Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsys (Live at the Fillmore East)

Starring:Jimi Hendrix
Studio: Experience Hendrix
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Made less than a year before his death in September 1970, Band of Gypsys was an album recorded live to fulfill a contractual obligation for a long-forgotten deal Jimi Hendrix signed when he still spelled his name "Jimmy." Hendrix had just disbanded the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and in order to dispense with the album as quickly as possible, he put together a new trio featuring Billy Cox (an old Army buddy) and drummer Buddy Miles, whose bombastic singing and thudding drum style would soon pollute FM airwaves across the nation. (Former Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell refers to him here as "William the Concreter," for his cement-mixer sense of rhythm.) They booked the Fillmore East with the idea of recording the shows for a live album, and this DVD features recently unearthed film footage of that historic performance, with Hendrix at the top of his powers (despite Miles's excesses). It also offers several other rare live performances from British clubs in the mid-1960s. The musical moments are mixed with new interview footage, including conversations with the self-effacing Cox and the self-aggrandizing Miles. If you've only heard the CDs (Band of Gypsys and Jimi Hendrix: Live at the Fillmore East), you've only gotten half of this particular Jimi Hendrix experience. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Live at the flimore east .......2007-06-30

ok i bought this dvd thinking that there wiould be alot of concert footage becayse of the legeandry show i was lke kool there relashing footage of the show ook the downfall is that theres only like 10 or something songs and an hour doucument veary dispointed i gave it 4 stars becayse of the show foootage it would have beend 5 if there was more songs and no doucument

Hendrix in a different light.......2007-04-12

If you have never seen The Band of Gypsys live at the Fillmore there are two things you need to know. The actual concert footage is black and
white. The quality is not all that great and the sound could definitely be better. The second thing is that it is great. Hendrix was totally focused primarily because I think he knew they were recording an album to fulfill a contract commitment he got into with Capitol. Hendrix, Buddy Miles , and Billy Cox were tight but there was also a fluidity in there playing that allowed Hendrix to be spontaneous making his performances unique.It was a shame that this group did not go on to do other projects. Hendrix was in his element and it was evident. If "MACHINE GUN" were the only song on this DVD it would be worth it. He was just amazing to watch and even after all these years he is still one of the most profound and innovative guitar players of our time.
Another aspect of "the Band of Gypsys" is that Buddy Miles and Hendrix share the vocal responsibilities giving the band another dynamic unlike the "Experience". Miles drumming and Billy Cox's bass playing gave Jimi a solid foundation to work on. I liked the soul inspired songs they did together. The film part of the DVD is designed as a documentary with interviews by Buddy Miles, Billy Cox, Mitch Mitchell and everyone else that was in some way connected with this project. Actually I could have lived with out it but my guess is that there was so little actual concert footage [not to mention the quality] that I think they thought they had to put something else in there to compensate. I can't help thinking that there is more footage that just hasn't been released yet. What about the 2nd night they played? And during the documentary part there was some color film footage, where is it? Anyway, I am sure there is more yet to be released and when it does I will be there eagerly waiting.

5 stars for historical footage that could not be improved upon.......2007-04-09

If you're new to Hendrix though, be warned that genuine footage from the trenches of the Western Front from 1916, as well as plenty of footage from WW2, exists with far better picture quality than this Hendrix concert, although shot after man had landed on the moon. In fact, it's not much better than the moon-landing footage itself. How this can be will always remain a mystery to me, but clearly this fact is beyond the control of anybody trying to release what was filmed in a commercially viable form. I think they did a pretty good job, although I still feel this CD is more of historical interest and could be hard to digest for a non-Hendrix fan, or could put off the uninitiated. If you're looking for your first Hendrix DVD, rather get the film Jimi Hendrix, Woodstock or the Isle of Wight.

a classic,hear other performers.../M.D.//..........2007-01-09

The Audio CD is more musical than the DVD,perhaps with strange apparatus.

