The Documentary Collection: Unveiling Woodstock's Secrets

Even now - especially now - Woodstock has deep, lasting meaning. Its mix of music, culture and idealism resonates across the years. It gave youth a voice. It changed the music business. It energized activists. From stadium shows to social-justice movements, its legacy is strong a half century later. This film finds big surprises in the story that shed incredible new light on an iconic event.
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[@ManuelRodriguez-xv8gy]

I was only 9 yrs old back in 69, but the 70's was the best yrs in my life growing up and part hippie with long hair wearing bell bottom and listening to 70's rock music.

[@MargoHardy]

❤born in 971

[@MargoHardy]

71 *

[@user-hr2ri1hq8s]

Loved them days and still remember them

[@woodwage7988]

1959 here..had a paper route...had some bikers/ hippies that all lived in one house...never made them pay, they were cool with me and the girls would give a little tit shot sometimes ❤...A fast time to grow up 60/70s...Anyway, Peace😉

[@KrazeeKeithKash]

I was 16 years old in the summer of 69… I was a wild kid, and my father was only going to allow me to go to one rock festival that summer and I picked Woodstock… I said well if I can only go to one I’m leaving early and I left a week ahead of time… thank God… I got there before all the traffic jams and all the headaches and actually got a job working in the concession stand…I got paid for being there… if you look in the life magazine for a black woman and her child in the background, you will see me in the concession stand… It was an amazing experience that I cherish even now at age 71… the biggest party the world has ever seen… ✌️😎🎸

[@angieneal7070]

love your story, at 16 you rocked on on on. not many had that wonderful experience. now 71. paid at woodstock for listening to new era of rock music! can't get any better than that.

[@KrazeeKeithKash]

It was a different time… people are so different back then… it’s such a shame the way the world is now… ✌️😎🎸

[@angieneal7070]

@@KrazeeKeithKash when. Iisten to. 60s. 70s. Calmness. And peace. Override. Me. Remembering. What seems. Life time. Ago. Good memories.

[@angieneal7070]

Cool! peace& love was the music.

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

I'll bet your father regretted having you every day thereafter.......

[@jazzgal5631]

Look at that crowd! No big fat people, no fat butt twerking, no pink hair, no tattoos, no beating up people, no gangs, no dirty lyric rap music, no hate of other races, no police. Just love. ❤

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

...........Fake love.............

[@curbozerboomer1773]

But...lots of drugs, that "mellowed" people out, making them rather passive.

[@70schick36]

Nope. Not one. Not one fat person was there. Certainly there was no twerking fat person there. What are you smoking?

[@stj971]

​@@michaelmeliambro5117and you weren't there! Haha!

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

@@stj971 Thank GOD for that!!!

[@tsunamis82]

Woodstock were the young boomers and now those same boomers are looking at the current young people asking, what are you going to do to change this world? You have the power of your voices, the strength of your young bodies to make this a better place. In the spirit of Woodstock, use peace and love in your protests. Violence will not work, and never has.

[@RichardNixonsHippieRemoval]

Nah, they're counting their retirement money, donating to astroturfs and got Fox Snooze or PMSNBC on the TV 24/7/365.

[@jakethomas1829]

You ask how young people are going to change the world? They starting with their gender. History may not be in our future

[@libbydoucette455]

😊

[@ianbardon8581]

Violence will never work, wow no one is listening to that. 16 year's of peace in 242 years

[@RichardNixonsHippieRemoval]

@ianbardon8581 Folks were promoting peace overall because everyone had a neighbor kid down the street being sent off for the goddammed MIC. However, it yielded some of the best music ever recorded. Woodstock was a footnote; many huge festivals of its kind were around, far better handled. And hey...Hong Kong Flu was flying around(1968-70), killed millions. Nobody hid in their homes, they went to work and rocked out to the greatest acts rock and pop ever produced. So while my generation (X) and millennials might complain about boomers, at least they weren't pansies.

[@sergeantmasson3669]

My bride and I rode there on a 650 CC BSA motorcycle and lived in a bush for 3 days.

[@eddellinger1780]

Nice bike!

[@DeliaDevlin-eu6oj]

My beautiful, gypsy, hippie mother hitchhiked her way to Woodstock with me on her hip...I am proud of that heritage...RIP Stony (her nickname)

[@DawnMarie1679]

Thanks for sharing 😍 ✌️

[@DawnMarie1679]

That's just so cool, I'd love to hear more about the journey to woodstock.

[@joepasquarello1273]

Was her real name Sonerva?

[@DeliaDevlin-eu6oj]

@@joepasquarello1273 nope...Vickie. she had a tattoo of twenty bird smoking a J on her left breast.

[@michaelsnyder2588]

Am 78, Never forget that WOODSTOCK WHAT FUN THAT WAS. YAH!!!

[@tsunamis82]

I am a boomer and loved my self sufficient years as. a hippie. It’s time for another generation to stop the division of America, the war in Gaza and the oppression in other countries. It’s time for your voices to be heard and for you to make a mark on this World. There are so many projects for a better World to use the energy of your youth to make the changes needed.

[@varsity1234]

Agree. Just wondering if you know how war in Gaza started. Ignorance of that is dangerous. It started with massicare of Jews and guests on Arab -Israel peace music festival, more than 1200 people and kids. What a coincidence talking about Woodstock. I wish you mentioned that as well.

