The Woodstock Page

Woodstock at 55

POSTED AUGUST 15, 2024

Three years after Timothy Leary advised disaffected American youth to "turn on, tune in, and drop out", two years after the Summer of Love, one year after the tumultuous Democratic National Convention...  the greatest counter-cultural event of my generation, the Woodstock Music Festival, took place in Bethel, New York, from August 15 - 18, 1969.  Billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music", "Woodstock" attracted a million people -  about half of whom actually made it* to Max Yasgur's 600 acre dairy farm near White Lake.  

Fifty-five years later:

"Woodstock retains its mythical status as an embodiment of a generation’s hopes and dreams. Its legacy lives on in the enduring belief that music, unity and peace can transcend societal boundaries and inspire profound change. Woodstock was more than just a festival; it was a testament to the power of collective action, the resilience of ideals, and the enduring spirit of an era that sought a better world. In its legacy, Woodstock remains an everlasting reminder that, even in tumultuous times, the pursuit of peace, love and music can prevail." [sidebar, "The Legacy of Woodstock"]

Also in the sidebar are links to a couple of reminiscences of folks who were there.

John Fogerty, Carlos Santana, and Roger Daltry will be returning to Bethel Woods to perform at the 55th Anniversary celebration.  

John Fogerty performed with Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) in 1969.   CCR became the first official booking for Woodstock in April 1969.  Their set began at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 17, and they played for about 50 minutes. They managed to squeeze in 11 songs including "Born On The Bayou," "Proud Mary," and "Suzy Q."  Eighteen minutes from their set are below in The Fiftieth Anniversary Post.

The Mexican born guitarist Carlos Santana formed the band Santana in 1966. The blues influenced band toured extensively around the San Francisco area in the years leading up to Woodstock.  Their set which consisted of “Waiting”, “You Just Don’t Care”, “Savor”, ” Jingo”, “Persuasion”, “Soul Sacrifice”, and “Fried Neckbones” was a crowd-pleaser, and they were deemed as one of the surprises of the concert. Following their breakthrough performance at Woodstock in 1969, their first album soared up the charts reaching number four on the U.S. album charts while their single “Evil Ways” reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.

Although The Who's front-man Roger Daltry was turned off by his Woodstock experience, there is no doubt that their legendary performance of the rock opera Tommy had a profound effect on The Who.  While it was a major step for the band as a whole, Who guitarist Pete Townshend says Woodstock changed Roger Daltrey from "short-haired singer" to a "rock god".

I've added several new links to this page which I created in the run-up to the 50th anniversary of the iconic music festival.  Clockwise from the top left: Santana's performance of "Soul Sacrifice",  a non-Woodstock performance of the Who's "My Generation", a look back at the First Lady of Woodstock, Melanie Safka's, walk on performance, and two long-time friends get "back to the garden"**.  The 50th Anniversary Post is below.