Woodstock 1969: What was original festival really like?

What was Woodstock really like? Original festival attendees in the Syracuse area share their stories of peace, love, music, drugs and more at the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair. More than 400,000 attended the three-day concert in Upstate New York to witness legendary performances by Santana, Joe Cocker, Sly & The Family Stone, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, and more.
See interviews with John Villanueva, who was on stage at Woodstock as a percussion tech for Santana, and festival attendees Molly McCoy and Dave Tiedemann to get the real experience on the 50th anniversary of Woodstock. “I’d never been with so many people… and that was very life-changing,” Tiedemann recalls.
See more interviews, plus photos and memorabilia here: www.syracuse.com/entertainmen...
Video by Christa Lemczak | [e-mail], Lauren Long | [e-mail] and Geoff Herbert | [e-mail]

[@RockinRichy]

Fifty summers ago, a half-million young people came together on a dairy farm in Bethel for three days of peace and music. When the sky opened and rain thundered down, when the sun baked the ground -and food, space and toilets were spare-they kept their collective cool. They helped each other right through to Monday morning, when Jimi Hendrix, the final performer, blessed the faithful with his grace and beautiful feedback. Then, many stayed to help clean up the mess. What does it all mean, Mr Natural? It means that despite the trying conditions, some of today’s senior citizens did what should come naturally to all humans: they rose to the occasion. And so, whether or not you were there, dig the fact that we are sisters and brothers, and we can exceed our own expectations...with a little help from our friends. It’s not a hippie dream, Happy 50th anniversary, Woodstock Nation and to you who have come after.

[@Will-Max]

Lots of peace, considering the number of people. Only a few guys fighting over girls.

[@famosisimo]

@Costitutionalist AntiPelosi dumb

[@jamesmatthews5639]

Great yarn... you all grew up and voted Regan in and look where that got you. You were lucky to grow up post WWII and that is your only blessing. Love peace fucking in the streets your generation let the world down; you proclaimed it but you can't own it!

[@jamesmatthews5639]

@Robert Heintze Nothing probably.

[@frankbly838]

@@Will-Max the only thing worth fightin over lol

[@mspeggylee4214]

I hope the young people of today can have a WOODSTOCK - Our country needs another 3 days of music, peace, and love.🎶✌💚

[@alansikes1526]

Not with the people and music of today.

[@JSErwine]

@Tony Guy You're joking right? The boomers have destroyed this country. Locked their kids behind doors as both parents went off to work. Raided the social security fund in the 90's. Bailed themselves out multiple times. The boomer generation has been a complete fucking joke that has bankrupted many future generations.

[@JSErwine]

@Johny2bikes It's really sad, the Boomers parents aren't called "the greatest generation" for nothing. They came home from WW2, rebuilt our infrastructure, built brand new schools and then their children went on to ignore that infrastructure to the point of decay and they still won't reinvest in the things that their parents gave them. Really they need to step aside but they won't. They're going to drag this country right along with them into their graves.

[@aloysiusyanas]

Tony Guy facebook.com/events/441205773044098/?ti=icl This is like Woodstock except it’s not as big

[@JSErwine]

@Robert Heintze Congratulations Robert, I didn't vote for Trump. You win the bigoted moron of the year award. Congrats!

[@zizimycat]

I get all choked-up & wet eyed when I think of the empathy people had then...big hearts...aspiring to love & peace.

[@michaelgaynor6866]

zizimycat ,Yep!

[@jamesmatthews5639]

they lost their empathy and never acted on their beliefs...

[@allenjames4808]

Robert Heintze Ironic how those against Trump come off as the most hateful, while they claim those not sharing their views are for Trump (without even saying they were?). Back then, they liked to dream of “peace and love”, while today some are dreaming of “hate and division” while (trying to) wear sheep’s clothing.

[@dosanchoas]

@Robert Heintze Woodstock memories bring THIS to mind???

[@MrSpankee02]

Trump is a garbage person, a traitor to democracy.

