You need to upgrade your Flash Player
In order to view this video please get flash.
Video Title
Date
Text
More videos
The Birth Of Rock Blues-based Rock 1963-1970
The rock revolution of the 1960's seen through the life and music of Jimi Hendrix. The first doomed icon of rock, Hendrix was the synthesis of everything that had gone before him and all that was to come. The Birth Of Rock also explores the influence of rhythm & blues on a generation of British musicians such as The Rolling Stones, Cream and The Who, and how the song-writing of Bob Dylan and studio developments of The Beatles transformed the possibilities and ambitions of rock.
- Director's notes
- Tony Higgins
- Assistant producer
"To get the gig working on Seven Ages of Rock was big enough but to get the first episode was something of a weighty responsibility. How could one possibly cover the 1960s without simply re-treading well worn paths?
Salvation lay in the device we'd adopted for much of the series - using a central figure to take us through the story, a figure who could demonstrate the developments and transformations in that period of astonishing artistic creativity and social change.
There was only one candidate really: Jimi Hendrix. He encapsulates the first age of rock more than any single figure; a summation of all that had gone before him and a projection of all that was to come. He was the roots bluesman who used new technology, perfectly bridging the past to the future to create a dazzling psychedelic present.
It's essential to remember that his career in the spotlight lasted only four years and three studio albums; dead at 27, an artist whose potential was so massive, it's hard not to reflect on his unrealised projects without a profound sense of loss.
Alongside Hendrix, we decided to also feature artists who influenced Jimi but also stamped their own indelible mark on the era - Bob Dylan, Cream, The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Taking a "less is more" philosophy, we set out to allow the music time to breathe; avoiding the tendency to overload films with contributors would let us give the story space to unfold.
We were fortunate to catch time with many artists who rarely give interviews. Ginger Baker, for example, happened to be in the UK for a few days buying polo horses for his polo ranch in Africa. We managed to grab a couple of hours with the legendary Cream drummer.
As well known for his forthright opinions as he is for his drumming, Ginger did not disappoint. Looking rather dapper in black velvet jacket and rock star shades he proceeded to give us the low-down on the highs and lows of Cream as well as life - and death - in the Sixties.
One story he told was of the night Hendrix died. Ginger had come into possession of a bottle of pure cocaine hydrochloride from a friend who worked at Charing Cross hospital. Keen to share his windfall, Ginger called Hendrix but could not get hold of him. Ginger proceeded to get stuck in, OD'd and came round to a doctor telling him that Hendrix was dead. "The extraordinary thing is,' said Ginger, very matter of factly, 'if he'd had the coke he wouldn't have died because he wouldn't have gone to sleep."
He finished with a darkly comic round up: "I seem to manage to stay alive by some miracle because I was supposed to have died you see. I was in the Playboy Dead Band in 1972 along with Jimi and Janis Joplin and Greg Allman. I was the drummer in the Dead Band."
We also caught up with with his old band mate and sparring partner Jack Bruce, who gives us a first hand account of the night Jimi, after only one week in London, dares to sit in with Cream and blow Eric Clapton off stage. Its moments like this that made making the programme so memorable."
Have Your SayFeatured Artists
Fans' Photos
These pictures are photos that have been uploaded by the public to Flickr, the photosharing website. Click on a photo to see the large image there.
These pictures are not hosted by the BBC. Please alert us if you spot anything inappropriate. This product uses the Flickr API but is not endorsed or certified by Flickr.
Thamer, Saudi Arabia
To BBC: First of all I would like to thank you so much for reminding the people about that time of Rock. The people now have forgotin all about the 60's, 70's and the 80's too, some kids now don't even know where did Rock come from and dividin types of Rock into other music. I loved you programm and I would really like it if you guys put it on DVD Box set it bring alot of cash ;). I really wanna thank you again for this ... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. ^_^
James, Maidstone
Please BBC, Put this on DVD, the best TV in a long time, would be great to watch it all again.
Anne, Walsall
Other people have already said it, but please put 7 Ages of Rock out on DVD. Thank you!
Ali, Evesham
Please put it on DVD. Seven ages of rock has been the best thing on TV for a while :-)
Nic, Derby
JImi was a creative genius and his music was certainly different from anything else heard at that point.
Quimby, Glasgow
Put it in DVD, please
Gabriela, Exeter
I just love the series. It MUST be released in DVD. Please, please, please, please...
Oliver Warwickshire
Will seven ages come our on DVD? please please please
Claire, Eastbourne
I hope this series gets released on DVD!
Karen Birmingham
Really enjoyed the Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie based programmes but was extremely disappointed with the non-inclusion of Yes and other bands that put stadium rock on the map and paved the way for the bands that came later - Yes aren't fashionable now and this may be why they were overlooked - a serious omission!
Tom Nevin, Liverpool, Bootle
This Show is proper quality stuff, has all the legends on it but does not pay enough attention 2 the proper legends like Zeppelin . Ac Dc. Will be buying it if it comes out on DVD.
Chip, london
just saw the Who.AMAZING!!!
paul elkins, london
ye gods. people over sixteen are watching this and seriously considering buying it?
Roger, Oxford
I hate to join in with the whingeing, but it seems to me that you have also failed to even mention, let alone feature, the contribution that two awesome bands made to rock music: ELP and Yes.
David, Belfast
A good Idea, but disappointing in that it only focuses on about 2 artists in depth in each episode - there where a lot more contributors to the 'Age' than those focussed on. I know there's only an hour, but it would have been better to cover more bands contributions, less in depth, as now it doesn't feel like it tells the whole story - and as others have mentioned, missed the beginning of the story - rock'n roll- in the 50's :)
Tracy Robinson, Barnsley.
PLEASE release this on dvd. And soon too!
Pam, London
YOU SHOULD HAVE BIGGED UP THE LED ZEPP.
Barry, Dublin
Stadium Rock: No Aerosmith, no Guns N'Roses - the definition of stadium rock!!Joke!
