Monterey Pop Festival

The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. The festival kicked off the "Summer of Love" and included the first major American appearances by the Jimi HendrixJimi Hendrix, the first large-scale public performance of Janis Joplin, the push of the Who into American mainstream music, and the introduction of Otis Redding to a mass American audience.

The impetus behind the staging of the Monterey International Pop Festival evolved one night in 1967, at Mama Cass Elliot's house. Paul McCartney, John and Michelle Phillips, Cass and Lou Adler were discussing, along with other highly inspired issues, the general perception of Rock 'n' Roll...and that although jazz was considered an art form ... Rock 'n' Roll on the other hand...was continually viewed as a fad, a trend ... both were American born musical genres. The actual idea to stage a festival in Monterey initially came from Alan Pariser, who had attended the 1966 Monterey Jazz Festival. John Phillips and Lou Adler were approached by Alan Pariser and his partner, Ben Shapiro who wanted to hire the Mamas and The Papas to headline a blues and rock concert at the Monterey Fairgrounds...and as the story goes ... later that night actually three o'clock in the morning John and Lou had decided, influenced by some heavy California Dreamin' that it should be a charitable event...and with six weeks to go the Monterey International Pop Festival; a three-day non-profit event was about to become a reality.

The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. The festival kicked off the "Summer of Love" and included the first major American appearances by the Jimi Hendrix, the first large-scale public performance of Janis Joplin, the push of the Who into American mainstream music, and the introduction of Otis Redding to a mass American audience.

Alan Pariser would stay on as a co-producer along with Peter Pilafian. Chip Monck would come on to handle lighting and staging. Derek Taylor, who had worked with Brian Epstein and The Beatles, became the publicist. Tom Wilkes was hired as art director, David Wheeler as head of security... A Board of Governors was established that consisted of: Donovan; Mick Jagger; Paul McCartney; Jim McGuinn; Terry Melcher; Andrew Loog Oldham; Alan Pariser; Johnny Rivers; Smokey Robinson; Brian Wilson, John Phillips and Lou Adler. It was agreed that the line-up of acts would represent all genres of the immediate past, the present, and the future of contemporary music, and that all the acts would be treated the same and have first-class travel and accommodations. The Monterey International Pop Festival production offices were in West Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. housed in the old Renaissance Jazz Club building. The festival's office had a real buzz going through it ... David Crosby and Stephen Stills hanging out...Procol Harum's yet to be released 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' being played over and over...Michelle Phillip's was on the phone selling ads...John and Lou on the telephone talking to managers and potential acts ... A whirlwind of excitement, of gentle strong-arming, calling in every chip imaginable, dealing with the concerns of the San Francisco group's managers, charming the Monterey City Council and Police Department and getting it all done... for charity...giving something back.

Over thirty artists performed without pay, and all the proceeds went to charity. Monterey became the inspiration for future music festivals, with the most notably being the Woodstock Festival two years later.

The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. The festival is remembered for the first major American appearances by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Who and Ravi Shankar, the first large-scale public performance of Janis Joplin and the introduction of Otis Redding to a mass American audience. The Monterey Pop Festival embodied the theme of California as a focal point for the counterculture and is generally regarded as one of the beginnings of the "Summer of Love" in 1967; the first rock festival had been held just one week earlier at Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, the KFRC Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival. Because Monterey was widely promoted and heavily attended, featured historic performances, and was the subject of a popular theatrical documentary film, it became an inspiration and a template for future music festivals, including the Woodstock Festival two years later. Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner said, "Monterey was the nexus - it sprang from what the Beatles began, and from it sprang what followed."