[@dolphin19521]

Best days of my life. No fights etc. just love and peace

[@davesieglinger5091]

Me and two friends heard all about what was going on on Friday afternoon. We said screw it, let's go. We left Long Island that afternoon and somehow found a back way up to get pretty close to the festival. One buddie had recently returned from heavy action in Vietnam. We all got stoned out of our minds. When the helicopters started flying in he was really flashing back to Nam. When we realized they were just flying in the help out with medical issues, everything go all good again. The other guy was our driver and it was his car. He got into some of the heavy acid and he lost it and ended up in the wacko tent. That was the last we saw of him. We ended up having to hitch hike home. It was truly an amazing 3 days. Something that will stay with me my whole life. I don't look like I did 50 years ago, but I still have the heart of a true Hippie and I always will. The world could certainly use a whole lot of Peace and Love right now, eh?

[@undergroundjohnny]

Great story man - God bless. I was 4 at the time.

[@A_Pa-Plainjane]

sounds a little similar to my story, wonder how many of us are still around...I guess it does not matter, lots of people got the message, let's hope they all vote in 2020.

[@christinacope562]

Great story Dave. We could definitely use more of that peace☮love❤music🎸🥁🎶 in all of our lives. I have always been fascinated with the Summer of Love'68 and Woodstock. So glad you're still the same in spirit🙂

[@bluenote2412]

@@A_Pa-Plainjane for Trump

[@curly73ful]

@@bluenote2412 That's what's wrong with people today. These guys are talking about peace & love and you're talking about racist divisive trump Trump for prison 2020 f**k trump

[@carolynvance3639]

I was there and we all loved each other no anger and we all shared and got along.It was great in that day!!

[@joycesky2583]

My heart is breaking...here we are 50 years later and I wish I could go back there to Woodstock but here I am at 64 years old and would love to be with the music and all my hippies!

[@AnnaD25]

Hugs! Peace and Love💕🗽

[@javierloya4086]

We’re still around, maybe a little slower at 70, but we’re still grooving to the “old rock n roll”.

[@khamsinshamal7988]

Happy 50th anniversary, Woodstock and all you who were there. ☮️💕🎸

[@_peg_moore]

I wish they interviewed me! I was! With my family. I was 11. My cousins moved to Bethel from The Bronx after WWII. Their property is adjacent to Max Yasgur’s. They called us and said “There’s going to be a Concert, come up!! Like thousands we abandoned the VW Van on the side of the road and never saw our Cousins. I’m blessed with a very good memory and have great ones. Even the trip there and back was memorable!

[@A_Pa-Plainjane]

" I'm still a hippie" good for you, brother man. I'm with you...it was a good dream to have, that humans could live in peace and cooperate together to build a better world. we could use a little more of that now...........

[@angeldemore6922]

@EpiDemic117 you mean instinct, But yes result of that.

[@hannabaal150]

@EpiDemic117 I choose peace, Mr. Smith.

[@markw4318]

Like wow, Chinese kids are using calculus in 3rd grade, but are kids have high self esteem and hate george washington, man.

[@A_Pa-Plainjane]

now it all makes sense, russian sockpuppets poisoning the well, forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do.

[@Hubcapdiamondstarhalo]

People were definitely not living in peace. That's what the concert was based around. 3 days of peace. A great hope that we could live in peace. Charles Whitman mass shooting at t xas University, Malcom x, medgar evers, the Kennedy's, Manson murders shall I go on? I can. But yes peace! Lol

[@jamespeters5043]

This makes me feel fuzzy and nostalgic about something that happened 12 years before I was born, over 3,000 miles away in England! What a time to be alive and an event to have experienced for those that are able to say that they were there :)

[@Goatchild90]

I probably will never experience something as definitive and transcendent as Woodstock '69

[@A_Pa-Plainjane]

you never know, but if you do not bring it, it won't be there.

[@JSErwine]

Woodstock was an over rated mud bath. Most of these people "transcended" to the 80's where they traded in their families best interests, raided the nations social security fund and ignored the countries infrastructure.

