Fillmore East

The extended complement to Band of Gypsys from the final days of 1969.

Live at the Fillmore East is a posthumous live album by Jimi Hendrix released on February 23, 1999. This release documents Hendrix's performances with the Band of Gypsys at the Fillmore East on December 31, 1969, and January 1, 1970. Drawn from the same performances as the original Band of Gypsys (1970) album, this record serves as an extended complement consisting mostly of songs not found on that earlier release. The album captured a specific window in time when Hendrix, Billy Cox, and Buddy Miles delivered raw, unfiltered sets over two nights at the end of 1969. Upon its debut, it reached No. 77 on the Canadian RPM Album charts, marking a significant moment for posthumous archival releases of his work.

Quick Facts

Event: Rock
Opened: March 8, 1968
Closed: June 27, 1971
Former names: Commodore Theater; Village Theater
Capacity: 2,654

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

The story behind Live at the Fillmore East begins with two specific nights: December 31, 1969, and January 1, 1970. These dates represent the core material for a release that would eventually arrive in 1999, long after the original shows concluded. The album is constructed from performances by the Band of Gypsys, featuring Jimi Hendrix on guitar and lead vocals (except where Miles sings), Buddy Miles on drums and backing vocals with lead duties on specific tracks, and Billy Cox on bass guitar and backing vocals. Unlike the 1970 Band of Gypsys album which was released while Hendrix was still alive, this posthumous collection focuses on material that did not make the cut for the original record. It stands as a direct extension of those historic sets, offering fans a deeper dive into the band's repertoire during their brief but intense residency at the venue.

Reader's Guide

For listeners exploring this era, Live at the Fillmore East is best understood as the extended complement to the 1970 Band of Gypsys album. While the original 1970 release contained a selection of tracks from these nights, the 1999 album is composed mostly of songs that were left off that initial record. The personnel on this recording are strictly defined: Jimi Hendrix handles guitar and most lead vocals, Buddy Miles anchors the rhythm section with drums while sharing lead vocal duties on three specific tracks, and Billy Cox provides the bass foundation and backing vocals. All details regarding the tracklist originate from the original MCA Records CD liner notes. Fans seeking to hear more of these specific New Year's Eve and Day performances can trace a timeline of reissues starting in 2010 with West Coast Seattle Boy, continuing through 2013's Machine Gun, and culminating in the comprehensive 2019 set, Songs for Groovy Children.

Did You Know?

Buddy Miles sings lead vocals on "We Gotta Live Together", "Changes", and "Stop".
Additional recordings from these same nights were released in 2010, 2013, and 2019.