Richard, Cambridge
I think the show did need to make its agenda clearer from the start: in making a documentary about rock, it should have done what that old Encyclopedia of Rock monthly publication did, to define the genre as something distinct from fifties rock and roll or early Beatles pop. It should have said in an introduction, rathre than in the body of the first episode, we define rock as something that came about when Keef used fuzztone on Satisfaction, when Dylan's lyrics became more trippy and he plugged in, when The Beatles got more wacky in the studio from Rubber Soul on, and which Jimi consolidated when he arrived in London.People then could have taken the premise of the series, and followed it, whether agreeing or disagreeing with it. I'm not saying the series needed to be like the bleedin' Ascent of Man, but some straight-up pointers to the gist of the series to follow were missing.I agree with your choice of bigging up Jimi. However, I don't think there was enough emphasis on his original recorded output. He looked a bit too much like a spellbindingly original musician who was great at reworking The Beatles and Dylan - which he was - but nothing else.
Billy, Newcastle
Oh My God!!!! 7 ages of Rock and not one mention of DEF LEPPARD! now that is dissapointing! surely they should feature in next weeks show about stadium and arena rock, they were gods of that!
Leslie, Kent
Andy in Essex - you need to keep in mind that The Beatles - or at least McCartney - are not interested in taking part in TV programmes like this which might account for the relatively short time spent on their career. What they are effectively doing is writing themselves out of music history which is fine by me. McCartney will trot himself out when he is promoting new 'product' but apparently has no respect for the fans who created his wealth by talking about the old stuff. I was actually relieved that this programme was not yet another version of music history which credited the Beatles with everything. And the programme didn't actually say that Rock started with Hendrix but merely said he was the main catalyst for the transition from pop to rock. In fact, they spent quite a lot of time looking at the roots of rock - the blues. Maybe you missed that part? If you want to see the Beatles version of music history, go give multi millionaire McCartney yet more fan's money by buying their 'Anthology' DVD. Anyway, aren't you sick of the Beatles - they've been everywhere with the Sergeant Pepper nonsense. Surely the most overrated album ever?
joe,dublin
this series is amazing,some of the footage shown is incredible,this better be release on dvd and soon,a must for any music collector
Andy-Essex
Curate's egg of a series-good in parts-but over reliant on well worn and previously seen footage along with unbelievably pretentious interjections from supposed experts. The inference that rock music began in this country when Hendrix stepped off the plane with Chas Chandler is just laughable and insulting to some great bands barely mentioned (The Beatles?).To construct a series in which two episodes (Heavy Metal and Blues Based Rock) manage not to highlight the considerable influence of Led Zeppelin ranks as quite an achievement. Black Sabbath `God Father of Rock? Really?
Steve, Edinburgh
Chocolate Watch Band. Oh come on. This is getting ridiculous.
pd glasgo
Where was Joe going?
Paul, Glasgow
good footage, although surely a wider range of artists such as the doors, creedence clearwater, joplin and the psychedelics like the choc. watch band etc would have flourished out the idea of the piece. i mean the sonics were crucial, weren't they?
Rob,York
I love The Who saw at Harewood house nearly a year ago. Theyre awesome! and Jimi Hendrix is a legend
John, Birmingham (aged 23)
This series is absolutely fantastic and noone can deny that, worth paying the tv licence for on its own, and with this particular field of rock being my favourite this particular programme was an absolute joy to behold, as near to perfection as you could get. No harm in suggesting improvements however and I think some are taking things a bit too personally. You could spend an entire lifetime organising and including/exluding certain bands from certain timeframes and movements but thats not the point, I think this series does a very good job of trying to point out the various aspects of rock and how they overlap and intertwine greatly. I think one point has been slightly missed, where the murmurings of rock were starting to echo from the sound of blues, with chuck berry et al.
Jacqueline, Oxford.
Great programme, but I am disappointed that The Doors aren't mentioned or featured. They were hugely influential :-(
colin gloucester.
whilst i appreciate that "not every band can be mentioned" surely this series has degenerated into a history of pop. can anyone honestly tell me that parts of episode 2 and and the whole of episode 3 had anything to do with "ROCK". punk music was not definately not rock music it was pure self centred alternative pop noise. No mentions for Zepp Lizzy or Rory G amongst others. is this programme an ego trip for the makers, ridiculous comments by people whose claim to fame seems to be that they knew someone at the time.
Mike, Stockport
Congratulations on a great programme....butWhat happened to Led Zeppelin? Led Zep kickstarted millions into creativity and still do. Their numerous musical styles, image and even their touring antics have been regurgitated time and time again, influencing generation after generation. Entire sub-genres of rock have been created from the opening bars of many Led Zep songs alone! However, aside from a couple of cursory interviews with Mr Page and Mr Plant, Mr Higgins (Programme director) doesn't appear to have acknowledged their contribution to a genre that, arguably, wouldn't exist without their input!I realise 'you can't include everyone', but if rock was apparently created in 7 ages, as creation etc was in 7 days, you'd have just missed out the heavens and the earth!I assume it was a case of experiencing difficulty in obtaining publication rights to transmit their material. In act of class, Led Zep are conspicuous in their absence...just the way they like it.
Harry G, Reykjavik, Iceland
I’m a bit confused here: The birth of Rock music took place in the 60's? So what do you call the music Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Fats Domino, etc., etc., were playing in mid 50's America? That was not Rock n' Roll?! To my mind, and to others who remember that music, that was indeed the real Birth of Rock.So the title "The Birth of Rock" about music in the 60's is a bit misleading, don't you think? Why did the 7 Ages of Rock not start with the real beginning: from the mid 50’s and onwards? ...Why almost 10 years later?
Stig, Amsterdam
Like all such programs, and books, there is going to be a lot of things missing. Still disappointing that the birth of rock is not shown in it's roots. Great viewing, but seems to be too interested in selling the program. And the facts should of course be correct: Hey, Joe was written by Billy Roberts.
