Review: The Premiere of Jimi Hendrix’s Albert Hall Concert Film

The long-awaited and highly debated fully restored film of Jimi Hendrix at the Albert Hall was finally premiered at the iconic venue on October 21, 2019.

The meticulously restored and much-anticipated film of Jimi HENDRIX Live at the Albert Hall in 1969 was finally unveiled at its original location on October 21, 2019.

As reported by the French music publicist Yazid Manou – the individual who located me years later and recognized me as the child who sprinted onto the stage to whisper something into the guitar legend’s ear.

One of the reasons for the public screening was to ensure that the copyright remained active by commercially showcasing the property within fifty years of the original claim. The opportunity to view this high-resolution film – which boasts excellent quality with a slight blue tint, likely due to the original green cast – is a remarkable and joyous event for Hendrix enthusiasts, music lovers, and fans of this legendary film, often hailed as the Holy Grail of lost music recordings.

Albert Hall – Tentative schedule: 5:30 pm Restaurants and bars open. 6:30 pm Box offices open. 6:45 pm Auditorium doors open. 7:30 pm The Jimi Hendrix Experience: The Royal Albert Hall. Event concludes at 9:35 pm.

My father, Tommy, was acquainted with Jimi socially and filmed a multi-camera concert documentary titled ‘Watch Out For Your Ears’ approximately a year before the Albert Hall concert. This film featured performances by Jimi, The Animals, and Traffic (who replaced The Who for the event). Watching Jimi’s electrifying performance in that documentary sparked my fascination with Hendrix. All the musicians in that circle were interconnected, and half of Traffic ended up performing onstage at the Albert Hall, including Chris Wood, Dave Mason, and Rocky, the percussionist. I believe this connection led us to visit Traffic’s home in Buckinghamshire, where I was utterly starstruck witnessing a young Windwood playing frisbee on the lawn surrounded by all the eccentrics.

I didn’t personally meet Hendrix until the Albert Hall concert in ’69, when my father Tommy introduced my brother and me to him backstage before the show. Jimi lifted me onto his shoulders and ran around the dressing room with me. Then, likely too excited to hold back, I somehow ended up on stage during the performance and whispered something into his ear. What I said remains unknown – it might have been a song request or perhaps a question about his tailor’s address. The exact words are still a mystery.

The black and white photograph capturing that stage encounter only surfaced for me during Christmas of 2013 when Yazid Manou, a French music publicist for Sony Music and a photo investigator, reached out to me on Facebook. Naturally, I was astonished. The picture is now housed in the Handel and Hendrix Museum at 23 Brook Street in Mayfair, accompanied by a brief mention of my father.

The public screening was also crucial for maintaining the film’s copyright status, requiring a commercial showing within fifty years of the original claim. Viewing this high-definition film, which maintains impressive quality with a slight blue tint likely from the original green cast, is a monumental event for Hendrix fans, music aficionados, and those who cherish this iconic film, often regarded as the Holy Grail of lost music footage.

The Albert Hall – Estimated timeline: 5:30 pm Restaurants and bars open. 6:30 pm Box offices commence. 6:45 pm Auditorium doors welcome attendees. 7:30 pm The Jimi Hendrix Experience: The Royal Albert Hall. Event wraps up at 9:35 pm.

My father, Tommy, had a social connection with Jimi and filmed a multi-camera concert documentary titled ‘Watch Out For Your Ears’ about a year before the Albert Hall event. This documentary featured performances by Jimi, The Animals, and Traffic (who substituted for The Who at the gig). Watching Jimi’s dynamic performance in that film ignited my passion for Hendrix. The musicians in that circle were all interlinked, and half of Traffic performed onstage at the Albert Hall, including Chris Wood, Dave Mason, and Rocky, the percussionist. I believe this connection led us to visit Traffic’s home in Buckinghamshire, where I was completely starstruck seeing a young Windwood playing frisbee on the lawn amidst all the eccentric characters.