Double 12″ Vinyl Album
Jimi Hendrix American Masters Documentary Premiering Nationwide on PBS
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
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Experience Hendrix LLC and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release, on DVD and Blu-ray , the expanded home video edition of the American Masters documentary Jimi Hendrix – Hear My Train A Comin’, combined with a host of never-before-released special performance features, on Tuesday, November 5, 2013.
Also coming November 5, Jimi Hendrix Experience: Miami Pop Festival, the first-ever release of one of the guitar virtuoso’s most sought-after performances, as originally recorded on site by Hendrix’s long term sound engineer, Eddie Kramer. Never available in any form, Miami Pop Festival is being released as a single CD and a limited edition numbered double 12″ audiophile vinyl set (all analog cut by Bernie Grundman, pressed at QRP on 200 gram vinyl).
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Miami Pop Festival introduces the first recorded stage performances of “Hear My Train A Comin'” and “Tax Free” while showcasing definitive live takes on such classics as “Fire,” “Hey Joe,” “I Don’t Live Today” and “Purple Haze.” The package includes never before published photos taken at the festival and an essay by award-winning music journalist and Grammy Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli.
The first ever major rock festival staged on the East Coast, the May 1968 Miami Pop Festival was the first event promoted by Michael Lang-who would organize Woodstock, the biggest pop culture event of the decade, fifteen months later-and Ric O’Barry, who had been the dolphin trainer for the popular television program Flipper. Lang and O’Barry had been inspired by the June 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, the groundbreaking gathering where Jimi Hendrix, making his US debut, famously set fire to his guitar at the conclusion of his performance. Lang staged the festival at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida, securing the Jimi Hendrix Experience as the headline act for the two-day festival.
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Miami Pop Festival
1. Introduction
2. Hey Joe
3. Foxey Lady
4. Tax Free
5. Fire
6. Hear My Train A Comin’
7. I Don’t Live Today
8. Red House
9. Purple Haze
BONUS PERFORMANCES
10. Fire (Afternoon Show)
11. Foxey Lady (Afternoon Show)
Miami Pop Festival, May 18, 1968
Gulfstream Park, Hallandale, Florida
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Recently uncovered film footage of Hendrix at the 1968 Miami Pop Festival is among the previously unseen treasures featured in American Masters: Jimi Hendrix – Hear My Train A Comin’, premiering nationwide Tuesday, November 5, 2013, 9-11 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings or pbs.org/americanmasters).
Hear My Train A Comin‘ unveils previously unseen performance footage and home movies taken by Hendrix and drummer Mitch Mitchell while sourcing an extensive archive of photographs, drawings, family letters and more to provide new insight into the musician’s personality and genius.
A pioneering electric guitarist, Hendrix had only four years of mainstream exposure and recognition, but his influential music and riveting stage presence left an enduring legacy. Hear My Train A Comin’ traces the guitarist’s remarkable journey from his hardscrabble beginnings in Seattle, through his stint as a US Army paratrooper, unknown sideman to R&B stars such as Little Richard, Joey Dee and the Isley Brothers and his discovery and ultimate international stardom.
Presented as part of a year-long celebration around his 70th birthday year–the guitarist was born November 27, 1942–the two-hour Hear My Train A Comin’ tells the definitive story, illustrated by interviews with Hendrix and illuminated with commentary from family, well-known friends and musicians including Paul McCartney, Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Eddie Kramer, Steve Winwood, Vernon Reid, Billy Gibbons, Dweezil Zappa and Dave Mason as well as revealing glimpses into Jimi and his era from the three women closest to him Linda Keith (the girlfriend who introduced Jimi to future manager Chas Chandler), Fayne Pridgon (who befriended Hendrix in Harlem in the early 1960s) and Colette Mimram (one of the era’s most influential fashion trendsetters who provided inspiration for Hendrix’s signature look and created such memorable stage costumes as the beaded jacket Hendrix famously wore at Woodstock). The film details the meteoric rise of the Experience, the creation of his groundbreaking music, the building of Electric Lady Studios, his state-of-the-art recording facility in Greenwich Village, and concludes with poignant footage from his final performance in Germany in September 1970, just 12 days before his death at age 27.
Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix LLC and the sister of Jimi Hendrix commented, “Hear my Train a Comin’ is an in-depth look at the life and legacy of Jimi with his own words as well as the words and memories of those that knew him well and were close to him. His impression on the world through his genius, music and talent continue to magically touch the lives of ensuing generations.”
American Masters: Jimi Hendrix – Hear My Train A Comin’ is directed by the award winning director Bob Smeaton (Festival Express; The Beatles Anthology; Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Child; Hendrix 70: Live at Woodstock). Susan Lacy is series creator and executive producer of American Masters. The expanded DVD features an array of special features highlighted by never before released film footage featuring performances filmed at Miami Pop, the July 1970 New York Pop Festival and the September 6, 1970 Love & Peace Festival at the Isle Of Fehmarn in Germany-the final performance by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The high definition DVD features new stereo and 5.1 surround mixing by Hendrix’s engineer Eddie Kramer. The documentary is a production of Fuse Films and THIRTEEN’s American Masters in association with WNET.
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The multiple Grammy-winning Legacy Recordings, Sony Music Entertainment’s catalog division, produces and maintains the world’s foremost catalog of historic reissues, an unparalleled compendium of thousands of digitally re-mastered archival titles representing virtually every musical genre including popular, rock, jazz, blues, R&B, folk, country, gospel, Broadway musicals, movie soundtracks, ethnic, world music, classical, comedy and more.
About Experience Hendrix L.L.C.
Founded by James ‘Al’ Hendrix, Jimi’s father, in 1995, Experience Hendrix, has been managed since its inception by the family members handpicked by Al during his tenure as Chairman. It is the official family company charged with managing the music, name, image and likeness of Jimi Hendrix. As a part of their daily operations, Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix oversee Jimi’s timeless legacy on a worldwide basis.
In 2013, WNET is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THIRTEEN, New York’s flagship public media provider. As the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to over 5 million viewers each week. WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, PBS NewsHour Weekend, Charlie Rose and a range of documentaries, children’s programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Oh Noah! and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state’s unique culture and diverse communities through NYC-ARTS, Reel 13, NJ Today and MetroFocus, the multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region. WNET is also a leader in connecting with viewers on emerging platforms, including the THIRTEEN Explore iPad App where users can stream PBS content for free.