Swoops, Leeds
Hendrix deserved to be the focus but no Led Zep?Which story are you telling???
mark newcastle
jimi was a true god of rock and the program itself encapsulates this. The moving story by eric clapton of the left handed stratocaster and how he couldnt give it to jimi brought a tear to my eye. The director did a fantastic job on the 60's shame he failed to grasp the full extent of the 70's. Looking foward to the alt rock episode though.
stanners
Another missed oportunity:I have been a hendrix fan for years and was eagerly looking foreward to the program, but unfortunately it was a missed oportunity, i do not understand why on programs like this they say that hendrix was a supreme guitarist, and then to illustrate this, show a clip of him setting fire to it at monterey;great showmanship but not an ideal illustration of his guitar playing.It was an interesting program as far as its treatement of the late sixties rock scene, but the Hendrix content was dissapointing.
Paul, East Grinstead
Hey Flukeyboy - so, The Doors are not featured. So what? Why not celebrate what IS featured in this film and this series? Yes, the Doors are significant but I don't think this was a contest to see how many bands they could fit in. The overall theme of the first programme was blues based guitar music (yes, I know Dylan and Beatles are not strictly in that category). I don't quite know where the Doors woudl fit into that? If the BBC followed the advice of every post here, each band would have about 30 seconds each and just imagine how much wingeing there would be. It would be a mess, which this series is not. Go take a look at American music docs and see what this could have been.
Mark, Cheltenham
Have all the people demanding Zeppelin considered the fact that Page, Plant and Jones refused to take part? Plant espeiclaly is very reluctant to talk about Zeppelin these days but happy enough to take the royalties. Also, as far as I know, Zeppelin pretty much own all their archive. What do you propose a producer does in this instance - no band members and no or little archive they can use.... please tell me. Go on...Also, I'm pretty sure they tried to get Tonshend and Clapton. So don't bemoan the lack of fresh interviews. Just sit back and enjoy the music and footage.
Jay, London
Re headline: "The rock revolution of the 1960's seen..." There's no apostrophe in 1960s. Once again the BBC gets it wrong on an almighty scale. I'll never use this website again...
Rich Lyne, London
I want to buy this series on DVD. It's ace!
Londoner
Seeing the Who is an Experience to remember. Unfortunately, I wanted to see The Allman Brothers Band in this list, Duane Allman After all was Rolling Stone Magazines' number 2 out of the 100 greatest guitarists. And songs like Midnight Rider and One Way Out, Plus, Trouble No More, Whipping Post, Revival, Jessica, etc, are all important to that era, no one else could do much to surpass their genius. I gues s you Can't Lose What You Never Had..........?
Flukeyboy, England
Brilliant. A series dedicated to good music. The first show was excellent, all bands that influenced Indie music and good music in general. Looking through schedule to see whats up coming, it looks ok. I think it must be only about British bands, then I notice some American bands and think WE ARE THE DOORS, not one mention. nice try BBC but you still can't get anything right. One of the biggest bands ever and not in a program about Rock Music.
liam browne northampton
absoloutley amazing show and so very brave to say hendrix was more influential than the beatles or dylanfantasticloved the bowie show tooi shall be watching every one from now onwell done
John Hatch, Chorley
Why no Led Zeppelin? I realise they are now seen (in certain circles) as copyists but, then again, all artists are influenced by what went before.... a curious omittion
Marcelo Romero
Whem I can have a copy of the entire program? It's amazingKind RegardsMarcelo
Vince, Surrey
Missed the first episode, can you repeat it please.Failing that can you release it on DVD.
martin chelsea
John, Hull and the other John- i'm sure anyone you listen to has at some stage 'nicked' something from somewhere. Besides what about the original stuff Zep have produced over the years.Its not all blues.As for 'not talking' Hendrix wasnt available either for this programme but that didnt stop the BBC claiming him to have given birth to rock!What about the other genres from that period. Psychedelic the Beeb now call 'art rock' and Prog gets completley overlooked! A whole movement of bands The Nice, Crimson, ELP,Yes etc etc but as far as the Beeb goes like Led Zep they didnt exsist!As usual Clapton is built up to be an overated god.Tony TS Mcphee and Rory Gallgher are two that spring to mind that put him in the shade but then they arent household names which is obviuosly what the Beeb are looking for in this series. Poor! 4 out of 10.
james, andover
A welcolme recognition of the British contribution to rock
Colin, Edinburgh
Have to agree with others comments with respect to the apparent lack of recognition given to early rock 'n roll artists in the development of rock. While I love Hendrix, it seems a strange place to kick off - hardly the birth of rock. No Elvis Presley mentioned? No Little Richard or Chuck Berry?
lee watford,
hey guys enjoying the series so far, just wondering if this will make it on to a dvd at some point ?
George Oliver, Hebden Bridge
The 60's, 70's and 80's was far the best era of music. With great band like Led Zeppelin, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream it absolutely kills modern rock music. Speaking as an 11 year old kid I am more inspired by the like of Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton than any of these modern rock guitarists.
Angus, middle of nowhere!!!
WHERE WAS ZEPPELIN OR THE DOORS! but hendrix is one of my geatest influences. he was truly an inivator.
Bronco.b
Damn Mist the first episode!! Didn't knew this lovely series of documents was on the teli!!Always nice to hear and see musical historybest regards bronco. Holland
Mick Franks, Nottingham, England.
I had the honour of being in the support band to Jimi Hendrix at Boston Gliderdrome on March 25th.1967.He was in the next dressing room to us and our roadie got two autographs and a control knob from his Strat.Mitch Mitchell wanted to buy one of my cymbals but I declined the offer.Just think from that day their future recordings could have had the sound of my cymbal on them! It's a night I'll never forget. Our band is still playing..
william bulmer, durham uk
I think your focus on Hendrix for the first episode was wrong. Dylan by far and away has played a more pivotal roll in the transition of pop to rock, he should never have been placed on the side lines at the expense of Hendrix.
fred, midlothian
visually great, good editing
Bob, Retford
Great Series! - MUST BE REPEATED ! for those that missed the start.............
