Unseen photos of Jimi Hendrix’s greatest performances

Gin Sexsmith, CNN
4 minute read
Published 9:24 AM EDT, Wed June 21, 2017
Ed Caraeff was only 17 when he took this iconic photo of Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar on fire at the 1967 Monterey International Pop Music Festival. In his new book, "Burning Desire: The Jimi Hendrix Experience Through the Lens of Ed Caraeff," the photographer brings together never-before-seen images from the two years he spent shooting Hendrix's performances.
Ed Caraeff was only 17 when he took this iconic photo of Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar on fire at the 1967 Monterey International Pop Music Festival. In his new book, "Burning Desire: The Jimi Hendrix Experience Through the Lens of Ed Caraeff," the photographer brings together never-before-seen images from the two years he spent shooting Hendrix's performances.
Courtesy Ed Caraeff/Morgan Media Partners
"There was nothing like him. You'd never seen anything like it. I mean I've seen some incredible people and he's the real deal," Caraeff said of his first time seeing Hendrix perform.
"There was nothing like him. You'd never seen anything like it. I mean I've seen some incredible people and he's the real deal," Caraeff said of his first time seeing Hendrix perform.
Courtesy Ed Caraeff/Morgan Media Partners
Hendrix performs at the Newport '69 festival at the Devonshire Downs in Northridge, California on June 22, 1969.
Hendrix performs at the Newport '69 festival at the Devonshire Downs in Northridge, California on June 22, 1969.
Courtesy Ed Caraeff/Morgan Media Partners
Drummer Buddy Miles, Eric Burdon of The Animals, and other musicians joined him on stage for an informal jam session.
Drummer Buddy Miles, Eric Burdon of The Animals, and other musicians joined him on stage for an informal jam session.
Courtesy Ed Caraeff/Morgan Media Partners
On September 14, 1968, The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed in front of an orchestra pit filled with water at the Hollywood Bowl. Excited fans eventually jumped into the water to get closer to the band.
On September 14, 1968, The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed in front of an orchestra pit filled with water at the Hollywood Bowl. Excited fans eventually jumped into the water to get closer to the band.
Courtesy Ed Caraeff/Morgan Media Partners
This photo shows Hendrix on stage during a rehearsal ahead of the performance at the Hollywood Bowl on August 18, 1967.<br /><br />"I took color film with me this time. Back then, color was expensive and I didn't have a lot of it. But I'm glad I got these photos -- if only to show how electric the clothes were," Caraeff writes in the book.
This photo shows Hendrix on stage during a rehearsal ahead of the performance at the Hollywood Bowl on August 18, 1967.

"I took color film with me this time. Back then, color was expensive and I didn't have a lot of it. But I'm glad I got these photos -- if only to show how electric the clothes were," Caraeff writes in the book.
Courtesy Ed Caraeff/Morgan Media Partners
Hendrix shoots pool at the Bel Air home of Jon and Michelle Phillips, co-founders of The Mamas & the Papas, on July 1, 1967.
Hendrix shoots pool at the Bel Air home of Jon and Michelle Phillips, co-founders of The Mamas & the Papas, on July 1, 1967.
Courtesy Ed Caraeff/Morgan Media Partners
Members of The Jimi Hendrix Experience being interviewed at the Monterey International Pop Festival ion June 18, 1967.
Members of The Jimi Hendrix Experience being interviewed at the Monterey International Pop Festival ion June 18, 1967.
Courtesy Ed Caraeff/Morgan Media Partners
Hendrix backstage before his show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on February 9, 1968.
Hendrix backstage before his show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on February 9, 1968.
Courtesy Ed Caraeff/Morgan Media Partners
Hendrix performs on opening night of the Newport '69 festival at the Devonshire Downs in Northridge, California on June 20, 1969.
Hendrix performs on opening night of the Newport '69 festival at the Devonshire Downs in Northridge, California on June 20, 1969.
Courtesy Ed Caraeff/Morgan Media Partners
'Burning Desire: The Jimi Hendrix Experience Through the Lens of Ed Caraeff'
CNN  — 

The Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967 cemented rock ‘n’ roll as an art form to be reckoned with. It was also where a Seattle-born, 24-year-old guitarist named Jimi Hendrix would make his US debut and set the standard for what it meant to look – and sound – like a rock star.

Donning a ruffled shirt, velour vest and bright red pants, with a scarf around his forehead, Hendrix commanded attention as he stepped on stage with the Fender Stratocaster that he would later douse in lighter fluid and set ablaze in one most iconic performances in rock history.

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As Hendrix’s guitar went up in flames, 17-year-old Ed Caraeff, who was crouched on a chair at the front of the stage, snapped the shot that would later appear on the cover of Rolling Ston