What Woodstock 1969 was really like?
Woodstock report by Patricia Ann Luchak, The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey) August 18, 1969 WHITE LAKE, N.Y. — Four hundred thousand people swarmed like locusts through this small, quiet resort town last weekend, cleaning out every restaurant, grocery, liquor and drug store within miles, leaving three youths dead and almost 5,000 treated for injuries, illness, or adverse drug reaction.
What really happened at Woodstock 1969?
What really happened at Woodstock? The entire weekend was marred by downpours of rain, which turned the festival grounds into a miserable bowl of mud. In the chaos leading up to the festival, the promoters failed to employ enough ticket takers, so the kids eventually just tore down fences and poured in for free.
What was the opening act at Woodstock 1969?
Then: Richie Havens was the opening act at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Now: Havens passed away on April 22, 2013 in Jersey City, NJ. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
Who was the last act at Woodstock?
Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Joan Baez was the last act to perform at Woodstock on Friday, August 15. According to almost everyone who saw her, she was the perfect person for the job.
What was the order of performers at Woodstock?
Richie Havens. From the Prison. ... Sweetwater. Motherless Child. ... Sri Swami Satchidananda. Sri Swami Satchidananda opened the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel, New York on August 15, addressing a crowd of approximately 500,000. ... Bert Sommer. Jennifer. ... Ravi Shankar. ... Tim Hardin. ... Melanie Safka. ... Arlo Guthrie.More items...
Who is the highest paid performer at Woodstock?
Jimi HendrixSo it was certainly justified that Jimi Hendrix was billed as the overall headliner at Woodstock in 1969, and that he commanded the highest paycheck of all performers. Hendrix was paid $18,000 for appearing at Woodstock, which is the equivalent of about $125,000 today.Aug 15, 2019
Who turned down performing at Woodstock?
Bob Dylan, who won the Nobel Literature Prize in 2016, did not play Woodstock even though he lived nearby. Washington (AFP) - Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez... their performances at Woodstock remain etched in the collective memory, even 50 years after the iconic music festival.Aug 13, 2019
What was the last day of Woodstock?
August 17, 1969: The last day of Woodstock.
How many died Woodstock 1969?
Three peopleMany performers made appearances hours or days after they were expected to. Three people died during the festival. Two people died from drug overdoses and one from being run over by the driver of a tractor who did not notice the man sleeping under a sleeping bag.
Did the Beatles perform at Woodstock?
Although the Beatles didn't play at Woodstock, Beatleness permeated the event in spirit and sound. Richie Havens performed three Beatle songs, and Joe Cocker and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young each performed one.Aug 20, 2019
Why did the Rolling Stones not play at Woodstock?
The Rolling Stones declined because Mick Jagger was in Australia that summer, filming a forgotten movie called 'Ned Kelly. ' You don't remember 'Ned Kelly'?Aug 15, 2014
Was Eric Clapton at Woodstock?
Eric Clapton One of rock's greatest guitarists was a man without a band at the time of Woodstock, with the Yardbirds and Cream — two bands he helped embed into rock and roll folklore — disbanded.Aug 15, 2019
Did Pink Floyd perform at Woodstock?
On Friday night Pink Floyd topped the bill, Saturday had The Who, Yes and Chicken Shack performing, while Sunday featured The Nice, Keef Hartley, Pentangle and Family. And then it was time for Woodstock…
Why did Woodstock end?
At the end of July, after a series of financial problems, venue changes and artist dropouts, Woodstock 50 was killed. Tickets for the festival had not yet gone on sale when it was officially canceled a little more than two weeks before it was set to take place.Aug 13, 2019
Who performed at 1969 Woodstock?
Thirty-two acts performed over the course of the festival, with many of them rocking out until the wee hours of the next morning. Friday night's headliners included Richie Havens and Joan Baez; Saturday featured Janis Joplin, The Who and Jefferson Airplane; Sunday boasted Joe Cocker and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; ...Aug 15, 2019
Will there be a Woodstock in 2020?