Frank, Banbury
I have to agree with Leslie in Vange. It is amazing that these artists are so high handed that they never give interviews. You should read the directors notes on programme 2 about Lou Reed who, when interviewed for the series, refused to talk about his music and lyrics!!! Who do they think they are? These artists have a obligation to us - the people that put the in their huge country houses - to respect us by talking about their music. I, for one, have no interest whatsover in whatever it is that Robert Plant does now. Why would I? They had their moment in the late 60s, early 70s, made millions and now can't be bothered to talk about it. They can be bothered, however, to continue taking the royalties.
Anthea, Woolwich
Jason Parkes, you are missing the point. This is a history series, not merely a line up of music peformances. Whilst - judging by the first two programmes - music is certainly at the core, these films are more than just a succession of music clips. If you want to see and hear the music, go buy the DVDs or watch the endless archive reruns of TOTP 2. I, for one, enjoy learnign somethign from the commentary and contributor. And, I would add, how great it is to see people who were actually there. Keith Altham, a respected music journo from the 1960s who knew Hendrix, the guy from Rolling Stone magazine and Charles Shaar Murray, who wrote a fantastic biog on Hendrix and saw him perform. I hate it when music programmes trot out 'younger generation' singers (Amy Winehouse talking about Dinah Washington ...) just because they have to make it relevant to a contemporarly audience. I wasn't there, unlike you, which is why I want to be told how it was. And I happen to trust what I hear. When was the last time television presented such a big music series? And all people can do is moan about Marc Bolan not being in it. For goodness sake, get over it. And finally, Jason Parkes, what is the problem with using archive interviews? Maybe they are using them exactly because they are dead or because certain artists - such as Clapton and Townshend - never ever give interviews. Blame the artists not the BBC! If they can't get off their rich and fat backsides then its their loss and they are only insulting us - the idiots who buy their music - by not taking part is such a quality programme.
Thomas Shearer
Why did this programme miss out Marc Bolan who was 3 years ahead of David Bowie and was the first Glam Rocker of the seventies
paul elkins, london
Looks like a typical BBC music production, questionable at best. It's not, nor has it ever been "The Pixies". Heavy metal the longest lasting genre of rock, yet you're claiming art rock came before? (It's till going on)...And no coverage of Radiohead, the most acclaimed and influential band of the last 20 years? I might watch the programme to see what footage of Television and The Replacements you have, other than that, I'll stick to reputable music journalism. 5/10.
Andy, London
"without retreading paths" - the entire program was nothing but a retread from the Hendrix film. And please NO MORE WRITERS/CRITICS TALKING RUBBISH!!!! I really expected more from you guys!
Tom, Hurworth
what an amazing programme.just immense. not too much talk, just enough music. jimi was stuck in my head for the exams but could be a worse singer to have there...
Jim, Ilford
Let’s put this one to bed once and for all,Zeppelin great band, great music, classic albums (LZ II & IV brilliant) biggest rock band in world without a doubt.During the mid to late 60’s though, Zep were still in their infancy having transformed from the Yardbirds so is unfair to be critical about last Saturdays programme (which was brilliant by the way).There is no doubt, Hendrix raised the bar and took guitar playing up into the stratosphere with his technique, originality and creativity and use of feedback. I think most great guitarists including Clapton & Beck openly acknowledge this.His performances were out of this world when you consider the frenetic chord playing, riffs, and intricate widdling which he did while acting as front man and singing at the same time !!Without question, Hendrix is the most influential rock guitarist ever and sadly, the world may never see the likes of him again. I thinks its fair to say we might not have seen the likes of Satriani, Vai etc had he not been around.Yep he was indeed the daddy, Rock on Jimi !!
Peter Nimmo, London
To John of Hull and John of Ashington,Personally your both wrong, Hull John, the members of Led Zeppelin had an encyclopaedia like knowledge of the blues, knowing it inside and out. The whole history of the blues was built on artists lifting riffs, licks and lyrics from other blues artists, Willie Dixon whilst undoubtedly a great writer of blues songs was like many blues man before him borrowing riffs and lyrics from his contemporaries and forerunners.Ashington John to say "As for Hendrix - more cover versions than an X-factor wannabe!" is doing a massive disservice to Hendrix his covers were not the note for note duplications of covers by your modern pop band with whom you might as well listen to the original. Hendrix covers where radical reworkings of the songs and as was said in the programme Dylan saw Hendrix's version of All Along the Watchtower as usurping his own.Also Hendrix's integration of solos into Little Miss Strange that Noel Redding had recorder during spare studio time was just amazing.
Jason Parkes, Worcester
Loathe the use of archive interviews as quotation marks, especially when some of the interviewees are dead! I thought the first episode was a mass of cliches - line up Monterey, Woodstock, Altamont and chuck in the same old tired imagery of Vietnam. If the music is so important, then why not let it speak for itself, intsead of getting a narrator to invade every point. There were errors - Tim Rose was one of many artists who performed 'Hey Joe' before Jimi, he didn't write it was odd to hear CSM tell us about Jim Morrison being dead before Jimi had died in the opening episode (he died after) and when we saw images of the Isle of Wight festival...which The Doors played at! I'd have started with garage rock or The Kinks rather than try and lay it all on Jimi - The Who probably should have been the subject of episode one. I can't say I'm much of a fan of the series so far - will keep watching to see if I'll have a change of mind?
Leslie, Vange
The trouble with Led Zep is Plant and Page NEVER do interviews. They refuse to talk about Zep because they like to (mistakenly) regard themselves as a credible contemporary act. What they fail to understand is that people only go to see them or buy their current 'product' because of their part in the history of rock - a part both of them refuse to talk about. Given their determination to ignore their contribution to the history of rock, it is amazing that the BBC have managed to get ANY mention of them at all in this series. The same goes for most of these huge artists who are, whilst unhappy to talk about their 'art', are very happy to continue taking the money from idiots like us who continue to buy it. Wouldn't it be great to still be making money while you sleep for something you 'created 30+ years ago and yet have to do nothing about keeping it out there. So, before you rant on about how little time a band like Led Zep have been given in such a series, try to consider it might be because the band themselves have no interest whatsover in talking about it. It is a slur on the fans, not on the BBC.