[@SHERGENIUS8]

I wanted to go but I didn't know how to get there

[@SandorVitez]

I pray that they won't give in to communist brainwashing and the influence of the demonicrats with the lies of woke "democracy' we are a Republic, democracy is our constitution not socialism

[@aletaharris2486]

Amen

[@MargoHardy]

Peace and love!!please put your guns n knives down!just speak to onanother!sincerely, a 70/ 80s girl

[@goodBigBoy]

There never be another Woodstock. I thank God i lived around at the time......

[@jimreedy1960]

I was at Woodstock. The music was great, of course, but the feeling of togetherness was just intoxicating. Everybody was so NICE to each other. We set up a tent and it kept us dry when it rained. One time I heard some motorcycles approaching and I was concerned because there was no law there, but the riders got off and said that they were collecting trash and wanted to know if we needed to dispose of our garbage. We thought we were witnessing the beginning of a new way of living in America. We were wrong.

[@markdinkel-uh2je]

That's so cool. Groovy. God bless I wish I'd been there. Csny, Jimi, the Who, Alvin Lee. Wow!

[@carolblaquiere3864]

You were wrong...dammit!

[@Mike-ug5bw]

That has been same experience for me with bikers....never met bad now I know them....some of my best friends now

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

And the world is now better off bcuz you were wrong; LOL.

[@garypautard1069]

Same here in the UK during the sixties there was a sense of euphoria in the air ,we felt the world was always moving forward . Some sociologists have said the " turn on tune in and drop out " attitude spoilt it all because of the lethargic hippy outlook. I don't know but by the late 70s there was a profound change and by 1980 it felt as though a bucket of cold water was thrown over the country .

[@theresaheyer537]

BEST thing EVER to hit Mother Earth!!!!!!!LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!

[@sunnystormy4973]

-rockn it !-

[@donnaurban6105]

ROCK ON!! Love my generation even at 73 years old! Still an activist for peace! The younger generation will never know the heart of the sickties..

[@stj971]

👍 Amen!

[@yvonnelessick9880]

Seems. Woodstock. Was ahead. Of its. Time. Gun laws etc. Me and my late husband. Stayed. At. Woodstock. Suburb. In Cape. town. For holiday. Wish it never. Ended.

[@susanmercurio1060]

Me too at 77!

[@sv4091]

and because of the 60sixties and woodstock the seventies was a wonderful time to be a young person

[@curbozerboomer1773]

You are correct...the "ethos" of my now Boomer generation, flowed into some of the cultural changes taking place in the 1970s...mostly for the better! As a kid in the very uptight, conformist 1950s, I knew that some social changes just had to come...and those changes were expressed through the emerging power of Rock music.

[@ZsuzsannaBudapest]

I was there I!! I was 25 years old. and this was my generation! For a Hungarian American, this was Paradise. My generation is so Talented. Thank you Mother for creating me adventures and bold. Thanks my generation for making me proud.

[@LucyLennon20]

Boomers were / are the best generation!

[@rogerdudra178]

Being born in 1949 I think. and hope, boomers are way more alive than dead.@@LucyLennon20

[@SandorVitez]

I too am a Hungarian American my gift is in art however I always had a deep appreciation for music unfortunately I was only 8 then my Dad mocked the music yet I couldn't get enough probably drove my parents nuts with my singing for some reason I resonated with Paul Butterfield you should be proud of your generation, what do think about the younger generation like Rock Milady?

[@SandorVitez]

@@LucyLennon20 One problem with your generation is arrogance now with people born after 1980 to present it's ignorance

[@LucyLennon20]

@@SandorVitez what do you mean?

[@vernwallen4246]

Carlos and Joe Cocker electrified the music world.

[@K.Spade7902]

Woodstock was exactly what the description calls it. GREAT music, sharing ideas, peaceful protests against Vietnam. It helped the careers of EVERY artist who appeared there.

[@johnieleetherebelwarrior7139]

The Hippies fought for the right not to kill, with music and unity

[@ZsuzsannaBudapest]

AND THE RIGHT FOR OUR OWN BODIES TO STAY ALIVE.

[@tweaked53]