DVD DOCUMENTARY SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON HENDRIX'S LEGENDARY "BAND OF GYPSYS!".......2006-10-02

Since today in 2 October 2006, Before I start my whole review, I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to my Dad who is also the biggest inspiration in my life. There is no man I respect more. Love You Dad, J.L.

I will be doing a review on the legendary historic DVD documentary simply entitled "Jimi Hendrix - Band Of Gypsys - Live At The Fillmore East" by the late great guitar legend Jimi Hendrix. As always, I will be editing this review from time to time so that you the consumer will get the best and most accurate review possible. Before I begin, I would highly suggest that you read my other reviews on Jimi's legendary historic landmark concerts at the "Monterey Pop Festival" on 18 June 1967, the "Woodstock Festival" on 18 August 1969, "Jimi Plays Berkeley" on 30 May 1970, "Rainbow Bridge Film And Concert" on 30 July 1970 and the "Isle Of Wight Festival" on 30 August 1970. They are long reviews and I do deeply apologize for that, but they do contain a lot of valuable information on Jimi that you might find very interesting. I do hope that you will read and enjoy all five reviews when time permits. It would also help me greatly in shortening this long review and not have to add all of that information from my previous five reviews in this review.

For me personally, this marks the sixth review that I have written on Jimi Hendrix's legendary concert series which focus's on some of his most memorable and unforgettable concert performances in Rock n' Roll history. This DVD documentary release of the "Band Of Gypsys Live At The Fillmore East," despite winning a Grammy, is exactly what it was originally intended to be, a documentary. This performance was NEVER filmed or meant to be a concert film, let alone a documentary. This DVD documentary release features the ONLY known Color and Black and White RARE footage of the group in concert performing such songs as the POWERFULLY EXPLOSIVE "Machine Gun," "Who Knows," "Izabella," "Fire" and "Foxey Lady" from the legendary guitarist's 31 December 1969 and 1 January 1970 Fillmore East performances. These live performances were originally released on vinyl and cassette as a partial compilation entitled "Hendrix - Band Of Gypsys" in 1970. Many rock critics as well as many Hendrix fans have wondered if the "Band Of Gypsys" complete Fillmore East performances would ever be released. There have been numerous bootlegs of these performances that have surfaced through the years but with bad sound quality. That suspense would finally end years later with the 1999 release of the 2-CD set entitled the "Band Of Gypsys Live At The Fillmore East" along with this DVD documentary, also released separately in 1999. The revolutionary impact Jimi Hendrix, Bassist Billy Cox and Drummer Buddy Miles had upon the boundaries and definitions of Rock, R&B and Funk can be traced into four concerts over the course of two evenings. The story of this ground-breaking music is finally told here in interviews with Jimi, and for the first time, ALL FOUR of his bandmates, Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. Also contributing interviews are fellow Hendrix DIEHARDS such as Lenny Kravitz, Vernon Reid, Slash and Jimi's original Engineer Eddie Kramer.

First of all, I would like to deeply apologize to all the readers for my long reviews. The reason why I did this is because I feel that it's my responsibility as a reviewer to provide as much information on the main topic to the readers as possible. Please keep in mind that all of the information that is discussed in this review is based on facts disclosed from numerous Hendrix biographies. Enough of that, it is now time to take a journey back in time to the Fillmore East performances on 31 December 1969 and 1 January 1970.

To begin, the idea of the "Band Of Gypsys" was the mastermind of Jimi with the intensions of creating a new sound consisting of combining Rock n' Roll with Soul, R&B and Funk. With this new sound, Jimi had high hopes in drawing the black audiences to his concerts other than the white audiences which were all of his audiences. To achieve this experiment, Jimi would have to recruit Drummer Buddy Miles and his long-time friend and Army buddy, Bassist Billy Cox to accomplish this. In reality, Jimi TRULY believed that he had the PERFECT combination of musicians needed to accomplish this creativity of the new sound he was after mainly because ALL THREE shared the same ideas in combining Rock n' Roll with Soul, R&B and Funk. The four shows that the "Band Of Gypsys" performed at The Fillmore East is EVERYTHING that Jimi had hoped for, and is a TRUE TESTAMENT of the new sound that was to evolve into a reality. With the success of these four shows, it would seem that the "Band Of Gypsys" would stay together and continue further into this new sound with the advancement of bigger and better things. But it was not to be.