Louise, Birmingham
I loved the first episode! I can't wait to stay in on Saturday nights. Looking forward to the Pixies/Nirvana episode to come along - are you going to release this series on DVD...
John Stephenson, Ashington
Hmm, 5 billion tins of dog food?? Wot the hell u bin smoking? (John of Hull). The point is wether u like Zeppelin or not they were the people's rock band. All 300 million of them. It is ridiculous to relegate them to a bit part player on stadium rock - what the hell is that anyway? As for ripping people off - u mean Willie Dixon / 'Whole lotta love'? I defy anyone to listen to Willie Dixon's 'You need love' and see the similarity! The riff is what makes 'Whole lotta love' and that sure as hell ain't Willie Dixon's! And Bonham? Don't make me laugh. 'When the levee breaks' is the most sampled drum track of all time! As for Hendrix - more cover versions than an X-factor wannabe! All along the Watchtower, Hey Joe and for sheer audacity Sgt pepper's lonely hearts club band - the day after the Beatles released the album. Now that's what I call a rip-off! It's high time Zeppelin were accorded their due. The fact is Zeppelin were the biggest selling, most succesfull rock band in history. Not just an opinion - a stone cold, hard fact.Oh, and please will someone return Charles Shaar-Murray to his coffin and screw down the lid very firmly!
Stuart Smith, Worksop Notts
I missed it noooooooooooo when will it be repeated
tom, new orleans United States
great stuff!when will it be available on dvd in the U.S.?can't wait to hear your take on progressive rockTom
Craig, York
Nice programme. Your expert Charles Shaar Murray may have seen Jimi at the Isle of Wight, but his views on the influences of 'all the other rock stars dying' on him at the time of his death lack credibility, given that Jim Morrison died nearly a year after Jimi (ie July 1971).
Gina/Mizar5, Belgium
Hi, totally enjoyed this first episode of a series that will definitely keep me glued to the screen. What's so nice about it is the way you show the music and musicians into a certain historical context and if little details have been forgotten by the viewers, they're now inserted to paint an ever better and bigger picture. And nice to realise that all these musicians in their own capacity and merit did actually share something which turned their individuality into an ingredient of yet another bigger thing.And as far as some comments go, there's always names and musicians that come to mind when watching documentaries like these, but you went for a particular angle and do get the message across.
Mark, Chichester
Why no mention of Led Zeppelin, at the time they were the biggest band in the world..
Rory Hughes
I enjoyed the first show in this series, but had an issue with the inference that Sgt. Peppers Lonly Hearts Club Band as the first studio-based 'concept album'. The Beatles album was obviously huge, but I have copies of Frank Zappa's 'Freak Out' and others which were just as experimental and 'concentual' too. Indeed, Zappa's 1967 "We're Only In It For The Money" album was designed as a spoof on Sgt. Peppers, apparently to make the point that the Beatles album wasn't quite as groundbreaking as many assumed (it also satirised most aspects of the 60s rock movement, including his homage to Jimi Hendrix - "Hey Punk"). Don't worry, I'm not about to demand that Frank Zappa should have been included in the show, as he is quite an obscure artist in many ways (and very difficult to categorise). Yet I feel that, perhaps, the show was a little bit biased towards the British music scene of the 1960s without taking into account some of the other American 'waves' of influence at this time, in San Francisco and so on. Otherwise, it was a great start though, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the shows immensely.
Dave, Welling
On behalf of my wife - where is country rock (Nesmith, Parsons, Byrds etc) ?
Les Mitchell. Sussex
This programme wasn't self indulgent, but it indulged me - and how!I was one of about 500 people at Regents Street Poly on the evening of October 6th 1966 who went to see Cream. As I recall, myself, five girls from Francis Holland School for Girls and a guy called Peter Hammill (later Van Der Graff).We had all been YaRdbiRd followers and Clapton people since early Crawdaddy and Marquee days.In those days, PA systems weren't up to much as far as clarity was concerned, so I don't know if any announcement was made before a man I first thought must be Buddy Guy started to play.We were standing at the back, and Killing Floor blew us away.We were witnessing a moment of musical history.I bet my friends were watching and forgetting that they are now in their late fifties!
peter, hants
the guy playing Jimi in the reconstruction did not have white hands, but light brown..... i could see it. Jimi himself was very light skinned. What do you want? Someone to black up?
peter, hants
the guy playing Jimi in the reconstruction did not have white hands, but light brown..... i could see it it. Jimi himself was very light skinned. What do you want? Someone to black up?
Derek, Glasgow
This was excellent. Anyone know where I can find that Black and white photo of Hendrix sitting playing his guitar next to the Dylan record?
robert small fife
the best show ever on the bbc
Rodney, London
Why was this shown on a Saturday Night?! Is it being shown some time during the week? Please
Dik Chandler, Stroud.
MALCOLM KIDD. Please contact me. I could be The Mitch you are looking for! [Apoligies, we can't give out e-mails here - BBC Moderator]If there are any other guitarists out there that love to play Jimis music I would be interested to hear from you.
Paul Wright Surrey
I note that you did not print my feedback that I sent at the weekend.Plus I see that you are biased to positive feedback on this forum. I am going to forward the feedback you have chosen to censor at the end of this week to a more senior source at the beeb unless you print my previous feedback.It is good honest feedback and I think you are being weak by not accepting it.Please note that the film I was referring to that gives a better view of Hendrix is entitled "Jimi Hendrix" not "Hendrix"(my mistake ~ note how I admit my mistake in the interests of the truth. Please do likewise)
Jane Williamson
Why did the modern footage of the guy burning the guitar, who was dressed as JIMI, so it's safe to assume represented Jimi, have WHITE hands?
Mag, London
Everyone should stop whinging, it was a brilliant first episode, a really good introduction. You can't expect them to cover every single artist around at that period otherwise it'd probaly be a good few hours longer! Though, the doors could of been slid in somehwere, other than that, fantastic!
