Perhaps the most famous live performance occurred at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, where Hendrix ended the song by setting his guitar on fire .
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It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 30, 1966.
Beyond the charts, "Wild Thing" has been covered by an eclectic range of performers, from to Liz Phair , Cheap Trick , and Hank Williams Jr. . Its enduring appeal lies in its "raw, primal energy"—a simple two-chord riff that continues to symbolize the untamed spirit of rock 'n' roll.