The California fairgrounds where Hendrix set his guitar on fire and launched the Summer of Love

Monterey Pop Festival, California

The Monterey County Fairgrounds hosted an event that changed music forever on June 16-18, 1967. Over 200,000 people came to the Monterey International Pop Festival.

For three days, 32 different acts played rock, folk, soul, blues, and Indian classical music. This first major American rock festival set the pattern for all later festivals like Woodstock.

People packed into an open-air arena usually used for horse shows. They sat in every seat and stood wherever they could find space.

No one knew they were about to witness the birth of a new era in music.

Seven Weeks to Create Music History

John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas got a call in spring 1967.

Concert promoter Alan Pariser wanted his band to play at the Monterey Fairgrounds. Phillips and record producer Lou Adler saw a chance to do something bigger.

They took over the project and turned it into a full festival. With only seven weeks to plan, they brought in Beatles publicist Derek Taylor.

They formed a board including stars Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, and Brian Wilson.

The team picked Monterey Fairgrounds because it already hosted the respected Jazz Festival. They wanted rock music to gain the same respect.

Music for the Greater Good

Every artist at Monterey played for free. All money from ticket sales went to charity.

Only Ravi Shankar received payment – $3,000 for his special performance of Indian music.

This giving spirit created the Monterey International Pop Festival Foundation, the first rock charity.

Later benefit shows like Live Aid followed this model. Tickets cost between $3 and $6.50, making the event open to many while still raising money for music education and support for musicians.

Fire on the Monterey Stage

Jimi Hendrix was famous in London but unknown in America when he stepped on stage at Monterey.

Paul McCartney had seen him play in England and pushed for him to join the festival. Hendrix played guitar unlike anyone before.

He used his teeth, played behind his back, and moved like a man possessed.

At the end of “Wild Thing,” he knelt down, poured lighter fluid on his guitar, and set it on fire. The crowd watched in shock.

Hendrix walked off stage a star, leaving American rock music forever changed.

Texas Blues Meets California Crowd

Big Brother and the Holding Company was just another San Francisco band until Monterey. Their singer, 24-year-old Janis Joplin from Texas, changed that.

During “Ball and Chain,” Joplin sang with raw power that stunned the crowd. Her raspy voice and emotional style were unlike anything in rock music.

The band’s Saturday set was so good that organizers had them play again Sunday so filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker could capture it.

Singer Cass Elliot watched open-mouthed from the crowd. Columbia Records signed the band immediately. Joplin became an instant star.

British Invasion Arrives with a Bang

The Who were huge in Britain but not yet in America.

Their Monterey show fixed that. Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon played with fierce energy using rented amps.

They built to a wild finish with “My Generation.” As the song ended, Townshend smashed his guitar to pieces. Moon kicked over his drums.

Smoke bombs exploded on stage.

Crew members rushed to save equipment as the crowd sat in shock. The Who showed America a new kind of rock show that many bands would copy.

Soul Music Finds New Audience

Otis Redding was already the “King of Soul” but mostly among Black audiences.

At Monterey, he played to a mostly white crowd for the first time. Backed by Booker T. and the MG’s, Redding sang with heart and energy.

His versions of “Respect” and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” won over the audience instantly. His powerful stage presence crossed all barriers of race and background.

Six months later, Redding died in a plane crash at 26. Monterey caught him at his best, saving his greatness for future fans.

East Meets West Through Music

Ravi Shankar brought the music of India to Monterey with his sitar, a 19-string instrument most Americans had never seen.

For four hours on Sunday afternoon, Shankar played ragas, traditional Indian music with ancient roots.

The crowd sat quietly, taking in sounds completely different from rock and roll. Fewer people saw Shankar than the rock acts, partly due to morning rain.

Yet his playing strongly influenced Western musicians. George Harrison had already studied with Shankar, but this performance brought Indian music to mainstream America.

Capturing the Moment on Film

Filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker brought a team of camera experts to Monterey, including Albert Maysles and Richard Leacock.

They used new portable cameras that let them move freely through crowds and get close to performers. Pennebaker caught more than just performances.

He filmed reactions like Mama Cass watching Janis Joplin with amazement and fans lost in the music.

His movie “Monterey Pop,” released in 1968, preserved the festival and changed how music films were made, with close-up shots that showed the real emotion of live music.

Beginning of the Summer of Love

Monterey Pop Festival happened right at the start of the “Summer of Love,” when young people across America embraced new ideas about peace and freedom.

The festival showed hippie values through its charity focus, peaceful crowd, and wide range of music. Attendees wore flowers and bright clothes.

John Phillips wrote “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” to promote the festival. Scott McKenzie sang it, and the song became the anthem of the hippie movement.

Just one day after the festival ended, Monterey’s mayor banned future gatherings of more than 2,000 people at the site.

Visiting Monterey County Fairgrounds

The Monterey County Fairgrounds is located at 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, California 93940.

The annual Monterey Jazz Festival takes place each September, typically costing $50-$175 depending on the package you choose.

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