Jim Berry, Landrake, Cornwall
Once again another BBC music documentary which sees the late and great Marc Bolan 'grossly' ignored and overlooked in favour of artistes he influenced - David Bowie and Roxy Music for starters. For some reason the BBC often seem to 'conveniently' forget that Bolan was a huge influence on the seventies. In fact he started the era and without him there would have been no Bowie, not to mention later bands and artists such as U2, Prince etc. Bolan was also later known as the 'The Godfather of Punk' - he was always ahead of the game. Perhaps the real reason the BBC are not showing Bolan is to cover up the fact that they wiped a lot of his TV appearances - shame on them!
Sue, Huddersfield
I was there, the Isle of Wight festival 1970. I saw the Doors, they should have been great - had trouble with the sound system and were disappointing. I then went to sleep, having been awake for two or three days. I SLEPT THROUGH HENDRIX! Never forgotten, or forgiven myself.
malcolm kidd, london
Great show - took me right back there, not that I've ever forgotten. anybody wanna join my Hendrix tribute band?need a drummer and bassman.
John, Hull
For all the moaners about 'no Zep' - please see Stadium Rock... anyway, they ripped off old bluesman for years. Took Page and Plant 30 years to get around to crediting Willie Dixon and paying any royalties. So let's play fair here, Zep ripped off loads of people. Just because you sell 300 million albums does not make you the best. 5 billion tins of dogfood are sold every year - does that make it the best food?Bonham ripped of Earl Palmer's drumming on the intro to 'Rock and Roll' anyway... get over it. Enjoy the series for what it is. Blimey
Matt, Egham
I was away at the weekend and missed this - is it repeated this week?
andy - brighton
Really enjoyed the programme. Look forward to seeing how it develops.
Malcolm - Hampshire
Excellent
Patrick Heren, London
I saw Derek & the Dominoes at the Dome, Brighton, the night after Hendrix died. Eric Clapton played Hendrix's Little Wing in memory of his friend, and he played it so beautifully and sensitively, it cut through all the hype: real people, real music, real genius.
Doug, London
Iam sorry but I couldn' really understand the point of this programme. Various important facts regarding Jimi Hendrix were forgotten about, like the effects of the first two albums. Are you experienced got to number two in the charts and is widely considered to be the most influnencial guitar album in history. Many facts were not mentione or glossed over for the sake of the programme. NOT GOOD!!!
cas smitton, 17
i loved the program, i even watched the repeat. the sixties gave birth to some of the worlds biggest people in rock, Hendrix, Jagger, Daltrey, Clapton. they are all great. i've been a big music fan all my life and i was always listen to music from the 50's onwards since i was a little child, i was always reading books and my mum and uncles magazines and books, but there is always too to learn more. i've got my whole life ahead of me imagine what i'll know when i'm 60!!!!
Adam Henly
absolutely loved the first "era", this is music biography\history as it should be. watched twice round and stored for rewatching-superb.
RP, Cardiff
Programme 1.This was the Charles Shaar Murray show! No new interviews with Clapton or Townshend? Could do better.
Gijs, Amsterdam
perfect documentary. Compliments. A must see for every music fan.
Dik Chandler, Stroud.
Despite poor previews in my TV guide I sat down to watch the first episode with a somewhat sceptical expectation.There's only a certain amount that you can do with Jimi's Story as it's nearly all been done before & there's only a limited amount of film coverage available.THE PRODUCERS MUST BE CONGRATULATED for putting a well balanced, easy to follow & new approach to explaining what was going on in probably the most creative era of music the world has ever known.I have always been a HUGE Jimi fan & have often thought he was only really got it together up until Monterey, from then on it was downhill both physically & as a live artist. Yes there were moments of brilliance even shortly before his death, some of the studio work which he had done in 1970 had much potential in the direction of a more funk/soul orientated type of music that preceeded by several years many other artists to follow that decade. But his weakness of character as a person was easily influenced by those around him, basically he lacked good advice even from the likes of Chas Chandler & became directionless & slave to this circus type act that had got him noticed in the first place. I am pleased that the programme mentioned this as Jimi has so often been over hyped as some sort of god whereas his performances were often very poor. It is sad that concerts such as Woodstock & The Isle of Wight have often been hyped as great performances on other TV documentaries but for me they show a brilliant artist in decline & directionless. It makes me feel very sad that if only he was more together as a person we could have had many more classic albums & concerts. I am so glad this programme did'nt over hype Jimi's contribution to music & told it as it was to hopefully a new younger audience.I really look forward to the rest of the series, well done to all involved.
Russ, Chester
Saturday night? OK, so I'll have to wait for the DVD, but the play-list looks awesome. Saw Hendrix five times, and he was indeed the man. Like others on this site, he also inspired my son who is now a pretty mean giging guitarist. There have been, and still are some great guitar men around but both of us acnowledge Jimi as the supremo. Great to see The Who in there - a much under-rated band,they were the inspiration for working class boys everywhere. But I note no mention of The Doors. When they came to the UK in 1968 they were awesome, and still inspire so many modern sounds. But as we have always said, in the 60's we kept falling over genius, and there had to be an editorial decison somewhere.
Johan, Ypres
I have to say, the first episode is the best documentary i have ever seen about this periode. Great job and thanks to the team who produced this.
Hub, Amstenrade Netherlands
Great program I'm sure regarding the comments of your viewers. Missed it myself (why on a saturdaynight?) and don't like that thought. Can I see it again? Where? On the internet? At BBC? At what time? Please let me know!Further: are alle the programs available on dvd? Looking forward to the other 6 programmes.
Robbert-Jan 't Hoen, netherlands
Great film, enjoyed it very much, but missed a great show on the year ending 69-70, the band of gypsies! What a performance that was and is. Will watch the rest of the series for sure.
Phil, London
Great programme!The bottom left video clip on this page 'The Blues' is incorrectly linked though, sort it out.
Katie, Nottingham
Great programme. Is it being repeated or available on the web??