Less than a month from when it was supposed to kick off, Woodstock 50 is officially canceled once and for all. Michael Lang, a cofounder of the original three-day concert, pulled the plug after attempting to move the event to Maryland.Jul 31, 2019
Who opened Woodstock 1969?
Sri Swami Satchidananda opened the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel, New York on August 15, addressing a crowd of approximately 500,000. “My Beloved Brothers and Sisters: I am overwhelmed with joy to see the entire youth of America gathered here in the name of the fine art of music.
Who was the first performer at Woodstock?
Freedom (Motherless Child) Watch Havens perform Freedom. Havens as a live performer earned widespread notice. His Woodstock appearance in 1969 catapulted him into stardom and was a major turning point in his career. As the festival’s first performer, he held the crowd for nearly three hours.
What was the song that Canned Heat sang at Woodstock?
They hit the stage on Saturday, the 16 th at about 7.30 pm. The gig took place during sunset which occurred at 7.56 pm. The sky was cloudy so it was a little bit darker than usual. The set list was wisely chosen and featured their greatest hits: “Going Up the Country” and “On the Road Again”, the last one as the encore. The song “Woodstock Boogie” is basically an almost 30 minute jam, also including a drum solo. On their album Boogie With Canned Heat (1968) the song is called “Fried Hockey Boogie”.
Why was Havens told to continue playing?
In part, Havens was told to continue playing, because many artists scheduled to perform after him were delayed in reaching the festival location with highways at a virtual standstill. He was called back for several encores.
What was the second band to play at Woodstock?
The second band that played at the Woodstock Festival was Sweetwater following Richie Havens. Sweetwater arrived later on Friday afternoon because they were stuck in the traffic jam. They started at about 6.15 pm.
Why did the grateful dead come late?
The Grateful Dead came late on stage because Owsley Stanley (a.k.a. “Bear” – their soundman and electrical engineer) wanted to fix the electrical ground on stage. Also their heavy equipment had squashed the turnable stage. Further, the rain had flooded the stage and the band was in danger of electric shocks.
How long did Shankar play?
Shankar started at about 10 pm on Friday evening and played for over 40 minutes throughout the rain.
What is Woodstock considered?
It is widely regarded as one of the greatest moments in popular music history and was listed on Rolling Stone ' s "50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll". The musical artists who performed at Woodstock and the songs that they played are listed below.
How many acres were there at Woodstock?
The Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival held on a 600-acre (2.4 km 2; 240 ha, 0.94 mi 2) dairy farm in the rural town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969. Thirty-two acts performed during the sometimes rainy weekend in front of nearly half a million concertgoers. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest moments in popular music history and was listed on Rolling Stone ' s "50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll".
What happened after Cocker's set?
After Cocker's set, a thunderstorm disrupted the events for a few hours.
Why was Woodstock important?
Woodstock was an opportunity for people to escape into music and spread a message of unity and peace. Although the crowd at Woodstock experienced bad weather, muddy conditions and a lack of food, water and adequate sanitation, the overall vibe there was harmonious.
Where Was Woodstock?
The initial plan for Woodstock called for the event to be held at Howard Mills Industrial Park in Wallkill, New York.
What are some famous musicians who performed at Bethel Woods?
Many popular musicians have performed at Bethel Woods, including some who took the stage at Woodstock such as Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Santana, Arlo Guthrie and Joe Cocker.
Why was there no violence at Woodstock?
Although the crowd at Woodstock experienced bad weather, muddy conditions and a lack of food, water and adequate sanitation, the overall vibe there was harmonious. Looking back, some people attribute the lack of violence to the large number of psychedelic drugs being used.
How many musicians played at Woodstock?
Thirty-two musicians, a combination of local and world-famous talent, performed at Woodstock. Around 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15, Richie Havens took the stage and played a 45-minute set.
What time did the end of Day 1 of the 'Day One' come?
Baez famously played the end of her set in a torrential downpour. Day one wrapped up around 2:00 a.m. on August 16.
How many people attended Woodstock?
Eventually, about half a million people reached the venue.
When was Woodstock 1969?
Two years ago, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the event, which took place Aug. 15 - 18, 1969 , in Bethel, New York, a 2019 book set the record straight about facts and myths about Woodstock and even included new photos.
