How awesome! While writing about Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, the song Woodstock, which was written after the festival, came to mind. It was 40 years ago to the day that this unique but controversial event took place.
The Woodstock Music & Art Fair (image) or just Woodstock was held at Max Yasgur's dairy farm in the town of Bethel, New York from August 15 to August 18, 1969. It is in Sullivan/Ulster County.
There were supposedly thirty-two acts performing outdoors in front of nearly 500,000 concert-goers. The Woodstock rock festival was a phenomenon and was one of the major milestones in popular music; it was a moment that changed the history of rock and roll. It also brought the 'flower people' together.
Among the artistes appearing, were Joan Baez, Ravi Shankar, Santana, CCR, Janis Joplin, The Who, Joe Cocker, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Sha-Na-Na and the great Jimi Hendrix.
In Singapore in 1969, pop 60s enthusiasts could just read about the event in the newspapers, on radio and TV news. Although the festival became a symbol for peace, love and good music, it was also a place where drugs were consumed all around. Were there fond memories of this event? Was it a co-incidence then that Singapore 60s music began its decline in the early 70s?
"Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair..."
Reference: Wikipedia
Image: Wikipedia.
2 comments:
I read that the organisers ran into deep financial debt which took years to clear. They were not fully prepared for the phenomenal response. But the legacy lives on. Even in a far-flung corner of north-west Thailand in a small town called Pai near the border with Myanmar, I stumbled upon a Woodstock festival which I learned is an annual event.
Thanks Roger. It's a legacy indeed. I hope you have some photographs on the Thailand 'Woodstock' so I can post them.
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