Tom, London
Awesome programme, any chance you can you add the story jack bruce told of jimi on stage with cream to the video section? I got a phone call in the middle of it!
John Stephenson - Ashington Northumberland
Ho hum, I thought this series would either be the best thing on the box since the Sopranos, or utter drivel..... Unfortunately it's the later.Just how can you have a series about the history or rock without the band who stood head and shoulders above all others? Ever hear of LED ZEPPELIN??? Ye Gods, what next, a history of the World Cup without mentioning Brazil? Zeppelin had 8 consecutive No 1 albums - still a record by the way. Album sales approaching 300 million. Yet what do we get? The usual ludicrous Hendrix worship. He died on his ass at the Isle of Wight - booed off stage. His career was virtually over when he died.Looking over the next six programmes we have a procession of musical non-entities who are about as rock n' roll as Scooch. Shame on you BBC. Zeppelin wipe the floor with the lot of em! PS. Punk ain't rock, it's just really badly played pop!
Phil Sawyer
Great episode, really very good. I think it was a brave yet valid move to cover the sixties without going overboard on the Beatles and the Stones. It would have been so easy to do it that way, but I think your approach was completely vindicated by the end result.You will still get those saying, "Why didn't you include xyz band or xyz song?" but to ask that is to miss the point. This is not intended to be en encyclopaedic record of the age, but to tell us the story using one or two acts as a central thread.In that, I think you've succeeded. Can't wait for the next one. Well done.
James Hawthorn, Rennes, France
A nicely paced and visually interesting documentary, however, many images and musical extracts did not quite accurately match the exact epoch being described. Also, the very important 1969/1970 period was just skipped over, highlighting only Woodstock and the lacklustre Isle Of Wight performance (which did in fact have some excellent moments of genius).In 1969, The Experience were arguably at their musical peak. It was a period when Jimi threw himself into jamming with many other musicians and revealing his desire to move towards jazz/rock. In June 1969, Jimi disolved The Experience to escape the relentless touring imposed by his ruthless business manager Michael Jeffrey. In reclusion in the USA he jammed in the studio, returning to more R&B based sound. Concert performances In 1970 showed him at the peak of his powers ("Machine Gun"-Fillmore East, "Hear My Train A Comin'-Berkeley).That said, bravo for putting Jimi first !!
ALAN ,CHESTER, UK.
A GREAT PROGRAMME ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH ! LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE REST OF THE SERIES GOOD WORK BBC.Q. WILL IT BE ON DVD ?
Roy James Murray Henderson
I should have added that JH was a magnificent musician but not a God - just a talented and saddly short-lived young man ... ... and wasn't 'The Sound of Music' soundtack number 2 when 'Sgt Pepper' was number 1.
Roy James Murray Henderson
What a self-indulgent, pretentious piece of television. One or two moments of adult perspective, such as the sight of people leaving Woodstock as JH played, but mostly piffle. By all means let's enjoy the music, but it didn't change the world. Neither did Punk.
Danny Kharchi age 16 Sheffield England
Was amazing, yet No mension of... Stieve Ray Vaughn?Bit gutted...
Will, N Wales
A little disappointing. How can you fail to mention Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin during such a programme. Pretty ridiculous, but perhaps future programmes will make up for this embarrassing and perplexing omission.
sol london
this show had me sitting in awe for the entire hour. it was incredible. hendrix is god. im 17 and i can only imagine what it must have been like then. damn why was i born in 1989~! only good band of my generation are radiohead and the chillis.
Euan, Ulverston
Really enjoyed this...finally a show about 60s music that wasn't idealistic, wasn't Beatles-centric and examined the blues influence.
Richard Brady Wallington
Thanks BBC.This was a great programme giving due respect to Jimi hendrix,still the greatest innovator of the 60's.lookuing forward to the next.Richard Brady
Victor Apeldoorn ( netherlands)
in one word "fantastic site"
Gary Jordan Birmingham
Erm can somebody explain why 80% of the promised "Rare" footage shown tonight was from the US, when there is some fantastic footage in the BBC's own archive that remains locked up, this includes TWO Hendrix TOTP performances that were returned to the BBC.I have seen better stuff on Youtube (much of what was shown tonight is on there)Is this what can be expected for the whole series in respect of "rare unseen" footage one wonders?The cost of buying footage from elsewhere rather than using BBC footage is a waste of money, when the Beeb are supposed to be saving it.ALL of the BBC footage shown tonight had been seen before.
Matt, Windsor
damn it!!! when is this repeated?????
James, Birmingham
Truly fantastic opening to what looks to be an epic series! Can't wait to see the next six. What was brilliant about this first episode was the way it avoided the usual Beatles-Fest. Important though they are, it was great that they didn't dominate, which is usually the case in any discussion of music in the 1960s. This film really gave me an understanding of Hendrix and how instrumental he was in defining 'Rock'. Thank you BBC! And, BTW, great website, too ...
Bianca, London
Hi, I was watching the programme. Its great. I was to get a good complilation albums with all the greats any recommendations?
Hugh, Shrewsbury
Thoroughly enjoyed tonights programme and decided that the web content should be investigated, the rest looks very promising... However only 7 ages of rock? Is this the Beeb being restrictive, unsure of the potential success of the series? Or perhaps feeling that seven programmes would satisfy? There are so many other influential artistes that have forged a path and influenced others, also so many other genres of rock that has diversified from the 'Birth of Rock' that appear not to be mentioned on the web and perhaps not even to be mentioned in forthcoming programmes. Mark from London mentions Carlos Santana; but what of Yes, and the subsequent 'Progressive Rock', the influence of Clive Nolan to this genre. What of the influences of rock on the mainstream pop culture. Alice Cooper, Soft Rock, Speed, Metal, Scandanavian rock, etc., etc. I do however look forward the the remaining episodes.