I was there also at age 16, with my best friend same age and my sister age 21. I had actually bought tickets weeks in advance, that was a waste but the experience was the best thing in my lifetime, not only because of the great music but because it was so cool, so hip, so free... there were very few cops there and virtually everyone behaved well, no fights, no arguments, people shared food, drink, even love. People were comfortable with public nudity and everyone was positive and happy to be there regardless of the mess. It was such a positive experience that I came away feeling the world was changing fast and for the better. Sadly, not enough people have experienced such a thing to realize peace is possible when people want peace. Musically, the event was astounding. We drove from NH in my Mustang and had to leave the car 7 miles from the site on the road beacuse of the jam. Luckily we got a ride from a staff writer for Esquire magazine who had a big Chrysler and a press pass, he saw my sister (nice looking) and offered us all a ride to the site. We jumped in and the rest was a breeze. He was able to park very near the stage and my sister was even able to get backstage with him. The music, as I mentioned, was phenomenal. Santana was one of the hottest acts as well as Alvin Lee, CS&N, Sly & the Family Stone, Joe Cocker, and Jimi Hendrix (yes I stuck around for his act with only about 2000 people remaining). But the act most overlooked and under rated was Blood Sweat & Tears, it was a phenomenal show and they were at their prime, I always considered their act #2 after Hendrix. People hardly slept the whole 3 days. Acid was everywhere though I was young and didn't do anything except drank alcohol, ironically, I was able to experience the whole thing and actually remember it. I learned about 10 years ago (never knew this before) that virtually ALL the performers were doing LSD as they drank the kool-aid punch that had been spiked with it. All of Santana's band were tripping hard during the performance (unplanned) but blew everyone away, as did Alvin Lee (Ten Years After). It was a testament to the safety of LSD and how the media spun it as an evil thing (Nixon was still president and J Edgar Hoover was his buddy, and he hated Hippies). Everyone shared what food thy could scrounge and they shared even their spaces and their tents or rain ponchos in many cases. It was probably the best festival I've ever been to, regardless of the chaos, toilet problems, mud and rain, and overcrowding. Nothing like this could ever happen again. Too many bureaucrats making prohibitive laws to prevent such a free and peaceful gathering. And the times changed so dramatically over the years, that the Woodstock 2 and Woodstock 3 events turned out to be a giant failure because of fighting, drug overdoses and drugs like meth and heroin being there, and aggressive people whose mindsets were far from the theme of Peace, Love and Music. Yes there were some medical emergencies and some people had to leave but for the most part those were accidental injuries or someone thinking they overdosed on LSD and couldn't handle it. Overall it was amazing that so many people could gather for a good time, and keep it a good time until the very end. And Wavy Gravy was the best MC, EVER!!

[@DawnMarie1679]

I'm nostalgic for a time when I wasn't even born yet. I've watched woodstock over and over again, feeling like I belonged there. I can't say how much much I wish I could've been.

[@susanmercurio1060]

I'm so homesick for those days

[@nancysalerno7036]

My husband went there. Being 4 years younger I missed the essence of that window in time. I am struck by the fact that there are no overweight people in sight, at least by today’s standards. Something definitely wrong with our food and life style since then.

[@billshechtman1524]

You’re absolutely right I never thought about that

[@kevinkhoy7171]

Excellent "observation!" You have pointed out something that is very apparent to the overuse of Salt, Syrups & Steroids along with a wide variety of Other modern chemicals in our food supply! We must also keep in mind the (fast food Industry) Pizza, KFC, McD's Ect. was just getting started. 50 yrs. Later, you can't go 2 miles with out any of them down the road or around the Corner?

[@livesalone]

We were busy living, not online 24/7.

[@liamonconlocha4898]

Big business feeding you the most addictive substance ever….sugar

[@heavenhelpus479]

An interesting observation I had not noticed.

[@jaapongeveer6203]

This made me cry for the unfulfilled dreams of my generation. We became part of the establishment.

[@romulus3345]

Trump 2024 Ultra Mega MAGA!!!!

[@jchow5966]

Johnny Winter did a great set there - there is a Woodstock Johnny Winter album out there that is amazing. Johnny Winter was the highest paid artist at the festival…… Johnnys’ manager advised him not to appear in the movie because he thought it would be unsuccessful. ☮️💟

[@johnhalverson1133]

@@romulus3345 Sorry. Trump's time has come and gone.

[@theboyisnotright6312]

​@@johnhalverson1133 I sure hope so😊

[@barrybarney6085]

The establishment! Thats who is running the show. And Barrok Husain must be in controll of that as well. Or atleast, have alot of influence on.

[@saoirseblue5353]

Awwww....Richie Heavens look really good!!. That festival is never going to be repeated again.❤

[@michaellazzeri2069]

I am so proud------------SO VERY PROUD---------to be part of " The Post -War baby boomers " ----------" The Summer Of Love , & Monterrey" , & yes, I was there -----------& finally, " The Woodstock Generation " --------what a blessing it is. Kids today have no idea just how incredible those times were. -------As I sit here dealing with Tropical Storm Hilary, & a 5.5 earthquake in good 'ol LA . ---------------MJL 76 y/o

[@joeytacey743]

I was 15 that summer and lived in a small town in fl. Never heard or knew anything about Woodstock until the movie came out and I went to see it at the drive inn😊

[@marknewton6984]

I was19 that summer and working my way through college in a warehouse. But I liked the music! 😎

[@LucyLennon20]

It's 2023 - 54 years later and there is and has been an ongoing archeological dig. They found the stage!

[@effdonahue6595]

Did the stage have stagefright bahaha! ✌️

[@LucyLennon20]

@@effdonahue6595 ha!

[@therighthandmann]

I was at Bethel woods for the first time a couple of months ago. 54 years late, but I got there!

[@kimboss8721]

Bucket list Check! I was 13 years old, oHIo knew nothing beforehand. Lol

[@marksamuelsen2750]

I grew up on Long Island in the late 50’and 60’s. On my block everyone was related somehow. My Aunt & Uncle and cousins lived right behind us. My father had been in the Army Air Corps and my Uncle was in the Navy fighting in the Pacific during WW2. I’m a BABY BOOMER and I’m now 70yo. WoW. Time has flown by faster than I could’ve ever imagined. That summer was a very strange experience for me. My friends were all planning to go to Woodstock. I wanted to go but was having problems with my family. My Dad was fine with it but mom not so much. My cousins who lived right behind us were going until my uncle shut them down and said no way. A friend of mine who was leaving for college in the fall drove past my house while I was just sitting there and he stopped and said “ Hey Mark I’m heading to Woodstock wanna come?” I jumped up and into his white GTO convertible. Off I went. Getting there was a little difficult. Parking, Rain,Mud…..but the people were GREAT… From what I can remember I had a Great Time met a pretty girl had what I thought was great sex and a lot of laughs. Got drunk, stupid, & met another pretty girl had more laughs. My clothes were black from dirt and mud. Last day I sobered up found the car got drunk again and then we drove home. What a weekend.