Original Monterey Pop Festival Poster

Alan Pariser would stay on as a co-producer along with Peter Pilafian. Chip Monck would come on to handle lighting and staging. Derek Taylor, who had worked with Brian Epstein and The Beatles, became the publicist. Tom Wilkes was hired as art director, David Wheeler as head of security... A Board of Governors was established that consisted of: Donovan; Mick Jagger; Paul McCartney; Jim McGuinn; Terry Melcher; Andrew Loog Oldham; Alan Pariser; Johnny Rivers; Smokey Robinson; Brian Wilson, John Phillips and Lou Adler. It was agreed that the line-up of acts would represent all genres of the immediate past, the present, and the future of contemporary music, and that all the acts would be treated the same and have first-class travel and accommodations. The Monterey International Pop Festival production offices were in West HollywoodWest Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. housed in the old Renaissance Jazz Club building. The festival's office had a real buzz going through it ... David Crosby and Stephen Stills hanging out...Procol Harum's yet to be released 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' being played over and over...Michelle Phillip's was on the phone selling ads...John and Lou on the telephone talking to managers and potential acts ... A whirlwind of excitement, of gentle strong-arming, calling in every chip imaginable, dealing with the concerns of the San Francisco group's managers, charming the Monterey City Council and Police Department and getting it all done... for charity...giving something back.

The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. The festival is remembered for the first major American appearances by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Who and Ravi ShankarRavi Shankar, the first large-scale public performance of Janis Joplin and the introduction of Otis Redding to a mass American audience. The Monterey Pop Festival embodied the theme of California as a focal point for the counterculture and is generally regarded as one of the beginnings of the "Summer of Love" in 1967; the first rock festival had been held just one week earlier at Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, the KFRC Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival. Because Monterey was widely promoted and heavily attended, featured historic performances, and was the subject of a popular theatrical documentary film, it became an inspiration and a template for future music festivals, including the Woodstock Festival two years later. Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner said, "Monterey was the nexus - it sprang from what the Beatles began, and from it sprang what followed."

Alan Pariser would stay on as a co-producer along with Peter Pilafian. Chip Monck would come on to handle lighting and staging. Derek Taylor, who had worked with Brian Epstein and The Beatles, became the publicist. Tom Wilkes was hired as art director, David Wheeler as head of security... A Board of Governors was established that consisted of: Donovan; Mick JaggerMick Jagger; Paul McCartney; Jim McGuinn; Terry Melcher; Andrew Loog Oldham; Alan Pariser; Johnny Rivers; Smokey Robinson; Brian Wilson, John Phillips and Lou Adler. It was agreed that the line-up of acts would represent all genres of the immediate past, the present, and the future of contemporary music, and that all the acts would be treated the same and have first-class travel and accommodations. The Monterey International Pop Festival production offices were in West Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. housed in the old Renaissance Jazz Club building. The festival's office had a real buzz going through it ... David Crosby and Stephen Stills hanging out...Procol Harum's yet to be released 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' being played over and over...Michelle Phillip's was on the phone selling ads...John and Lou on the telephone talking to managers and potential acts ... A whirlwind of excitement, of gentle strong-arming, calling in every chip imaginable, dealing with the concerns of the San Francisco group's managers, charming the Monterey City Council and Police Department and getting it all done... for charity...giving something back.

Alan Pariser would stay on as a co-producer along with Peter Pilafian. Chip Monck would come on to handle lighting and staging. Derek Taylor, who had worked with Brian Epstein and The Beatles, became the publicist. Tom Wilkes was hired as art director, David Wheeler as head of security... A Board of Governors was established that consisted of: Donovan; Mick Jagger; Paul McCartney; Jim McGuinn; Terry Melcher; Andrew Loog Oldham; Alan Pariser; Johnny Rivers; Smokey Robinson; Brian WilsonBrian Wilson, John Phillips and Lou Adler. It was agreed that the line-up of acts would represent all genres of the immediate past, the present, and the future of contemporary music, and that all the acts would be treated the same and have first-class travel and accommodations. The Monterey International Pop Festival production offices were in West Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. housed in the old Renaissance Jazz Club building. The festival's office had a real buzz going through it ... David Crosby and Stephen Stills hanging out...Procol Harum's yet to be released 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' being played over and over...Michelle Phillip's was on the phone selling ads...John and Lou on the telephone talking to managers and potential acts ... A whirlwind of excitement, of gentle strong-arming, calling in every chip imaginable, dealing with the concerns of the San Francisco group's managers, charming the Monterey City Council and Police Department and getting it all done... for charity...giving something back.

