Unearthed: Drama student films Hendrix at Woodstock stage
The legendary sound of Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock in 1969 continues to resonate, but a fresh layer of history has recently been uncovered, revealing moments from the iconic performance that were never intended for the public eye.
While the massive festival celebrated the end of the music era, the legacy of the performance remains vividly alive. The gig featured Hendrix and his newly formed group, the Band of Gypsys (also known as Gypsy Sun and Rainbows), alongside musicians like Billy Cox, Larry Lee, Juma Sultan, Jerry Velez, and drummer Mitch Mitchell, a member of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
As the festival marks its 57th anniversary, attention has turned to new retrospective materials. A recently released film, Jimi Hendrix: Live at Woodstock — A Second Look, dives into rarely seen footage, offering a compelling glimpse behind the curtain of the legendary event.
Some of this newly unearthed material comes from a completely unexpected source: a 22-year-old drama student named Albert Goodman. Goodman managed to sneak onto the stage during the set and, using two open-reel videotapes, captured the performance from behind the percussionist, Juma Sultan. His perspective offered a unique vantage point, showing Hendrix standing just fifteen feet away from the camera.
In these private recordings, the magic of the performance is captured in raw, candid detail. Viewers can witness Hendrix delivering classics such as ‘Purple Haze’, ‘Voodoo Child’, ‘Message To Love’, and his rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’. Even rarer is the footage of him playing ‘Hear My Train a Comin’’, offering a glimpse into the raw energy of the moment.
The discovery wasn’t just a matter of finding old tapes; it involved a fascinating connection. After capturing the footage, Goodman hitchhiked and met a driver who had connections to people working with Hendrix. This driver helped arrange for the student to screen the material directly for the guitar icon himself.
After three decades of storage, this hidden footage was eventually made available to Hendrix’s family, ultimately making it part of the new retrospective film. It’s a wonderful testament to the enduring, sometimes hidden, stories that surround the biggest names in rock history.
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