[@elizabethquon3568]

1967 was the year i went from Samoa to the U.S. and in 69 Woodstock happened and every other concert before and after. People just wanted to party and enjoy life. Make love not war was of course what defined that generation. What an introduction but it rooted me in the music till today . I cant imagine life without music.

[@saradavidson3054]

Meeee either! Music is the extension of God's intelligence ~Marvin Gaye

[@mathstar4176]

Another thing that made this possible was that from 1963 right up to 1969 at Woodstock:--- Music was King. What we now call classic rock n Roll ruled the world. Everybody was grooving to Sounds and this Revolution of😍😎🤩❤

[@romulus3345]

Nah, nobody in Africa cared about it.. Nobody in the Middle East cared about it.. Nobody in India cared about it.. Nobody in China cared about it.. The vast, vast majority of the world did not care about Woodstock or it's bands,, the only people who cared were a bunch of stoned 🤡🤡 who believed they were the center of existence. And now today the world still doesn't care.

[@markwilliams5606]

This so called classic rock term is like that old school saying. These are wannabes. Woodstock was the the beginning and the end.

[@melbourne-heat.69-71]

I was already in Vietnam and because my wife was going to have a baby I got shipped back to the States.. After she gave birth I went to Woodstock for one day I was the only guy with short hair what a great time to be free..Drinking and tripping my butt off went back to my new family and then back to Vietnam..The alcoholism and drug abuse in Vietnam was ten times worse than Woodstock..Sad what the government did to 18,19 and 20 year olds back then..You had to be Drunk or High to numb yourself out...Ya good times..🤘🤟👍✌👏🤝🤝

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

@@melbourne-heat.69-71 Way to let your country down, acid head!!!

[@RDLACHICA]

No need to bash or compare with other huge gigs. WS is still WS. The First ever. The First is and will always be the First. And that is how you become a chapter in History.

[@islandgirlxyz]

I live for PEACE !!!

[@cravinbob]

300,000 young people showed up without tickets and no parking. They forgot to bring something to eat or drink, no coat or rain gear. It was peaceful because there were no police to save one from themselves. Locals donated time and food. The only thing the kids brought was trash to leave behind. And thank you Lord for Jimi Hendrix, I enjoyed the very short time you allowed him to be here.

[@whatyoumakeofit6635]

"Police to save people from themselves"......WTH ? Are you even American ? What a shame.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

The Hendrix set was actually pretty good...especially the last 40 minutes or so...his guitar work remains astonishing.

[@Eitner100]

Nowadays with all the aggression, drugs dealers, idiots, fight seekers for no reason, self absorbed egocentric stupid and so on....a Woodstock is not possible anymore. We lost that chance many decades ago.

[@SandorVitez]

Too much division now

[@stj971]

Yep.

[@marknewton6984]

High point in '69. Then the 70's happened...😮

[@johnallen6945]

I was 19 that year and working at a mill. I think I saw 1000 bands live in the 60s and 70s but I missed Woodstock. From about 64-70 there was some kind of magic in the air. There were many moments of synchronicity when ordinary people had abnormal things happen which had a profound effect on them.

[@rechard-jb9cr]

Yes, despite the Vietnam War and bad politics, there was some kind of magic in the air. I didn't go to many concerts, but I was there in '69.

[@rezzer7918]

I doubt it lol

[@jimiplayscobo5877]

I missed Woodstock too. I did go to Canada's first Rock Festival Live Peace. Where John Lennon played give Peace a Chance and Yoko singing with a bag on her head. Lol I remember John was escorted by the Vagabonds MC from the airport to the concert. lol Ahh the 60's

[@johnallen6945]

@@jimiplayscobo5877 I seem to remember buying a John and Yoko album and it came with a paper bag for, "Bagism." I never quite understood it. That was the one with Yoko wailing like a banshee for 30 minutes straight.

[@jimiplayscobo5877]

@@johnallen6945 Yup wishing someone cut her mic Plzzz

[@glenn3740]

I was 9 years-old wish I could have been there

[@bobbrown5951]

I was there in '69. Great memories that I'll never lose but all wasn't perfect. Hard to get any decent food. And there was no real schedule of when each band would appear, so we missed some big names. After spending almost all of Saturday sitting down close to the stage we left to go back and sleep in our car right after The Grateful Dead played a less than great set because of technical problems. CCR, Janis, and The Who came on right after so we missed them. Saw Sly only because my friend had a medical emergency and the doctor at the medical tent said I had to wait outside. Turned around and there was Sly playing. Then had to leave about dusk on Sunday as our car wouldn't start, so no idea Jimi was playing Monday morning. I wrote a chapter about in a book called Woodstock Revisited edited by Susan Reynolds. 50 stories by people who were there.

