39th Anniversary of the Original WOODSTOCK

      August 15 - 18, 1969, the dates of the original Woodstock Music and Arts festival in New York State.  The most famous of all festivals, it happened on a farm in Bethel, New York.  Before corporations ran the music biz, it was organized by four inexperienced promoters who were able to sign an amazing roster of then current rock acts -- Jimi Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, the Jefferson Airplane, Ravi Shankar, and Country Joe and the Fish and others!  The influence on music, arts, culture and politics were monumental.  Rolling Stone magazine called it one of the "50 moments that changed the history of rock & roll."  But Woodstock was also the a statement about a remarkable decade.  Over this weekend, the 39th anniversary, look back at the scenes and sounds of the event, pick up Woodstock dvds and cds from MNN HERE.  And, check out the Woodstock69  and Bethel Woods Museum sites, HERE.    Both have great info and cool details.

And just announced from Warner Home Video,

they will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the festival on July 28, 2009 by releasing an Ultimate Collectors Edition dvd of the Oscar(R)-winning Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music film.  The restored and remastered release will include more than an hour of newly discovered Festival performances, some never-before-published in their entirety, from a number of artists, including The Who, Joe Cocker, Canned Heat, Joan Baez, Country Joe McDonald and Country Joe and the Fish with more to be announced. The release will incorporate reflections and perspectives from musicians, celebrities, influencers and other giants in the entertainment industry on the cultural significance of Woodstock 40 years later.  More details from MNN to come.

If you were there at the festival, please share your memories of this important cultural event....  add your comment below...

Peace & Love!

Comments

[Eddie Santiago]

Thanks for the post. Many consider Woodstock to be the height of Sly and the Family Stone's popularity. And to think they almost missed the gig! I write about what happened and more in SLY: THE LIVES OF SYLVESTER STEWART AND SLY STONE. You can check it out at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com.