[@Goatchild90]

@@JSErwine None of that has to do with what I'm talking about

[@JSErwine]

@@Goatchild90 Sorry Josh, but there was nothing "definitive" or "transcendent" about Woodstock. It was a bunch of frauds high on LSD who turned their backs on the fraudulent message they were speaking. Basically they were rich liberals that didn't get sent off to war and ended living the life of rich suburbanites.

[@Goatchild90]

@@JSErwine None of those things are true

[@gr33n3ggs4]

Why can't every generation be THIS AWESOME!!

[@ajadrew]

I was 11 in '69 & the first 2 LP's I bought were Sly & the Family Stone & James Brown...soon followed by Santana et all... & I was in England, a million miles away fro Woodstock but the world was great then! (ok, selective memorys but you know what I mean..;-)))

[@mr.d.4175]

Same age but made it to Sedalia, MO festival. July 19-21, 1974. 3 days of rock, drugs, naked people and lots of sun.

[@ajadrew]

@@mr.d.4175 lol! We used to have loads of unofficial mini 'festivals' where I live in England...I've countless stories of the same stuff. The 1 festival i missed even though I had a ticket was Glastonbury when Zeppelin played, Grrrr!!

[@Stevie-hn7mp]

This had to be something. I wasn’t born yet but I am simply In awe of Woodstock and all those people. Amazing indeed 🎶🎶❤️❤️🖤🖤

[@interstategar]

I was there, age 17. Friday night sat way in the back. Saturday walked along the right edge where people thinned out, then all the way to the front, then over to the left right at the stage wooded barrier. Santana was introduced and the sound and being that close to the energy of the band sent chills up the back of my neck. I saw myself peeking over the fence when they played Soul Sacrifice at 5:17. Had no idea it would be such a historical event.

[@IrishKack]

Thanks for sharing your experience. We celebrated you this past weekend with a Family Woodstock Vinyl Party. Spent the evening listening to the music of that weekend and drinking beer/wine. Happy Anniversary hippies. Don’t ever forget to let your freak flag fly! ✌️

[@denboe2894]

Oh...Oh....Kathy read me please.

[@mrscatherineAT]

from the time when i was young. time never forgotten, never to be relived, always remembered. till we to are the past, hoping to be remembered by the future.

[@curly73ful]

50 years later, we've gone back in time socially

[@BustaShenanigans]

I don't know about that. I think that if today we sent out tons of troops to another nations war we would have tons of people shouting about peace.

[@elsiequirk2804]

You are correct. We have learnt nothing and we are going backwards. The black people don't realize that most of our white people see them as equals in every way. They need to drop the chip off their shoulders. Muslims need to agree that we all worship the same God. I truly hope that there will be peace in the world for my children and grandchildren. If we had that, Heaven, whatever language you speak.

[@BaseballPlayer0]

Because of cancel culture

[@MattDentino]

Preach it Carlos, "I hung on to God to get me through SOUL SACRIFICE" and the world became a better place when he did.

[@johnconnors1112]

I was too young to go to Woodstock by a year or two. But in 1970 when I was 15 going to my first concerts all the Woodstock bands were touring only they had two years of gigs under the belts. I saw Sly and the Family Stone Santana The Who did Tommy. Etc. In 1970 I was 15 doing Orange Sunshine..Two years after Woodstock in upstate NY I was tripping in Western Massachusetts. Which is Right Over the County Line. The Air Felt Different Then. Peace and Love to All The Gentle People

[@michaelgaynor6866]

John Connors,Orange Sunshine!💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥✌

[@neub4321]

I agree that Santana and Sly Stone had some of the best performances there.

[@michaelgaynor6866]

neaub4321,Jimi Hendrix played for over two hour's! Santana and Sly Stone yes,but Hendrix ruled!

[@aknightwhosaysni2475]

The Who 👊

[@neub4321]

@@aknightwhosaysni2475 Pete Townsend didn't like the event, and I think he assaulted Abby Hoffman there.

[@aknightwhosaysni2475]

@@neub4321 He should've known better than to interfere while the who were playing. Yes Pete hated Woodstock...didnt mar their performance though. He said if these people want to stay high and slip around in mud the rest of their lives..then go for it, but I don't want any part of it.