Alan Pariser would stay on as a co-producer along with Peter Pilafian. Chip Monck would come on to handle lighting and staging. Derek TaylorDerek Taylor, who had worked with Brian Epstein and The Beatles, became the publicist. Tom Wilkes was hired as art director, David Wheeler as head of security... A Board of Governors was established that consisted of: Donovan; Mick Jagger; Paul McCartney; Jim McGuinn; Terry Melcher; Andrew Loog Oldham; Alan Pariser; Johnny Rivers; Smokey Robinson; Brian Wilson, John Phillips and Lou Adler. It was agreed that the line-up of acts would represent all genres of the immediate past, the present, and the future of contemporary music, and that all the acts would be treated the same and have first-class travel and accommodations. The Monterey International Pop Festival production offices were in West Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. housed in the old Renaissance Jazz Club building. The festival's office had a real buzz going through it ... David Crosby and Stephen Stills hanging out...Procol Harum's yet to be released 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' being played over and over...Michelle Phillip's was on the phone selling ads...John and Lou on the telephone talking to managers and potential acts ... A whirlwind of excitement, of gentle strong-arming, calling in every chip imaginable, dealing with the concerns of the San Francisco group's managers, charming the Monterey City Council and Police Department and getting it all done... for charity...giving something back.

Alan Pariser would stay on as a co-producer along with Peter Pilafian. Chip Monck would come on to handle lighting and staging. Derek Taylor, who had worked with Brian Epstein and The Beatles, became the publicist. Tom WilkesTom Wilkes was hired as art director, David Wheeler as head of security... A Board of Governors was established that consisted of: Donovan; Mick Jagger; Paul McCartney; Jim McGuinn; Terry Melcher; Andrew Loog Oldham; Alan Pariser; Johnny Rivers; Smokey Robinson; Brian Wilson, John Phillips and Lou Adler. It was agreed that the line-up of acts would represent all genres of the immediate past, the present, and the future of contemporary music, and that all the acts would be treated the same and have first-class travel and accommodations. The Monterey International Pop Festival production offices were in West Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. housed in the old Renaissance Jazz Club building. The festival's office had a real buzz going through it ... David Crosby and Stephen Stills hanging out...Procol Harum's yet to be released 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' being played over and over...Michelle Phillip's was on the phone selling ads...John and Lou on the telephone talking to managers and potential acts ... A whirlwind of excitement, of gentle strong-arming, calling in every chip imaginable, dealing with the concerns of the San Francisco group's managers, charming the Monterey City Council and Police Department and getting it all done... for charity...giving something back.

The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. The festival is remembered for the first major American appearances by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Who and Ravi Shankar, the first large-scale public performance of Janis Joplin and the introduction of Otis Redding to a mass American audience. The Monterey Pop Festival embodied the theme of California as a focal point for the counterculture and is generally regarded as one of the beginnings of the "Summer of Love" in 1967; the first rock festival had been held just one week earlier at Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, the KFRC Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival. Because Monterey was widely promoted and heavily attended, featured historic performances, and was the subject of a popular theatrical documentary film, it became an inspiration and a template for future music festivals, including the Woodstock Festival two years later. Rolling Stone publisher Jann WennerJann Wenner said, "Monterey was the nexus - it sprang from what the Beatles began, and from it sprang what followed."

Alan Pariser would stay on as a co-producer along with Peter Pilafian. Chip MonckChip Monck would come on to handle lighting and staging. Derek Taylor, who had worked with Brian Epstein and The Beatles, became the publicist. Tom Wilkes was hired as art director, David Wheeler as head of security... A Board of Governors was established that consisted of: Donovan; Mick Jagger; Paul McCartney; Jim McGuinn; Terry Melcher; Andrew Loog Oldham; Alan Pariser; Johnny Rivers; Smokey Robinson; Brian Wilson, John Phillips and Lou Adler. It was agreed that the line-up of acts would represent all genres of the immediate past, the present, and the future of contemporary music, and that all the acts would be treated the same and have first-class travel and accommodations. The Monterey International Pop Festival production offices were in West Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. housed in the old Renaissance Jazz Club building. The festival's office had a real buzz going through it ... David Crosby and Stephen Stills hanging out...Procol Harum's yet to be released 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' being played over and over...Michelle Phillip's was on the phone selling ads...John and Lou on the telephone talking to managers and potential acts ... A whirlwind of excitement, of gentle strong-arming, calling in every chip imaginable, dealing with the concerns of the San Francisco group's managers, charming the Monterey City Council and Police Department and getting it all done... for charity...giving something back.

