I was watching a docuentary on Woodstock last night in between dozing off on the sofa. Why did such a large crowd gather, more than what was expected? Was it because the teens at that time where thinking they'd have to fight in the Vietnam war and this was there expression of opposition to that? Or was it some other reason? Has another concert in the States attracted so many people since and could it happen again?
Also what was the name of the artist that opened the festival, I didn't catch his name? He played a song refering to freedom and another about war, I really liked his guitar playing.

That was Ritchie Havens who did "Freedom" and "Handsome Johnny". You have to understand that the youth of the time cared deeply about Vietnam, social issues and music. There wasn't any MTV or VH1 on TV (let alone cable as we now know it) and the idea of dozens of your favorite artists gathering for "3 Days of Peace & Music" was more than inviting. I doubt if you'll ever see anything like it again. The industry (save the indie labels) have managed to suck the very life out of music and took the magic right along with it.

A lot of 'em were looking to get laid, too. And I think a lot of 'em succeeded.-Sandy G.

A lot of 'em were looking to get laid, too. And I think a lot of 'em succeeded

... and get HIGH!

If I remember correctly, it turned out to be more than anyone expected.
As the word spread about a little outdoor Rock festival in upstate N.Y., people just kept on coming and coming and coming.

At the time I was painting my parents house and turned down and offer to go with my neighbor.

Who knew?:dunno:

It wasn't the first rock festival, but the list of artists...WOW! I ordered tickets very shortly after I heard about it... what was it - I think $24 or so for three days. Still have tickets somewhere.

My sister drove, took me and my future wife. Met at the restaurant next door to work on Friday morning, called in sick.

We left after the first night... no food, no toilets, MUD (farmer pulled the car out of the mud for $10)... so we only saw the first day acts - Richie Havens, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, others I've forgotten.

Originally posted by Wireworm5
I was watching a docuentary on Woodstock last night in between dozing off on the sofa. Why did such a large crowd gather, more than what was expected? Was it because the teens at that time where thinking they'd have to fight in the Vietnam war and this was there expression of opposition to that? Or was it some other reason? Has another concert in the States attracted so many people since and could it happen again?
Also what was the name of the artist that opened the festival, I didn't catch his name? He played a song refering to freedom and another about war, I really liked his guitar playing.

Hard to say about why it turned out as it did, sizewise. Smarter people than me have written volumes on those 3 days, and the mythology still swirls around it. My only pop festival experience came the following year at Atlanta II (which was not even near Atlanta, by the way). Crowd estimates are notoriously varied for such events, and no one ever claimed that Atlanta II was as big as Woodstock, but somewhere around a quarter of a million is probably close. In my mind, no one went to these things to change the world; they went to see their musical idols play live and to party their ass off in an environment that presented no threats to them for doing so. Being a jaded old fart, I doubt the unique string of circumstances that resulted in Woodstock The Event coud ever be recreated successfully on the same scale in today's world. They gave it a go a few years ago, eh, and I guess it turned out alright on a smaller scale (don't really know- paid no attention to it), so who knows.

I doubt if I'd had a good time at Woodstock;I was 12 & my parents would not have let me go in the 1st place. But I never have been much on being dirty, miserable & hungry & I prolly would have been there. Also I guarantee if there was 1 pedophile at the place, I'd run into him 5 minutes after arriving, knowing my luck. 12's too old to be considered a cute little kid & not old enuff to be one of the crowd, so it's just as well I wasn't there. -Sandy G.

"...it's your trip, so do what you want, just be advised, there is a warning out on that one...."

:nutz:

I just saw a new documentry on woodstock, it was a planning disaster, they were totally unprepared.

Except for the merchants, the residents were pissed, safety forces swamped, so for that, it'll never happen again the same way.

Too bad, in a way, it does look like a heck of a lot of fun!

Pete

".... like I was rappin to the fuzz, man, hehheh."

the motivation to go was pretty simple...to get away for a few days, to get as high as possible and hopefully to get laid. Yeah the music was important too, I was really looking foward to some of the bands. The Dead, the Who, Sly the Fish..... During that summer, I had just gradgiated from HS, and we really wanted to 'bust out' somewhere. Rumors of an outdoor concert upstate had been spreading since the spring, a giant get together for us, 'the people'. Since the summer of love had come and gone, alot of kids felt left out and let down. Bobby and Rev King were dead, Nixon and the war machine were in full swing, and the time was right for this gathering.
We left on Wednesday, parked about 5 miles from the area, got dosed almost immediately, the rest was pure haze(that was some powerful acid!). I remember it was really nice at first, then the rain came and turned a cow pasture into one huge stinko slop of a mess. Can't remember how I managed, but I got home some time on Sunday nite, walked into my house and my mom made me undress in the garage, I smelled so bad.
That's all I remember...musta killed too many grey cells that week.

Natch:beatnik:

Get the video/DVD. I watch it about once or twice a year.

What I don't understand is how we went from Woodstock to Shrub Bush. Sheesh.

I'm with you man. I don't even want to think about it. :puke:

We "the people" need to take a long look at ourselves as a society and how we have changed since Woodstock. Just the fact that Woodstock 69 happened as it happened speaks for the mindset of young Americans of that time. They had a lot of fun, complete with enough extremes of all kinds to keep it from ever seeming dull or old. I guess that is why 3 days 34 years ago never seem to go away. My point I guess is that with all the logistical F**k ups and the heavy use of LSD the thing still went down as 3 days of peace and music.
You couldnt put half a million people together anywhere today for 3 days. We cant handle the freedom today that we demanded then. The same promoters tried to recreate the vibe as Woodstock 94 and it ended in riot, chaos, and arson. Although that was 10 years ago I dont think we have improved much.
This country is in danger today I think worse by far than when our government justified going and flexing its muscles in Vietnam for reasons that still are not clear. The youth of that time were aware of the dangers of a government that goes unchecked and runs amuck. They demanded change.
This country could use the Woodstock 69 mindset in a big way. I'm not sayin we should all be on drugs. I'm more thinking of the political awareness, strength in numbers, and simple careing for your fellow man that seems so weak today......

Power to the people,
Tube

TJ:

I gotta agree. It really looks like we blew it. We all wanted to be different and better than the Establishment and what have we done? Wound up being the biggest money grubbers ever. Our children and ourselves are fatter, we eat crap, exercise less, watch too much TV, have higher divorce and illegitimate birthrates, work more hours and have less family time. Plus everybody's concerned about their "rights", but not about their "responsibilities".

And corporate America has gotten even worse. Look at all the scandals, there seems to be one a week. Worldcomm,Enron, Gerber adulterating baby food, Tyco financial scandals, it goes on and on.

And the snake oil and hucksterism! Look at the current low carb craze. Companies are falling over each other to come out with new low carb products for us American Sheep that in some cases may be only smaller portions of the same item! Or fatted up versions with less sugar. How the f*ck do you make low carb bread? It's flour (carb), sugar (carb), water, yeast and fat???? Slice 22 slices/loaf instead of 20? That would give you 10% fewer carbs because there's 10% less product/serving. Say "Bahhh" consumer sheep!

Finally, Bush or Kerry???? There's some choice. Ever listen to these guys on the radio?? Bush sounds like he's reading something, and not too well at that, and Kerry boringly delivers every political crapola promise with no substance behind them, telling the crowd exactly what they want to hear. I've heard better speakers at high school student council meetings and these two are our main choices for president??

It's really too bad that all the idealism, community, love, and everything else that the Woodstock Nation hoped for the future turned out the way it did. I think if you showed those folks back then our future, it would have dampened things much worse than the rain, lack of food or facilities did.

What a bummer!