Seven Ages of Rock - The Birth of Rock

A journey through the history of rock music. This episode tells the story of the rock revolution of the 1960s, as seen through the life and music of Jimi Hendrix. Rock music today is in its healthiest state since the 1970s. Fans are attending more gigs and more festivals than ever before and the guitar is definitely back as the weapon of choice. The genre's greatest performers, writers and producers tell us how rock emerged, grew, and gave voice to each new generation that embraced it. The focus in this episode is on 1966, when a young American guitarist called Jimi Hendrix arrives in Britain to find a music scene on the brink of major change. Artists like The Beatles, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones and The Who are all eager to move in new directions, but it's Hendrix who has the musical pedigree and the vision to ignite the revolution that will deliver to the world a new, hard-edged music of attitude - rock.