[@wito6998]

I know 53 minutes isn’t much time, but the amazing performances by Ten Years After, Joe Cocker, and Canned Heat should have warranted a mention; all should be in the R&R HoF. And , who could forget The Who?

[@glenndouglas8822]

Yes but you buy the director's cut of the film for that 🙄

[@toreckman8899]

@@glenndouglas8822just for canned heat. The other 2 are in the moviw

[@steveludwig4200]

THE WHO's set was easily the best of the weekend. And they went on stage at 5am Sunday morning/ Total professionals!

[@toreckman8899]

@@steveludwig4200 like when Pete threatened to kill Abbie Hoffman ? I totally agree with what Pete did, but professional? They did put on a good show. PS - most would argue sly, (even Pete thanked them about a few months later for waking up the crowd when he ran into Cynthia Robinson), santana or canned heat.

[@linuslittlefield2112]

Santana

[@rogerdudra178]

It's been a long time for me, 73, but I think we actually did make a difference.

[@ShoEnTeL1]

No. You didnt

[@marthacanady9441]

Yeah. The destruction of America. Nothing good ever came of that era and those fools.

[@theboyisnotright6312]

The guys that wouldn't go to Vietnam had no problem sending young people to the Balkans , Iraq, and all those lovely forever wars. Thanks!😢

[@stj971]

👍Amen!

[@stj971]

​@ShoEn Jealous much?

[@kentdouglass1001]

Thx for posting. I was 10 years old in 1969. I remember the era well. 👍😊🍄✌️

[@DawnMarie1679]

I would've loved to be around in that generation 😎 I like to pretend I'm there when I watch woodstock.

[@azmike1]

What a great talent and songwriter/performer Sly Stone was then. Today, the poor fellow's entire net worth is about 250K......... lifetime. God Bless Sly Stone.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

Drugs did him in...He made that choice.

[@barsixful]

I was 5 !! 😂I can only say “ man…glad I was soaking up the 60’s CONSCIOUSNESS 🎉

[@paulb2092]

I'm not one of the millions of people who actually attended Woodstock, but close! I was attending a course at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, a reasonable drive to Woodstock. A friend suggested that we go, but fearing the effects on my newly purchased car, I declined. In about October that year in the bookstore of the small town in which I was teaching, I was shocked to see the LIFE Magazine that announced the significant cultural event that I had missed.

[@marthacanady9441]

You should be so grateful.

[@michaeledwards4715]

It's when mankind chooses " real peace" that the generations can Rejoice in victory! True peace..does have it's price ..and Hollowed is the graves of brave soldiers who made this freedom ring into heaven. ..

[@curbozerboomer1773]

Yup...my belief is, there is no Freedom without Responsibility!...I was in the Navy during this period of time, and can remember being called into question by my hippie friends. After being discharged, I did grow my hair long, and smoked a little weed, etc. At age 77 now, I still have long hair (not as much of it!), but wear a headband, in tribute to the generation I belong to. As David Crosby did sing about not cutting his hair--" I feel like I owe it, to someone".

[@charlesbyrd6055]

Yes in America 1969 I think half the population was under 27-28 Can folks imagine that it was kids everywhere I was born 1957 and recall how kids were everywhere It’s nearly 40 years old now

[@gt5663]

In August of 69 I was on my second tour in VN @ VANDERGRIFT combat base. Hearing about it on ArmForces radio.

[@familydogg1234]

Nobody ever talks about Brett Sommer- 4th act at Woostock. What about the Jeff Beck Group- they were on the poster but broke up. Pianist Nicky Hopkins joined The Airplane at Woodstock- but he wasnt shown except in the 1994 reissue videocassette. I saw Rod Stewart at Bethel woods Sept 1. He said him and Ron Wood showed up at Bethel - but No Jeff. Someone stold his girlfriend he was looking for her. Also what about appearances by Johnny Winter and Mountain? Im so glad I got to see John Sebastion, Santana, Richie Havens and Joe Cocker. We lost alot of performers - Rest in Peace, Love and Music

[@marknewton6984]

Jeff Beck-- so fine!

[@Chriskris_-pl5nt]

As I recollect my dad's version of the story , " of course I wanted to go to Woodstock". I'm guessing since my mother was 9 months pregnant with me in her belly made his decision for both mom, and dad. Then I was born August 15 the begining day , my dad named me Cosmo, until mom vetoed that. My dad' ( a drummer ), his band opened for Jan and Dean , music seeped out his pores . You could say I was literally born into music . Truth be told I always imagined singing or playing guitar at the 50th anniversary, for my 50th birthday . Well see maybe the 55th , who knows?

[@theresaheyer537]

the POWER of MUSIC!!!!YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[@chillywillie6283]

There is a short list of things I remember most about 1969; my last of four years of little league baseball; hurricane Camille ripping apart my hometown in Mississippi; Michael Jackson and his brothers being introduced to the world; and the first of moon landings. Woodstock is also a part of that list.

[@barrywainwright3391]

And the miracle Mets won the World Series

[@SandorVitez]

@@barrywainwright3391 Baltimore blew it in both baseball and football that year being an Orioles and Colts fan I was devastated as a kid I remember Joe Namath saying the Jets will win "I guarantee it" I thought how cocky but Broadway Joe delivered , Hungarian Americans have a whimsical gypsy spirit when we don't over analyze

[@melodymakermark]

@chillywillie6283, re: Camille, we used to vacation a couple weeks every summer at Dauphin Island, AL, and I’ll never forget the devastation I saw from the upper bunk of my parent’s pickup truck camper as we drove across south Mississippi toward Mobile. I’ll have to check with my older sister, but it may have been June of ‘70, so months after the storm it was still devastation.