There was one BIG problem, Jimi's Manager Mike Jeffery. Jeffery opposed and hated Jimi's new ideas and the direction he was heading. Jeffery had different ideas as to the direction Jimi should be heading. Jeffery's main objective and goal was to REFORM the ORIGINAL EXPERIENCE consisting of Drummer Mitch Mitchell and Bassist Noel Redding. Hendrix opposed and hated that idea due to the fact that Hendrix did not want to work with Redding ever again. This incident would be one of MANY which would result in DISASTER and would eventually start developing into personal matters and bitter differences between Hendrix and Jeffery. With this problem escalating, Jeffery would DELIBERATELY and MALICIOUSLY CONSPIRE in DESTROYING Jimi's new ideas and PLOTTING in breaking up the "Band Of Gypsys." When Jeffery finally succeeded in breaking up the "Band Of Gypsys," Jimi would make an effort in compromising and complying with Jeffery's CONTROLLING DEMANDS by keeping Billy Cox and bringing Mitch Mitchell back to resume his duties as Jimi's Drummer. With this new band line up, Jeffery volunteered and took it upon himself, in FIRING Miles and then DELIBERATELY blamed it on Jimi by saying that "it was Jimi's idea." With Jimi having to put up with MANY of Jeffery's CROOKED SCHEMES, you may ask yourself, why didn't Jimi just fire Mike Jeffery? According to numerous Hendrix biographies, it wasn't that simple. In reality, the truth is that Jimi DID attempt in trying to sever all ties with Jeffery on many occasions, but was unsuccessful in doing so despite seeking legal assistance. What it all comes down to is that Jeffery had Hendrix in a HEADLOCK, Hendrix was bound and controlled under contract with Jeffery. Jimi's contract with Jeffery was IRONCLAD and UNBREAKABLE. This is one of many stressful incidents and factors that would eventually build up in Jimi resulting in him going into a deep depression. Jimi's drug abuse would worsen as a result of his depression. With these two factors, and Jimi's lack of sleep, they would hinder and alter Jimi's destiny in his masterful creativity and would affect his personality on stage in which he would no longer be the charismatic showman he was always known for in order to deliver the great performances.

In closing, Jeffery's responsibilities, as Manager, should have been the handling of Jimi's business and financial matters ONLY and should have left Jimi alone when it came to the band, creating music and performing on tour. I also believe that Jeffery was NOT looking after Jimi's best interests. Maybe Jeffery was trying to hold Jimi back because he was worried about how Jimi's white audience would react to Jimi's new band, new sounds and music as a result of being TOO FAR ADVANCED AHEAD OF HIS TIME. Then again, what Manager, such as Jeffery, has the right to tell THE GREATEST GUITARIST THAT EVER LIVED what kind of music HE thinks Jimi should be playing or who HE thinks Jimi should have in his band! It is too bad that Jeffery isn't alive to defend himself and answer these questions, he would later die in a plane crash in 1973. Despite all of the many tensions and disasters, it is STILL evident to this day, thirty-six years later, that Jimi Hendrix's accomplishments and his masterful skilled guitar playing is still as big of an influence in Rock n' Roll today then it was back then when Jimi was alive which shows that he has NEVER been forgotten as long as Rock n' Roll music as well as music, in general, STILL EXISTS. And since I feel confident of this, Jimi Hendrix's name will ALWAYS be mentioned above ALL the LEGENDARY GUITAR GREATS and his music will FOREVER influence many more generations to come to time indefinite. Thanks for reading my long and lengthy review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for all of you. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. JIMI LIVES! LONG LIVE ROCK N' ROLL! Rock out always. Take care, J.L.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Napoleon (TV Miniseries) (2-Disc Standard Edition)

Slaves to the Underground : DVD

Job (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Nikaah

Arielle, die Meerjungfrau 2: Sehnsucht nach dem Meer