Unseen Jimi Hendrix Woodstock Footage Filmed From The Stage Surfaces

Newly discovered video from Jimi Hendrix’s historic Woodstock appearance has surfaced after being recorded by a drama student who secretly made his way onto the stage.

The celebrated concert happened at the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, New York, with the legendary guitarist performing alongside his recently assembled group, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, also known as Band of Gypsys.

The lineup featured bassist Billy Cox, guitarist Larry Lee, percussionists Juma Sultan and Jerry Velez, and drummer Mitch Mitchell, who had also played with The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Hendrix brought the festival to a close with the performance, which is approaching its 57th anniversary. A new documentary titled Jimi Hendrix: Live at Woodstock — A Second Look has arrived to commemorate the milestone, offering viewers previously unseen recordings from the concert.

Part of the newly revealed material was captured by Albert Goodman, a 22 year old drama student who slipped onto the stage and recorded sections of the concert using two open reel videotapes.

Goodman gained entry by walking behind a friend who was holding a guitar, before positioning himself near percussionist Juma Sultan to begin filming. Staff reportedly mistook him for someone from the official production team documenting the event, allowing him to record Hendrix from only 15 feet away.

The recovered recordings include Hendrix performing ‘Purple Haze’, ‘Voodoo Child’, ‘Message To Love’, and his version of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’. They also contain uncommon video of ‘Hear My Train a Comin’’. The newly released clip of ‘Message To Love’ can be watched above.

Several days later, Goodman was hitchhiking when he happened to get a ride from someone connected to people working with Jimi Hendrix. Once Goodman explained that he had recorded the Woodstock concert, the driver arranged for him to show the material directly to Hendrix.

Goodman kept the recordings safely stored for 30 years before sharing them with the late musician’s family. The material can now be seen in Live at Woodstock — A Second Look, which made its YouTube debut on August 18.

Elsewhere in Jimi Hendrix news, Marshall celebrated the rock pioneer with “cosmic-inspired” amplifiers and speakers in May. Earlier, the estates representing Jimi Hendrix’s former bandmates were unsuccessful in their copyright lawsuit against Sony Music.