[@markdinkel-uh2je]

@@SandorVitez colts suck here in Indy too

[@Allan-uk9qb]

I was 18 had just arrived in Germany. It was a day off after breakfast read the Stars and Strips paper and learned of this. Came home in Oct.and saw the movie and you got the vibe that was present there. It was passed on through film never ever again. One time is all can't do it again.

[@dsgp7835]

Three days celebrating the end of innocence. A few short weeks later, Altamont ushered in the change of heart of the youth movement, now unsettled and angry. Being a kid in America was never the same.

[@waynesilverman3048]

Manson and then the deaths of Jones ,Morrison ,Jimi,Janis all 27 and J beginning of their name !

[@glenndouglas8822]

​@@waynesilverman3048 Clutching at straw's there pal 🤣😂

[@stj971]

The Manson murders put an end to it all, ty c eye a

[@marknewton6984]

Not the same now😢

[@adammitchell5683]

Freedom ain't free boy 🇺🇸💪

[@joehopper2274]

Excellent documentary. My buddy Phil and I (recent HS grads) had gone to the Atlantic City Rock Festival in mid-July with a bunch of friends. We were completely unprepared, but had an awesome time. Hearing about Woodstock I went out and bough tickets, the original $7 ones which were the initial run. Later Globe Ticket ran another run and priced them at $8 per ticket. I still have mine. Our plan was to leave early Friday morning, get to Monticello NY, get drunk in a bar or three (we were both mature 17 year old and the Drinking Age in NY was 18). Listening to the radio and hearing “the NY State Thruway is closed Man” finally got us to continue our adventure . We met so many amazing people. So we were the “ticket holders” that got stuck on Rt 17B trying to get to the Festival. We finally got there Saturday morning. Your Documentary does a great job of highlighting that experience. Years later I convinced our daughter Karen and a bunch of her friends to go to the 25th Woodstock Anniversary in ‘94, they loved it. My wife and I also went, me being a “Philly” guy, to The Live Aide Concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, we still have our tickets, the tie shirts we bought plus 50 or so pictures I took with my Canon AE1 camera. Great, great memories. Thankfully

[@KrazeeKeithKash]

I’ve been a musician, all my life and for me, it was very inspiring… Jimi Hendrix has always been one of my favorites… he was amazing… ✌️😎🎸

[@steveludwig4200]

Two best acts BY FAR were The Who and Ten Years After..."I'm Going Home" was the standout of the entire festival. Alvin Lee simply set the place on fire that night..........Intro to the song..."I'm Going Home....by helicoptor". Dude even said about the rain and possibly electrocution with all the amps and power..."Well, if that happens and one of us fries.....we'll sell a lot more records next week!" RIP sir....

[@markwilliams5606]

Canned Heat and Johnny Winter were Great. CCR 🌄✌️

[@jeffvanschoonhoven5171]

Don't forget Country Joe & The Fish

[@steveludwig4200]

@@jeffvanschoonhoven5171 Well below average band that had no business on the same stage with THE WHO, Jimi Hendrix, Ten Years After and Santana. Those were the MONSTERS of the show....

[@carlburnett5986]

I’d say the two best acts were Hendrix and Sly and the Family Stone

[@steveludwig4200]

@@carlburnett5986 I actually liked Sly and the Stone Family a lot too...I never saw a full set of Hendrix that was great. Too much jamming and showmanship and not enough really good songs. For that time he was unique but if he were around in the late 70s with guys like EVH and SRV and even Jeff Healey, Hendrix wouldn't stand out at all...jimi was right when he said Rory Gallagher was a better player.

[@doltonmurray1625]

I was only 15 when this event occurred. I wonder how my life would have changed had I been a few years older and able to attend.🇨🇦

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

Not for the better, I can tell ya............

[@user-fg4fr2bz5y]

I had just left the country to Vancouver to protest the war and listened to the news on the radio. A time I’ll never forget!🙏

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

Draft dodging COWARD!

[@BarryCorcoran-fj2td]

I lived 10 miles from the site, was 3 years old at the time. I remember A&P shelves were empty and long hairs walking around town. 20 years later when I worked for the Sheriff's Patrol, 1/2 of the Dept had worked the festival, every one of them said the hours and the weather were lousy, the crowd was great.

[@mikeplantagenet2983]

Those people who went to Woodstock, or who got the vibe later, now need to rise up again and claim democracy for the USA. Big money and big heads are not the answer.

[@ZsuzsannaBudapest]

I WAS THERE TOO. WE IDENTIFIED EACH OTHER BY THE CITY OR TOWN WHERE WE CAME FROM. THERE WERE MANY YOUNG MEN CALLED JESS AND JEFF SO THERE WAS JESS FROM OAKLAND AND JEFF FROM SEATLE. I WAS CALLED BUDAPEST THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING AS I STEPPED OUTSIDE MY TENT. GOOD MORNING BUDAPEST! GOOD MORNING TO YOU TOO DALLAS! I LOVED MY GENERATION. AND THE LONG-HAIRED YOUNG MEN WERE SO BEAUTIFUL.