Kevin, Dublin
Excellent! Great footage and interviews, woven together into a wonderful sketch of an amazing era. Thanks to all concerned.
lewis, london
what's the name of the jimi hendrix song you played right at the end of the who part, and right of the start of the hendrix part? he was playign a solo form it, and it showed his hands playing it on the guitar. if anyone knows please help, coz i've been trying to find out that song for ages.
jerry btes- peterborough
i absolutely loved it-cant wait to see the next episode! i'm talking about the seven ages of rock. so much unseen footage and well, well put together.
Phil Bates, Bollington. Cheshire.
The best TV programme that has even been created, aired & viewed. Jimi was & always will be a legend.
Oliver, Wigan
From the documentary listings, it seems the best guitarist and drummer of all time are going to be featured! This is of course Keith Moon (The Loon!) and Sir Hendrix! It's ashame they are dead, absloute legends!
Michael, Derry
I think that its a real shame that this programme has overlooked Rory Gallagher or Taste for that matter. Taste were a much better group then Cream and Rory Gallagher was incredibly relevent to this period of music. Suppose they can't get everyone in, but when their featuring the arctic monkeys, it baffles.
James, Norwich
WHY DON'T THE DOORS GET A MENTION????
Hypocon
The usual culprits at the BBC are inviting us into their domain of pretentious creepery! We are asked to believe that The Birth of Rock was with Jimi Hendrix? We, and Jimi Hendrix, had a PAST, stemming from real Ground-breakers who you won't bother to mention, like Fats Domino, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, ethnic cross-over Elvis Presley, into the 60s with Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc., an era dismissed with a platitude about moon and June; THEN Beat Groups in this Country. The Guitar-Icons of your Obsession were busy promoting Piano-smashing throughout the Country, to make way for their media-based brand of noise - not a musical instrument in sight! So your Birth of Rock is in reality Rock Adolescence, Let's just ask the BBC to Grow Up!
Experienced, Norwich
Hey London James..come on man!Yes, Led Zep were great, absolute sky-pilots but still, mere earthlings.Hendrix was an astronaught-spaceman,cosmic,universal,the highest of the high, a musical immortal.I was there, baby, I heard and saw the magic, live.He blew us away! There's no comparison. I knew it would be a long time before the world really 'got' it. I hope this program will do justice. The kids are diggin' it!Jimi is still the future.
Mike Absolon, Broadstairs
'The Birth Of Rock'? 1966? How can this be? Are you serious? The real era must surely be from the late 1940's to the very early 1960's. From Louis Prima, Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, to name but a few who planted the seeds of Rock 'n' Roll. I find it hard to understand why Elvis, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry - the list is endless, are not mentioned or acknowledged. How can you be so dismissive of the era that is truly the 'Birth Of Rock' ?
Danny Kharchi age 16 Sheffield England
Hendrix was a living god.... His talent was unpresidented and no one will every fully undertand his full potential, tho you must ponder on the shear complexity of this one persons sture, morals, thorts and ideas. Truely One of a kind.
Jheych Stafford ,UK
Really looking forward to this series .. it's been along time comin' hope it is going to be as good or better than I think it will be . Nice one BBC!
James, London
Looks good. Glad to see a reappraisal of rock as a genuine and important musical form. I am stunned, however, that in however many pages of information and words, there isn't a single mention of Led Zeppelin. I know that "Stairway" became a bit of a cliche, but both in financial and artistic terms it surely must be hard to argue the massive financial and artistic impact they had, as well as their influence on the artists that followed them. It's one thing to say that you don't have room for everyone, but to miss that particular elephant in the room seems an odd choice to me.
Joe Richardson
Can't wait to see what promises to be a phenominal series. Hendrix was ahead of his time, finding his first success in the UK. The Stones and Beatles feel somehow eternal. Bowie and Bolan were unique. The Sex Pistols started a revolution. My memories of Queen at Knebworth in 1986 will stay with me forever. The period that this show covers runs parallel with my lifetime. What a ride, what a ride.
James, Maidenhead
At last, a quality programme on arguably the greatest musical period of all time and focusing on a true original, who's like will never been seen again. Can't wait to see this!
ali tabrizi, Ramsgate kent , aged 13
i think jimi hendrix is truly amazing,he has inspired me a great deal, and i would have loved to meet him, i have seen some live vidio's of him. and they are mind blowing!!!. my favorite song is probly, "all along the wach tower" or "voodoo child" he inspired me in playing guitar , i am now in three and loving it THANX JIMI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*i am writing this in school, "hereson" in broadstaires* hahah! =)
Paul, Monmouth
Will this sereis make it onto DVD !! or CD box set :-) ... I really hope so ...
Spikey - Leeds
Great looking programme and can't wait to watch but why on a Saturday night!!!! Is it being repeated on another night?......please.
Alfie Sykes, Bermondsey
This is it, this is what weve waited for. This is our 'Heavy Load'.
Peter H, Auckland, NZ
Sounds fantastic...can I receive it over the internet?
TINA BANEMECK CORNWALL
I can't tell you how excited I am with the forthcoming first episode of 7 Ages of Rock. I know we're all in for an absolute treat and I can't wait. I have always admired Jimi's talent, but a few years ago my son became a convert which re-newed my interest and I just can't get enough of this genius, unique Rock God. As explained in your editorial - I too truly feel a profound sense of loss - I feel that the world did not deserve Jimi - he was too good for it. He was a gently man, cruelly used by all around him - in life and also in death. I think of him almost daily (and 'No' I'm not a weirdo!!) - but can you imagine what amazing things we would still be enjoying if he were still with us today - awesome! Love you Wild Blue Angel xx
Mark, Brooklyn NY
I think the Playboy Dead Band should read [Duane] Allman. Greg is still alive! Great article though.
Peter, London
almost worth paying the licence fee for...:-)
Mark, London
Early gig memory was Dylan touring with Santana in 1984. My first big stadium gig and everyone lying around blissed out. Santana were electric, the most impresive stadium performance I've ever experienced. Dylan shuffled on as headline act and blew the place away. It was the height of Thatcherism and he sang a version of Maggie's Farm that encapsulated all the pent up rage that so many people felt.
Steve, Norwich
This looks great - can't wait to see the series.