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Woodstock festival was 40 years ago Saturday


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Figuring out the magic of Woodstock

By Todd Leopold

CNN

What is it about Woodstock?

The 1967 Monterey Pop Festival was arguably more influential and, like Woodstock, spawned a terrific film, D.A. Pennebaker's "Monterey Pop." The 1969 Isle of Wight Festival in England, two weeks after Woodstock, included the elusive Bob Dylan.

And there were several other gatherings during the late-'60s and early-'70s festival frenzy, including the ill-fated Altamont festival in 1969 and the record-setting Watkins Glen festival in 1973.

But nobody talked about a "Monterey Nation" or a "Wight Nation" or, God forbid, an "Altamont Nation." No other festival prompted Charles M. Schulz to name a "Peanuts" character after it. No other festival has maintained a viable name for four decades.

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http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/14/meaning.woodstock/index.html

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Richie Havens

Forever known as the guy who opened Woodstock, the folksinger remained busy by starting a record label and acting on stage and film. He performed at Bill Clinton's 1993 presidential inauguration and still frequently performs live.

Sweetwater

The rock band has lost most of its original seven members, with only lead singer Nancy Nevins and two others reuniting for Woodstock '94. They remain busy, by conducting interviews for documentaries on the Woodstock experience.

Ravi Shankar

The Indian sitarist did not enjoy the Woodstock scene and later distanced himself from the hippie movement. He continues to perform internationally.

Arlo Guthrie

Like his father, Woody Guthrie, songs protesting social injustices are at the centre of his wheelhouse. He continues to frequently release albums.

Santana

Santana pulled in US$16-million in concert revenues in 2008, making it the 58th-highest-grossing act in North America. Guitarist Carlos Santana enjoys a successful solo career, collaborating with a number of mainstream artists.

Joan Baez

Her opposition to the death penalty has led her to perform Swing Low, Sweet Chariot on the steps of at least two prisons, the latest at the San Quentin State Prison in 2005.

Grateful Dead

"Deadheads" won't let the band, well, die. Frontman Jerry Garcia did pass in 1995, reportedly of a heart attack, and was the inspiration for Ben & Jerry's delicious "Cherry Garcia" ice cream. Grateful Dead Productions still sells millions of dollars worth of merchandise.

The Who

The Who broke up in the 1980s after a successful career and reunited several times, including a massive international reunion in 2006. They reportedly grossed US$8-million performing in 2008. The band was called a prime contender to be remembered as the world's greatest rock band during its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Janis Joplin

Joplin died of a heroin overdose little more than a year after her appearance, backed by The Kozmic Blues Band.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Performing as a quartet for only the second time didn't hurt the group's success at Woodstock, nor solo albums released in subsequent years. But tense personal relationships would keep them from working together for long. Canadian Neil Young returned to a successful solo career, still raking in $16-million performing in 2008. Crosby, Stills and Nash still tour as a trio, grossing US$5.6-million last year. David Crosby found time to father, biologically at least, a baby for Melissa Etheridge and her partner in 2000.

Sha Na Na

The band chased post-Woodstock success by appearing in the movie Grease and hosting their own variety show. Despite the death or retirement of most of their original members, the band's website suggests "they still perform for hep cats and hippies alike."

Jimi Hendrix

As the headliner, Hendrix took the stage at about 4 a.m., Monday morning and closed down the legendary concert with a two-hour set. Just over a year later, he would be found dead in his home. He is now buried in his hometown, Seattle.

Matthew Coutts, National Post

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The 1967 Monterey Pop Festival was arguably more influential and, like Woodstock, spawned a terrific film, D.A. Pennebaker's "Monterey Pop." The 1969 Isle of Wight Festival in England, two weeks after Woodstock, included the elusive Bob Dylan.

About a dozen of my friends went to that festival, which I couldn't because I was on a family vacation--they were still talking about it years later. There were subsequent IOW festivals, but like the later Woodstocks, they couldn't hope to recapture the spirit of the first one, not least because it was so unexpected.

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For me, Woodstock was about the social impact. Hundreds of thousands of young people flocking to a farm in upstate NY. It's rather inspiring. I'll give Monterey the edge in terms of musical impact. But Woodstock was one if the defining moments of the 20th century.

On a side note: at the museum where I work, there are code words/nicknames for different situations. During the summer camps, we are told to refer to suspicious characters on campus as "Brown Acid" :lol:

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Small gathering for Woodstock's 40th anniversary

The 40th anniversary gathering commemorating Woodstock, the 1969 musical festival that became an iconic symbol of the 1960s, attracted 15,000 for the weekend event.

The 1969 concert at Max Yasgur's farm in upstate New York drew more than 400,000 people and has since been immortalized by a generation that came of age in that time.

This particular gathering though, was a fraction of the 30th commemoration back in 1999 in Rome, N.Y., which was marked by violence, torching of trucks and reports of rape. More than 200,000 turned up for the concert — about 300 kilometres from the original site — which was characterized by expensive food, corporate support and looting.

This time, the celebration was much more low key. Music lovers of all ages converged over the weekend at the original site. The Yasgur farm itself is now the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

Performances took place on Saturday at an open-air amphitheatre on the farm with small, impromptu reunions held nearby.

"The music was almost secondary to the experience," Vinny Verdi, 59, told the Washington Post. Verdi was 19 when he attended the original festival.

"I have no memory. Just the vibe."

Anti-war vibe re-created

Saturday's show began with a speech from Sam Yasgur, son of the local farmer who allowed his farm to stage the famous concert featuring searing performances from the likes of Janis Joplin, Sly Stone, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Band.

"I think you have proven something to the world," he told the gathered graying crowd, many still in tie-dye clothing. "Young people can get together and have three days of fun and music."

Among the performances was Conor Oberst re-creating Jimi Hendrix's electric guitar version of The Star Spangled Banner.

Country Joe McDonald re-constituted the anti-war vibe of that time by asking for a moment of silence while he read off names of nine military members from the area who had been killed in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

He went to perform For What It's Worth, This Land is Your Land and Coming Into Los Angeles, which Arlo Guthrie performed at the 1969 show.

Levon Helm, who played with The Band, says he's glad to be back.

"The first time we came, it was just another gig. This many years later … it's a historic event. I'm happy to get to play," Helm told USA Today

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Sweetwater

The rock band has lost most of its original seven members, with only lead singer Nancy Nevins and two others reuniting for Woodstock '94. They remain busy, by conducting interviews for documentaries on the Woodstock experience.

Of all the sets played on XM "40" this past weekend, I enjoyed hearing Sweetwater's the most. The special on the History Channel last nite interviewed one of their members about being flown via helicopter to the stage, as they were originally scheduled to go on first. While flying towards the show, the guy from Sweetwater asked the copter pilot what that strange looking crop was growing in the fields up ahead. "People", he replied.

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