[@bobbyprince2573]

what a time period I was I was old enough to live thru. I was only 5 years old in 1969...

[@sallybutton6237]

Hey, I was six & I use to hang around with my older brother in his room listening to all these bands on vinyl, great days that I’d happily go back & live once again, nothing comes close to the 60’s & 70’s imo..🙋🏻‍♀️🇬🇧

[@pauldinatale4338]

the movie"taking woodstock" tells it all in a way i remember it to be.

[@feliciamarte3031]

Amen, I was born that year two month after that happened God bless all Hope, faith Love❤️🦋❤️

[@rechard-jb9cr]

If I had 3 days of my life to live over, that would be it, Woodstock 1969. In 2009 Sam Yasgur wrote "Max B. Yasgur The Woodstock Festival's Famous Father" (his father), a conservative Republican who was open minded enough to be connected with youth and their way of doing things. I met Sam at a book signing and we talked about the festival and motorcycles (see p. 216 in the book). Anyway I learned things I did not know, like how the event almost didn't happen because of bomb threats. Interesting book, especially if you were there.

[@patriciaguenzler9150]

Peace ✌️ thank you for sharing this with us 👍

[@AniMerci]

Superb introspective. I had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Lang in August 2019 at the 50 year celebration of Woodstock at Morrison Hotel Gallery in NY, along with the incomparable phorographer, Henry Diltz. Michael was absolutely charming. I felt as though amongst royalty. This documentary is a treasure.

[@LucyLennon20]

Lucky you to have met Michael Lang. I loved him in the first Woodstock movie ... and the drummer in Santana; I loved him, too.

[@angelwilder2378]

@@LucyLennon20 Me too. Huge crushes! :D

[@LucyLennon20]

@@angelwilder2378 😍👍

[@michaellazzeri2069]

In that summer of '69 in Denver, we had a " Denver Pop Festival" with " 3 Dog Night", & at theend, " iron Butterfly" . There were many acts, but I now only recall those 2. Well, it devolved, as police got stupid, started arresting people, & soon, tear gas & chaos were everywhere. The 6 of us who were there barely got out in time , but I saw cops beating people with those gawd damn nightsticks, & dragging people, guys & gals, to paddy wagons. What went on smoothly, became a riot, when cops got stupid. I was 22 y/o, & a part-time college senior, by that time. --------------------MJL, 76 y/o

[@heavenhelpus479]

I saw 3 Dog Night in '71 and it still remains as one of the best live shows I ever saw.

[@curbozerboomer1773]

Hendrix played with his original "Experience" musicians for the last time there...when the tear gas showed up, Hendrix stated..."Here comes the next "world war"...better choose your sides now!"

[@Smackwater587]

The good ol' days!!! ❤

[@jeffvanschoonhoven5171]

Too bad Max Yasgur's farm has not been made into a historic site. Because IT IS !!!!

[@ZsuzsannaBudapest]

LOVED THE FILMS MADE ABOUT THE EVENT.

[@whaleshrimp111]

What a time it was!

[@buddyvilla7393]

I was only five and living 3,000 miles away in San Diego in August,Of 1969. But I saw the movie a few years later. So many of the Artists are long gone. But Peter Dennis Blanford Townshend Roger Daltrey,Carlos Santana,Grace Slick and many others are still here!!! Peace,Love and Understanding. 55 Years later What the F happened????

[@remi3741]

it was a mind blowing hell of a festival. so many people fantastic. and there was peace everywhere. greatest thing of all i did, i have met my girlfriend there and now 55 years later we are still together and are married for 50 years this year . still thinking of how it all started we play the woodstock album every year on our wedding day. love and peace to all of you. Remi.

[@jimbetche7864]

I was born August 1 1969 14 days before this epic event. I only wish i was born 18 years earlier.

[@wimvanaerde6249]

About the same period as the son of Sharon Tate who was murdered just before he was born

[@mikeday9548]

Born in 74. Looking forward to Woodstock 2!

[@smartluck100]

Woodstock 2 was a disastrous mud hole. I think it happened in the mid 90s.

[@erichetherington9899]

Rock on brothers & sisters so cool! Love is key

[@stevemason5173]

I spent the 3 days of Woodstock in some "Mickey Mouse" jail in some hick town. My friend and I were hitch hiking from Columbus Ohio. We were "suggested to be arrested" by some rolley~polley, Barney Fife wannabe cop for hitch hiking too close to the freeway somewhere in Pennsylvania, and a bogus charge of littering. I had dropped my full pack of ciggaretts by accident, and got a littering charge. My dad had to wire $126.00 to the courts. The littering charge was dropped, but fined $50.00 each and $13.00 court costs each. Here's the thing, I had two tiny hits of red window pane acid in the bottom of my cigg pack. Between the cellophane and the pack it's self. It blended in with the red pack of my Winston ciggs. The blinde~ass Barney Fife wannabe missed it completely when he finally returned our possessions...😂 The ordeal kinda reminded me of Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restraurant where he talks about being arrested. Barney took our wallets so we couldn't spend any money in the cell, our belts so we couldn't hang ourselves, "OUR TOILET PAPER" from our cell so we couldn't slide down and make an escape, and we were fined 50 dollars each...😅🤣

[@JetaimeElizabethmorganHi-qh6vw]

For Beth and I we had fun Woodstock and our lifes,I miss you

[@grannydeen1586]

I was 15 at the time. We had a 4 piece garage band and we wanted to go but our driver backed out last minute. We were only about 80 miles away but couldn't get there. Woodstock 94 I was working construction and had to drive around some tents pitched right next to the road.

