But honestly, even knowing what I know now about the historical significance and grand experience of it all, if I was back in time I’d probably have opted out of Woodstock. I’d probably have preferred a quiet weekend on the beach somewhere. Even if I’d been in my 20s.
Sorry.
Addendum: Well, this is also a bit sacrilegious. It was my favorite performance in that documentary I sat through like 5 times in high school, usually in a double feature with The Kids are Alright or the disco version of Hair.
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August 17, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Ben
I was lemming in those days.. I would have been there if it had not been 3000 miles away.
August 17, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Gabby Haze
No judgement here Eric.
I was a few hundred miles away and didn’t even know about it. I was 24 years old and in High School (I kept flunking Engish)…
When the Woodstock album came out, our one S.D.S. member and potdealer, brought some acapulco gold to a party, I lit up for the second time and proceeded to dance the funky chicken to Dance to the Music by Sly and the Family Stone. In true go-go dancer style I got up on my friend’s coffee table. I should have taken my shoes off. I remember seeing the scuff marks forming and it was like the process of Creation occurring mysteriously. That was the first time I ever cut loose dancing, it is a shame that the funky chicken went the way of all those cewl moves we had back then.
August 17, 2009 at 8:33 pm
the last stone
sour grapes?
I was in upstate NY at the time — not far away. My neighbor invited me to go.. I didn’t go… no regrets…
August 17, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Eric Kirk
sour grapes? I was like 5 when it happened.
August 18, 2009 at 6:39 am
Dave Kirby
I think probably the dumbest announcement ever made at a concert was “Don’t eat the brown acid”. Can you imagine what the trip was like for those who did after that call to paranoia? I missed Woodstock but did attend the anti Woodstock at Altamont. How in the hell a supposedly street savvy bunch like the Rolling Stones could hire the Hells Angels as security?
August 18, 2009 at 7:04 am
anon
gotta love joe..the was he moved made you feel wasted…without the drugs
August 18, 2009 at 11:01 am
koast1
40th Anniversary of Woodstock
Free Concert Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, Sunday, October 25, 2009
Event: “West Fest” Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock
Producer: 2b1 Multimedia Inc. and the Council of Light in association with Artie Kornfeld, the original producer of “Woodstock 1969”
When: October 25, 2009, 9am to 6pm
Where: Speedway Meadows, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA USA
http://www.2b1records.com/woodstock40sf
August 18, 2009 at 8:57 pm
ED Denson
I was there, of course, since I was managing Country Joe and the Fish, and it was exhausting for the performers and their people because unlike everyone else, performers had to get from point A to point B to perform. I would say that we had less of the Woodstock experience than people in the audience, or at least a quite different experience. I have some photos I took, somewhere, and every decade or so when they turn up I recall how frightening it was to be on the stage looking out at the unbelievable huge mass of humanity, hoping that they would not all decide to move forward 10 feet and overwhelm the stage.
Eric, there are some things that you just can’t miss if you have the chance to do them. Woodstock was one of them. I predict that someday the news will cover the last survivor of Woodstock. I’d like for it to be me, but more likely it will be some child who was born there.
August 18, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Eric Kirk
No doubt about 60 years from now they’ll announce the death of the last survivor.
Re experiencing the moments in history, I understand the point and I’ve read up on the event and seen the documentary about 5 or 6 times. I just don’t do well with crowds, and 600 toilets for 400 thousand people just doesn’t appeal to me. I think the overwhelming experience of the crowd would have blocked out the euphoria for me. I’d have enjoyed the Ritchie Havens performance. I probably wouldn’t have made it much past that. My feets would have started walking.
August 18, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Unk John
Sorry, Eric, Joe C’s version does not compare to John Belushi’s on SNL.
See you tomorrow.
August 20, 2009 at 12:34 pm
koast1
if you have original photos from woodstock that youd be willing to share we are putting together a brochure for the 40th anniversary show (sf) and it would be great to include some OG photos …country joe will be performing plus this full llineup
http://www.2b1records.com/woodstock40sf/line_up.htm
i could make a special thanks line for contributing photos from ed d….
and get you backstage passes for the event
just an idea
thanks