The footage I've seen from Hendrix was pretty good, IMO.

But I wouldn't only go for the quality of the live music... just for the overall experience. It was a landmark event in music history.. and I just think it would have been great.

time machine + list of bands =

hendrix back in like '68. big enough to have a decent stage setup, small enough to still fit in most venues.

jane's addiction around '90. when they started playing stuff from 'ritual' live but before they started beating the crap out of each other on stage.

soundgarden around '88. when they still covered led zep (communication breakdown) and the beatles (helter skelter) as part of their set. plus Hiro played way more bass solos than Ben.

eric dolphy late summer of '64. preferably for the recording of his 'Last Date' album, 3 weeks before his passing. his take on 'you don't know what love is' is divine in every sense of the word.

Pretty much everyone i listen to is alive as the genre was basically 'founded' in the late 80's early 90's. but i would have done anything to see freddie mercury. hes a legend.

The Beatles - Not sure when specifically, but that would have been great
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway tour would have been pretty sweet.
Pink Floyd - Any time before The Wall. Probably even better before Ummagumma.
Van Der Graaf Generator - Around 76.
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust tour. Though I enjoy Aladdin Sane quite a bit, I think the Ziggy tour was probably better.
Misfits - with Glenn Danzig. Fuck yeah.
Skinny Puppy - I've seen them live twice since their reunion, but would love to go back and see them on the Too Dark Park or Last Rights tour.
Descendents - About 87 I'd say.
Nirvana - Yeah sounds typical but why not? I had the chance to see them before Kurt died but wasn't that much into shows at that stage in my life
Fugazi - Another one I probably had plenty of chances to see during my teen years, but never did. WTF?
Faith No More - Again, stupid me was around (fan since "Epic" hit MTV) but never went to see them. Preferably during the Angel Dust tour, but any time after Patton joined would work for me.
Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese tour. Never saw them at all.
Mr. Bungle - I saw them on the California tour, but would have loved to see them tour for either of their first two albums even more.
Dead Horse - Awesome metal band from Houston that remains relatively obscure. Would have loved to see them in 1991 just after the release of their second and final album.
Ween - It's not really too late, but I would have loved to see them on The Mollusk tour. I've been a fan since around 93 but for whatever reason I never went to see them. Dumbass.
Tool - Before or just after Undertow. For that unique intimate atmosphere of a smallish venue. I hate large venues/stadiums.

I saw them three time with Michael Graves on the mic and even talked to Doyle a bit at the bar at one of those shows. They were good but I'm sure with Danzig they would've been way better. I wish I was old enough to have seen that.

I saw them sometime in 2002-2003. If I remember correctly they actually played the entire album of Sailing the Seas of Cheese as their second set so that was pretty cool. The main thing I remember from that show was some girl in front of me who started rubbing her ass all over me from out of the blue.

I saw them on the Disco Volante tour. Good stuff. Melt Banana opened.

Yeah, I wish I could've seen them on the Mollusk tour too. I saw them in 2002, I guess it was the tour for Quebec. I ate way, way too many brownies before that show so it's kind of a haze but from what I remember they were pretty good. I saw them again 2007 on the La Cucaracha tour and I have to admit the show just didn't click with me for whatever reason. I think I may just be no as into them as I used to be.

I wouldn't go back in time...

Yes, I too want to go to Mars in 2432 for Robopalooza.

I'd go find Scatman John, because, simply put, the man could lay it down.

Or to get some fresh ideas.

This is a pretty epic list and most of these bands I would also loved to have seen/ or see.

But I'm actually seeing Faith No More in February... pretty psyched!

And although it would have been awesome to see Tool before/around the Undertow era I actually think I'd prefer to see them in a larger scale gig with all of their crazy visual shows they have. It's quite an atmosphere. But it is also true that smaller gigs are much more intimate.