What was the significance of Woodstock?
For many baby boomers, the Woodstock music festival represents a seminal moment, defining the music and culture of the generation. For music lovers, it was a goldmine. The Who. Jefferson Airplane. Janis Joplin. Joan Baez. Jimi Hendrix. They and dozens of other acts – some you've heard of and others, perhaps not – braved the rain and mud and played for 400,000 revelers over four days.
When did Melanie Safka perform at Woodstock?
Melanie, whose full name is Melanie Safka, performed at Woodstock on Friday, August 15. She had released one album, 1968’s Born to Be.
Who was the first band to perform at Woodstock?
Sweetwater was the first full band to perform at Woodstock. They were supposed to open the festival, but they were stuck in the famously impassable traffic, so their slot went to Richie Havens. They ultimately reached the festival grounds via one of the sixteen helicopters that Woodstock Ventures had hired to bypass the traffic.
Was Janis Joplin a rock and roll girl?
As a woman in the rock and roll boys’ club, Janis Jo plin enjoyed an assured place in history the moment that she stepped into the ring. But it wouldn’t have amounted to much more than a footnote fifty years later if she couldn’t sing, and Janis Joplin, quite frankly, could sing.
Where was Woodstock 1969?
From August 15-18, 1969, something remarkable happened on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm in Upstate New York. While we remember the anti-war chants, the hippie fashion, the mud and the nudity, music was Woodstock 's core. Here are the biggest musical moments from the festival billed as "Three Days of Peace and Music.".
What was the impact of Woodstock 1969?
Woodstock 1969 was plagued by stormy weather and technical problems, but it produced a string of musical performances that resonate a half-century later. Woodstock 1969 was plagued by stormy weather and technical problems, but it produced a string of musical performances that resonate a half-century later.
What song did Cocker sing at Woodstock?
The seven-minute version of “ With a Little Help From My Friends ” that Cocker and his band sang to close his set at Woodstock is one of the most iconic live performances of all time. Cocker physically embodied the music, scream-singing in his guttural bluesy voice while completely reinventing the Beatles song as a gospel refrain.
What was Jimi Hendrix's last song at Woodstock?
The exhausted Monday-morning crowd had dwindled to 30,000 when Hendrix and his backing band took the stage to play through hits like “Foxy Lady” and “Purple Haze.”
When was Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock?
Jimi Hendrix performing at Woodstock on August 18, 1969. Arguably the most iconic moment of the entire Woodstock festival was when psychedelic guitar rocker Jimi Hendrix’s played his legendary rendition of the United States National Anthem. Hendrix's performance was one of the last songs on stage at Woodstock.
When did Richie Havens perform at Woodstock?
Richie Havens performing onstage at the Woodstock, August 15, 1969.
Who was on the stage at Woodstock?
Singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend of British rock band The Who on stage during Woodstock, August 16 1969. Archive Photos/Getty Images. The Who, one of the biggest acts of the 1960s British Invasion, took the Woodstock stage at 5 a.m. early Sunday morning after a funk-rock set by Sly and the Family Stone.
Who was the headlining act at Woodstock?
In theory, Joan Baez was the headlining act on Woodstock’s first night. However, due to the interminable delays and seat-of-the-pants organization that characterized the entire event, the folk star didn’t make it on stage until the early hours of Saturday morning. Consequently, she greeted the crowd with a gentle “good morning” and opened her set with “Oh Happy Day.” Dedicating songs to her imprisoned, draft-resisting husband, David Harris, she performed rousing versions of “Joe Hill” and Bob Dylan ’s “I Shall Be Released,” and finished on a high, leading the crowd in a fitting singalong of the civil-rights anthem, ‘We Shall Overcome’. (After 50 years, her full performance has been released digitally for the first time.)
How long was Woodstock?
Eventually sprawling over much of four days (August 15-18 1969), it was blighted by relentless rain, bad drugs, and on-site facilities to give modern festivalgoers the fear. Yet, despite its flaws, Woodstock pulled through. It’s now rightly regarded as a pivotal event in rock’n’roll history whose most lasting legacy is its groundbreaking music.
