A timeline of all the greatest sets from Monterey Pop Festival
The worst thing about great moments in time is that it’s hard to know you’re living in one as it’s actually happening. For instance, did those at the Monterey Pop Festival know that the shows they were seeing would be talked about for decades to come?
From June 16th to June 18th, 1967, in the California sun, artists and music lovers from far and wide gathered at Monterey County Fairgrounds in a bid to attend what would become one of the most talked about festivals of both that summer and summers to come. With a leaning towards rock, some of the biggest names in music at the time made their way to Cali to deliver a great show, and my word, did they succeed.
Some of the names that appeared included the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, The Who and Janis Joplin. A lot of them hadn’t made a massive name for themselves quite yet, but stardom was on the horizon, and performing on this stacked bill helped them reach it.
When we talk about dream gigs, or great moments in musical history that we’d love to revisit, a lot of people cite the Monterey Pop Festival as a must. We wish we could take you there, but sadly, that’s just not possible, so instead, you’ll need to use your imagination somewhat. Here is a timeline with some of the greatest and most iconic performances from the legendary weekend of music.
A timeline of the greatest sets from Monterey Pop Festival:
Friday, June 16th
The Animals
During the British invasion of the 1960s, The Animals were somewhat on par with two of the major pillars of the entire movement: The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
However, their struggle to uphold lasting appeal left them falling behind, just like their iconic performance at Monterey Pop Festival, which is often overlooked in favour of the more explosive sets that ripped apart the stage over the course of three historic days.
Nevertheless, this one was just as iconic as any. Fronted by Eric Burdon, this set launched the ‘new’ Animals into the ether, transforming them from a lowkey ’60s outfit to a more prominent psychedelic rock force.
Friday, June 16th
Simon & Garfunkel
Headlining the festival on the Friday night, Simon & Garfunkel performed the way they always did best: just their two voices and a guitar.
Simon & Garfunkel’s set provided a stark contrast to the explosive chaos that would ensure during others’ sets, but it provided the ideal moment of respite with songs that continue to echo through the ages.
Saturday, June 17th
The Byrds
When talking about all the iconic performances to grace the stage at the Monterey Pop Festival, one band’s set that often gets overlooked is The Byrds’.
However, the performance was just as fine as any, with a particularly endearing cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Chimes of Freedom’ delighting the audience and cementing their position as stalwarts of the entire counterculture movement.
Saturday, June 17th
Jefferson Airplane
During the counterculture era, Jefferson Airplane epitomised everything good and bad about modern culture.
Their defining hit, ‘White Rabbit’, tackled the broader societal disillusionment by reframing the popular children’s books by Lewis Carroll as a tool for criticising the older generation’s contradictions. When they performed it at Monterey, people couldn’t help but feel they were a part of something important.
Saturday, June 17th
Otis Redding
A gorgeous performance that deserves far more credit, Otis Redding’s set at the festival was the perfect way to endear the crowd to another musical legend, with three songs in particular standing out as major moments: ‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long’, ‘Respect’, and his cover of The Rolling Stones’ ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’.
Funnily enough, Redding’s set at the festival almost didn’t happen were it not for the intervention of promoter Jerry Wexler. Backed by Stax Records’ Booker T and the MGs, Redding eventually agreed, and it fell into its rightful place among the ultimate greats of Monterey.
Saturday, June 17th
Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company
Stepping into the shoes of a true counterculture leader and fronting Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin proved herself to be the voice of a generation, a powerful figure of authenticity whose presence on the big stage was more than worthwhile.
The set was so special, in fact, that they were brought back on stage the following day, with the entire experience going down in history as a major turning point that brought the spotlight onto one of the era’s most culturally significant pioneers.
Sunday, June 18th
The Who
Before their iconic performance at Monterey, The Who’s Pete Townshend vowed they would “leave a wound” when they took to the stage, and that’s precisely what they did, wreaking havoc all over the stage to make sure it would be a performance that nobody would forget.
A set that quite literally ended in flames, The Who reminded everybody why they were the ultimate leaders of the rock movement, performing a particularly explosive version of ‘My Generation’ that people still rightfully talk about to this day.
Sunday, June 18th
Jimi Hendrix
Kicking off his first US tour, Jimi Hendrix showed the world what true rock ‘n’ roll looked like with a pivotal performance that still shines as one of the most significant in rock music history.
With a performance that included setting his guitar on fire, Hendrix’s Monterey moment was nothing short of revolutionary, shocking the US audience with a different kind of experience that felt both anarchic and explosively unifying.
