Newly Restored Jimi Hendrix 1970 Performances Coming To Movie Theaters
(SM) Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. in association with Evan Saxon Productions is launching a theatrical run of the film Jimi Plays Berkeley. The film features footage from the Jimi Hendrix Experience's two concerts at the Berkeley Community Theatre on May 30, 1970 as well as anti-war student riots which had roiled the city and campus community two weeks prior to Hendrix's performance.
The first dates in this new roll out will be at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood in Berkeley on November 14 and 17, followed by screenings in Sebastopol, Cape Cod, London, Cleveland, Santa Fe, and Salina, KS with more dates and venues to be announced. Screenings will also come to Hungary, Israel, Belgium and Canada, with additional countries coming on board. As part of the grand opening of the Jimi Hendrix: West Coast Seattle Boy exhibition at the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) in the music legend's hometown of Seattle, Jimi Plays Berkeley will screen on November 21, followed by a Q&A with producer/Experience Hendrix CEO Janie Hendrix.
This special, expanded edition of the 1971 film Jimi Plays Berkeley showcases some of Jimi's finest ever performances juxtaposed against the political unrest and student uprisings in Berkeley. Hendrix's set list not only encompassed older favorites such as "Purple Haze" and "I Don't Live Today," but also exciting renditions of new songs such as "Straight Ahead" and "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)". Jimi's riveting, high velocity take of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" stands as one of the hallmark moments of his career, as does his breathtaking, extended reading of "Hear My Train A Comin'".
This expanded edition was first released in 2012 on DVD/Blu-ray, but it has been newly restored this year with a 4K transfer from the original 16mm negative. Initially released theatrically in mono, Hendrix's engineer Eddie Kramer newly mixed the soundtrack in stereo. More than fifteen minutes of additional documentary and performance footage never before shown in cinemas of such classic songs as "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)," "Machine Gun" and "Hear My Train A Comin'" are now included in this special theatrical presentation.
"Jimi's performances were never simply concerts; they were experiences," said Janie Hendrix. "His music, his energy, and the way he connected with an audience were extraordinary. More than 56 years later, that magic is still there. I'm happy that longtime fans and a whole new generation will have the opportunity to experience Jimi on the big screen."
As a bonus, screened together with Jimi Plays Berkeley is the 25 minute short film Jimi Hendrix: Miami Pop Festival. This film, directed by John McDermott, showcases the original Jimi Hendrix Experience at the May 1968 pop festival organized by future Woodstock promoter Michael Lang. The film features an interview with Lang together with dramatic performances by Hendrix that include "Fire," "Foxey Lady," "Purple Haze" and the only known footage of the guitarist's rendition of "Tax Free".
This is Evan Saxon Productions' fifth collaboration with Experience Hendrix. ESP has also overseen the recent global theatrical distribution for Jack Johnson: Surfilmusic, Matter of Time featuring Eddie Vedder, Billy Idol Should Be Dead, and many other music-centric films. Evan Saxon commented, "Decades on, Jimi continues to inspire and drive fans to cinemas around the world so they can 'experience' him on the biggest screens, where Jimi Hendrix belongs. It is an honor to once again collaborate with Experience Hendrix."
In conjunction with Jimi Plays Berkeley, Experience Hendrix, L.L.C. and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, have released Magic Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live At Berkeley (First Show) on 2LP vinyl, CD and all streaming platforms. Captured by the band's front-of-house engineer Abe Jacob and newly remixed by longtime Hendrix producer/engineer Eddie Kramer from the original multi-track tapes, Magic Boy was mastered by multiple-Grammy Award winner Bernie Grundman. It was co-produced by Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer and John McDermott.
Jimi Plays Berkeley theatrical dates:
Nov 14 & 17 Berkeley, CA Rialto Cinemas Elmwood*
Nov 16 Sebastopol, CA Rialto Cinemas Sebastopol*
Nov 19 Dennis, MA Cape Cinema*
Nov 21 Seattle, WA Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)+
Nov 26 London, UK The Gate Picturehouse Notting Hill#
Nov 29 & Dec 1 Cleveland Heights, OH Cedar Lee Theatre*
Jan 1 Fall River, MA Narrow Center for the Arts*
Jan 17 Santa Fe, NM Sky Cinemas Midtown*
Feb 16 Salina, KS Salina Art Center*
*Includes screening of the short film The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Miami Pop Festival
+Grand opening of Jimi Hendrix: West Coast Seattle Boy exhibition, Q&A with Janie Hendrix
#Q&A with special guest
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