The Monterey International Pop Music FestivalMusic Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. The festival is remembered for the first major American appearances by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Who and Ravi Shankar, the first large-scale public performance of Janis Joplin and the introduction of Otis Redding to a mass American audience. The Monterey Pop Festival embodied the theme of California as a focal point for the counterculture and is generally regarded as one of the beginnings of the "Summer of Love" in 1967; the first rock festival had been held just one week earlier at Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, the KFRC Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival. Because Monterey was widely promoted and heavily attended, featured historic performances, and was the subject of a popular theatrical documentary film, it became an inspiration and a template for future music festivals, including the Woodstock Festival two years later. Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner said, "Monterey was the nexus - it sprang from what the Beatles began, and from it sprang what followed."

The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967, at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California. The festival is remembered for the first major American appearances by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Who and Ravi Shankar, the first large-scale public performance of Janis Joplin and the introduction of Otis Redding to a mass American audience. The Monterey Pop Festival embodied the theme of California as a focal point for the counterculture and is generally regarded as one of the beginnings of the "Summer of Love" in 1967; the first rock festival had been held just one week earlier at Mount TamalpaisMount Tamalpais in Marin County, the KFRC Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival. Because Monterey was widely promoted and heavily attended, featured historic performances, and was the subject of a popular theatrical documentary film, it became an inspiration and a template for future music festivals, including the Woodstock Festival two years later. Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner said, "Monterey was the nexus - it sprang from what the Beatles began, and from it sprang what followed."

The impetus behind the staging of the Monterey International Pop Festival evolved one night in 1967, at Mama Cass ElliotCass Elliot's house. Paul McCartney, John and Michelle Phillips, Cass and Lou Adler were discussing, along with other highly inspired issues, the general perception of Rock 'n' Roll...and that although jazz was considered an art form ... Rock 'n' Roll on the other hand...was continually viewed as a fad, a trend ... both were American born musical genres. The actual idea to stage a festival in Monterey initially came from Alan Pariser, who had attended the 1966 Monterey Jazz Festival. John Phillips and Lou Adler were approached by Alan Pariser and his partner, Ben Shapiro who wanted to hire the Mamas and The Papas to headline a blues and rock concert at the Monterey Fairgrounds...and as the story goes ... later that night actually three o'clock in the morning John and Lou had decided, influenced by some heavy California Dreamin' that it should be a charitable event...and with six weeks to go the Monterey International Pop Festival; a three-day non-profit event was about to become a reality.

Alan Pariser would stay on as a co-producer along with Peter Pilafian. Chip Monck would come on to handle lighting and staging. Derek Taylor, who had worked with Brian Epstein and The Beatles, became the publicist. Tom Wilkes was hired as art director, David Wheeler as head of security... A Board of Governors was established that consisted of: DonovanDonovan; Mick Jagger; Paul McCartney; Jim McGuinn; Terry Melcher; Andrew Loog Oldham; Alan Pariser; Johnny Rivers; Smokey Robinson; Brian Wilson, John Phillips and Lou Adler. It was agreed that the line-up of acts would represent all genres of the immediate past, the present, and the future of contemporary music, and that all the acts would be treated the same and have first-class travel and accommodations. The Monterey International Pop Festival production offices were in West Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. housed in the old Renaissance Jazz Club building. The festival's office had a real buzz going through it ... David Crosby and Stephen Stills hanging out...Procol Harum's yet to be released 'Whiter Shade Of Pale' being played over and over...Michelle Phillip's was on the phone selling ads...John and Lou on the telephone talking to managers and potential acts ... A whirlwind of excitement, of gentle strong-arming, calling in every chip imaginable, dealing with the concerns of the San Francisco group's managers, charming the Monterey City Council and Police Department and getting it all done... for charity...giving something back.