10 Greatest Shows In Rock History
4. Jimi Hendrix at Monterey Pop Festival
As far as the rock show is concerned, nothing really got completely perfected until the '70s. Even with acts like the Rolling Stones and the Doors creating mayhem whenever they went on tour, these were the exceptions to the rule in the era of bands that just stood and played all the time. But what Jimi Hendrix did on the Monterey Pop Festival deserves to be up in the rock and roll heavens.
Throughout his career, Hendrix made it a point to make his shows a spectacle, more often than not playing his guitar with his teeth and creating mountains of feedback noise to get a rise out of the audience. Things really took a turn towards the end of this gig though, where he got a little more fiery than usual. Right after the cover of the Troggs' Wild Thing, Jimi took off his guitar and proceeded to spray lighter fluid on it before lighting everything on fire.
Becoming one of the most iconic images in rock and roll, it's almost as if you're watching one of the high priests of rock and roll making a sacrifice on stage. Even if you don't consider yourself all that spiritual, there is definitely some higher power at work that made the stars line up like this.