What band played at Woodstock 1969?
Though meant to run across three days, Woodstock’s disorganization meant it sprawled into the morning of Monday, August 18, 1969, with Blood, Sweat And Tears, Crosby, Stills Nash And Young, The Butterfield Blues Band, and more plowing on well after midnight. Huge chunks of the crowd had already drifted away, but after Sha Na Na’s novelty doo-wop set, headliner Jimi Hendrix finally shuffled onstage to play for the 30,000 souls that remained after 8:00 am. In truth, his loose, two-hour set with his short-lived Gypsy Sun And Rainbows ensemble fell some way short of his greatest live performance, yet it arguably remains his most iconic. That’s primarily because of his extraordinary rendition of “ The Star-Spangled Banner ”: a widely-acclaimed interpretation which, for many, reflected the turmoil and social change witnessed by this most idealistic of decades.
What song did the band help me sing at Woodstock?
With high points including a fantastic performance of Sonny Boy Williamson ’s “Help Me” and a full-tilt rendition of “I’m Going Home, ” their fierce Woodstock set catapulted them into the mainstream courtesy of “I’m Going Home,” which featured in Michael Wadleigh’s much-acclaimed 1970 documentary.
What was the song that the San Franciscans sang at Woodstock?
But despite the lateness/earliness of the hour, the San Franciscans duly delivered one Woodstock’s best sets, including landmark hits “Somebody To Love,” “Volunteers” and their psych-rock classic “White Rabbit.”.
What time did Jefferson Airplane perform at Woodstock?
Jefferson Airplane was meant to close the Saturday night at Woodstock, but, like Joan Baez, they ended up performing the following morning, finally taking to the stage at around 8:00 am on the Sunday. By way of an introduction, singer Grace Slick said, “All right, friends, you have seen the heavy groups, now you’ll see morning maniac music.” But despite the lateness/earliness of the hour, the San Franciscans duly delivered one Woodstock’s best sets, including landmark hits “Somebody To Love,” “Volunteers” and their psych-rock classic “White Rabbit.”
Where was Woodstock 2020?
Tim Peacock. Photo courtesy of the Fantasy archives. No other music festival quite encapsulates the idealism of the 60s like Woodstock. This remarkable event, held at Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm, near White Lake in Bethel, upstate New York, is widely regarded as the defining moment of the late 60s counterculture.
Woodstock: 50 years later
For many baby boomers, the Woodstock music festival represents a seminal moment, defining the music and culture of the generation. For music lovers, it was a goldmine. The Who. Jefferson Airplane. Janis Joplin. Joan Baez. Jimi Hendrix.
Setting the Woodstock record straight
In 2019, Woodstock 50 was supposed to be a joyous golden anniversary celebration of the mother of all music festivals. But plans for that multi-day concert, originally slated for Aug. 16-18, went off the rails in the months leading up to the anniversary show, and it was eventually canceled.
Overview
The Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival held on a 600-acre (2.4 km ; 240 ha, 0.94 mi ) dairy farm in the rural town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969. Thirty-two acts performed during the sometimes rainy weekend in front of nearly half a million concertgoers. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest moments in popular music history and was listed on Rolling Stone's "50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock and Roll".
Friday, August 15 to Saturday, August 16
The first day officially began at 5:07 p.m. with Richie Havens and featured folk artists.
Richie Havens – guitar, vocals Paul "Deano" Williams – guitar, vocals Daniel Ben Zebulon – congas
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 16 to Sunday, August 17
The day opened at 12:15 p.m. and featured some of the event's psychedelic and guitar rock headliners.
Dan Cole – vocals Jon Cole – bass, vocals Norman Rogers – guitar, vocals Phil Thayer – keyboards, saxophone, flute Roger North – drums
12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 17 to Monday, August 18
Joe Cocker – vocals Chris Stainton – keyboards Henry McCullough – guitar, vocals Alan Spenner – bass, vocals Bruce Rowland – drums
2:00 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
1. "Rockhouse" (without Joe Cocker)
2. "Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring" (instrumental)