A half-century later, the mother of all music festivals still resonates ifty years after the fact, it still resonates with us. Tucked up in the Catskill Mountains, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair — promoted as “An Aquarian Exposition, Three Days of Peace and Music,” but known to one and all as simply Woodstock — took place in 1969 over three-plus days. From Friday, Aug. 15, through the morning of Monday, Aug. 18, dairy farmer Max Yasgur’s 600- acre parcel of land in Bethel, New York — forever immortalized in Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock” (ironically, she wasn’t at the event itself) — became the epicenter of the music and cultural universe, a haven for 400,000-plus hippies, bohemians, music lovers and mem- bers of the counterculture. It began when folkie Richie Havens began strumming his gui- tar, kicking off the festival with Paul Gerry/Bethel Woods Collection “From the Prison.” Thirty-two more acts, about 66 hours and several rainstorms later, it ended when guitar god Jimi Hendrix capped off a stellar set with his rendition of “Hey Joe.” Thousands of cars were left stranded for miles and miles en route to the venue as concertgo- ers walked to their destination. Tickets for the festival were $18, but many attendees got in for free when the crowd more than tripled what organizers had anticipated. Dallas Taylor, the drummer for supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (playing just its second-ever show), asked the helicopter pilot James Sarles/Bethel Woods Collection James Sarles/Bethel Woods Collection flying him to the event what body of More than 400,000 people descended on a dairy farm in Bethel, N.Y., for the concert held 50 years ago. Organizers expected water they were going over ... and crowds one-third the size. Traffic jams were so severe, Gov. Nelson Rockefeller threatened to call in the National Guard. He didn’t, was told it was a sea of humanity. but a U.S. Army helicopter was used to drop medical supplies, canned goods and more than 10,000 sandwiches to the crowd. Legendary performances — Joe Country Joe and the Fish, Hendrix anyone for acts of violence and film came out a year later. Cocker, Jefferson Airplane, The — ensued. So did a few poor ones had glowing reviews for those in It was, and remains, a seminal Who, Santana, Sly (ask the Grateful Dead). Members attendance. Festival organizers lost moment in rock ’n’ roll music history, & the Fam- of the “establishment” — i.e., law more than $1 million, but recouped one that we’ll still be talking about ily Stone, enforcement — didn’t have to arrest much of that when the Woodstock with reverence 50 years from now.
LIZ VAN STEENBURGH / Shutterstock.com Country Joe McDonald and his band Joe Cocker wrapping up a strong show- electric set The guitar and playing the anti-Vietnam War anthem “The ing with a memorable cover of The Beatles’ Jimi Hendrix playing “The Star Span- dove became ‘Fish’ Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag” “With A Little Help From My Friends” gled Banner” as it had never been played the symbol of the Carlos Santana, a virtual unknown to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, playing previously on Woodstock Music many in attendance, blistering his way before a live audience for just the second his electric Festival. This plaque is on through “Soul Sacrifice” time, performing both an acoustic and an guitar the marker that sits on the original site.
Officially called the “Woodstock Music & Art Fair.” Iconic symbol of the event was a white dove perched upon the neck of a guitar. (in order of appearance) Held on Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, N.Y. Richie Havens Janis Joplin Attended by more than 400,000 concertgoers. Swami Satchidananda Sly & the Thirty-three acts performed over three-plus days, Sweetwater Family Stone with Country Joe McDonald playing on both Saturday Bert Sommer The Who and Sunday. Tim Hardin Jefferson Many fans were let in for free after attendance Ravi Shankar Airplane more than tripled what festival organizers had Melanie Safka The Grease Band expected. Arlo Guthrie Joe Cocker Janis Three deaths were reported. Joan Baez Ten Years After Joplin, Virtually all of the 100 or so arrests were related Quill The Band Jimi to hard drug use/possession. Country Joe McDonald Johnny Winter Hendrix Jimi Hendrix’s iconic rendition of “The Star- Santana Blood, Sweat & Tears and the Spangled Banner,” played on electric guitar, was only John Sebastian Crosby, Stills, Nash Grateful witnessed by one-quarter of the original crowd come The Keef Hartley Band & Young Dead. Monday morning. The Incredible String Band Paul Butterfield Among the most popular performers of the day Canned Heat Blues Band Public domain who did not appear at Woodstock were Bob Dylan, Mountain Sha Na Na photos The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Grateful Dead Jimi Hendrix PHIL STACEY & JIM REILY/The Salem News Creedence Clearwater Revival