[@glenncurley680]

I was 15 as well, to young to make a trip there from Canada When it was released at the theatre I was there, then got the album.

[@margaretpeabody243]

I thought this was going to be more of a photo journalistic documentary, showing the music, the people and the culture. But it's nice to know how Woodstock derived.

[@Stanley-tb9sb]

If you want that get the movie

[@glenndouglas8822]

​​@@Stanley-tb9sb😂😂 brilliant reply Stanley. Just tickled me. You are correct, just buy the film 👍

[@rechard-jb9cr]

The movie is an excellent documentary, gives a feel for what it was really like to be there. @@Stanley-tb9sb

[@doltonmurray1625]

It says Documentary in the title lol

[@margaretpeabody243]

@@doltonmurray1625 they chose to cover the business end of Woodstock versus relaying the event as it happened.

[@user-jf4mb4vh9v]

I was 8 or 9 yrs old when Woodstock took place.My cousin's were in H.S. or College thats how I heard about this mega event. A lot of people dont know that there used to be a Woodstock of the Pacific called the Crater celebration held in Diamond Head Crater on Oahu here in Hawaii.

[@paigemarie5586]

really wish I was there……

[@phillipschloss3984]

God knows we thought we were changing the world. A friend of mine who went to Woodstock said it changed his life and it made a great man of him.

[@emiliopedace3915]

Sognando un mondo di Pace,di Amore e di Uguaglianza.

[@1Rockstok]

The Woodstock legacy is a beautiful one. I understand the next “Woodstock” was against gun violence and we protest that too. But we also see that the government can quickly morph into not being your friend and that the second amendment is there for a good reason.

[@jtbaying2312]

I was only 8yrs old but my Dad screamed about dirty Hippies all weekend. The 94 redo didn't work out so well for the peace&love crowd.70s 80s & 90s rock evolved into the Rock of today. All Music is Good from Anthrax to Canon in D. I love it all.

[@hippydippy]

Very well put together doc. Very much enjoyed it!

[@markhill9275]

Just realised something, Woodstock drew 400,000 people over 3-4 days with a multitude of acts. In Melbourne Australia, around 1966, at that time a city of 2 million, One group drew over 200,000 for one afternoon. The Seekers. Just dwell on those numbers. They had just returned from dominating the world charts, even pushing The Beatles and The Stones off number 1.

[@saranbhatia8809]

This is so amazing... everything from its contents and the commentary all felt awesome and I had myself visited Catskill few years ago with my family all the way from India....sure something I will cherish for the rest of my life and it was a great experience !!!!

[@brucelang1201]

Hi was a nine year old living in South Africa and all I remember was seen the the.poster of that bird sitting on a guitar neck then hearing the hippies talking about something called WOODSTOCK.FUNNY because we have a place called Woodstock near to where we lived so I was pretty confused about the whole lot.

[@Faithwitness]

We had about 50,000 people at the Seattle Pop Festival a month before 🌼🏞️🌞🎶

[@gustavocastro7339]

Gracias...me encanto este Festival...en este año..apesar de que tengo lis discos de la musica me encanta seguir oyendolos..

[@richarddelgado2723]

As someone who plays music myself One of the very first gigs I ever played was on live radio 📻 in front of 10,000 people I wasn’t nervous at all and I knew if I wasn’t nervous then I would never be nervous again 😂…. Still I wonder how I would have done with a crowd of 500,000 people 🤔…..

[@Luiz-pt2bf]

Michael, lang RIP. ...

[@edblackman7896]

I was 12 years old. My mom wouldn't let me go.

[@uppanadam]

So glad you got to document all the stories while some of the artists were still alive!! Probably very few left now from that era!!

[@saoirseblue5353]

❤ rest in peace Richie Havens.🙏

[@curbozerboomer1773]

Havens, BTW, was the guy who suggested to Jimi Hendrix-living in Harlem at the time-to take his act down to Greenwich village, where people were more open to different types of music. Havens would have known about that, being a Black man singing folk-protest songs!

[@mikeengler2645]

I was 22 had a good job met a young girl we got engaged...she had a summer job at a summer resort ...we might not have planned to attend but it changed our relationship in that one of us didn't want to be confined in a serious relationship...we / me missed out a one time lifetime event that I was part of but not a participant...a couple years later I attended the " next big concert " up at Watkins Glen a couple of years later where the Dead and others were playing...I found out I don't like big crowds and mud but I love the energy...in 85 my hometown was where LiveAide was held I partied with friends at home watching it on tv...❤

[@davidmckissak2793]

Still the reason there's so much peace and love today. And there's much more than you realize

[@denisefarmer366]

It would've been good to see some film clips. Still, it was good to hear the business end of it and the reality of the artists feelings, etc. I was 18 that summer, and looking back makes me feel like I was there ❤️

[@andynicoll8566]

They couldn't get the rights to the music obviously! How can you have a documentary on Woodstock with not a single song from the festival.

[@dorothyallison6258]

Exactly what I've tried to ask my son, what are you going to do to change the world?