[@frankbly838]

alvin lee.hendrix and crosby,s,n were also great

[@paulazemeckis7835]

Woodstock in 1969 was phenomenal. No mass shootings.

[@gostrum1]

Fortunately not on that occasion. if you want to look back at the 60’s through rose coloured glasses You can edit out the horrific asassanations of the Kennedys & Martin Luther King amongst other shootings.

[@tonyshoe3131]

178 od's

[@Hubcapdiamondstarhalo]

Really? Wanna talk about the clock tower shooting in Texas?? No it wasn't 69 but the 60s were messed up too.

[@Hubcapdiamondstarhalo]

Charles Whitman was picking people off like he was playing ghost recon lol. Mass shootings have been around for a long long time.

[@AceTheMenace.]

@@Hubcapdiamondstarhalo he said WOODSTOCK had no mass shootings bruh

[@dabigisland1]

Peace and Love it was joy stayed awake for 4 days and drove back to Hamden CT before crashing. People PRACTICE peace and love in 2019 don’t hate others and then claim they are the haters. Peace

[@A_Pa-Plainjane]

I remember walking in the rain and thinking, "we all need to help each other", because many folks helped me. God bless- what people manifest is what they get

[@dabigisland1]

A Pa I remember helping a local. He partied too much and was walking down the middle of the road. I flagged down a policeman and he put him in the squad car and said he would take him home. Police are almost always nice and I am thankful for them they get a bad rap.

[@dabigisland1]

A Pa You are right we all need to help each other. And many have helped me also.

[@guynellerandle9742]

What a special moment in time!☮️💟🎤 It will never be reproduced. Never.

[@jamesmatthews5639]

Really? How do you value today? Life is magic and you waste it remembering the false days of yore. Get a grip... now is change now is now... you can't hold on to a past that popular culture told you was great it's a Coke commercial folklore.That generation grew up voting Regan! Ugh! Grow up!

[@allandavies1642]

I truly appreciate this. Thank you for sharing !!

[@Lolah123]

I am not into music festivals but this is one I would have attended. The line up was phenomenal.

[@jojo1234a]

This gives me happy chills

[@michaelgaynor6866]

Happy 50th Anniversary of Woodstock!♥️✌August 15th 2019 No one there slaughtering PEOPLE with a gun!

[@Jay-vr9ir]

It is sad to say there is more money in violence , than in peace.

[@AntonioMartinez-jx3yq]

Those were the good ald days. "PEACE AND LOVE".🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🎸🎸🎸🎷🎷🎷🎺🎺🎺

[@jonathannieto3111]

!Woodstock '69¡ Oh My. Great in my life¡ Thanx for the uploading and sharing g¡ Saludos, desde la bella bahia de Tampa, Florida.

[@albertoarellanofernandez4399]

I am a 64 years old chavo ruco and I loved Woodstock firs and Avandaro later.

[@steelysam7189]

I would give anything to be part of this event and watch jimi hendrix play at woodstock

[@wesleyalan9179]

Samuel..same here man ✌

[@wesleyalan9179]

@walk hard ...you sound like a bland and boring person✌

[@pricelesskaye8456]

I could just eat the stuff up, so fascinating! One of the most surprising aspects was just how many kinds of ppl were there. There’s not a ton of pics but contrary to what has been told there were ALOT of black people there! The new documentary that’s shows the directors cut really dives into the audience and the areas around and I couldn’t believe it! There’s definitely something to learn from what the youth were able to do back then. Great video 🙌🏾👍🏾😎🤗

[@angeldemore6922]

wood stock content is worse than modern day burning man festival content. garbadge. Assholes who started " bad acid" misinformation is just irritating. Dirty unintelligent druggies are the worst.

[@nunyabiznez6381]

Yes there were a lot of black people there, about maybe 10% if I recall though they were concentrated a lot in groups so in some parts it might have seemed like more. There were a lot more little kids than the documentaries show. I was nine and spent the entire weekend naked. I was NOT the only one. I remember there being hundreds of little kids though it was mostly teenagers and people in their early 20's.

[@hollygolightly7475]

Good music for all people✌️

[@joehannan6966]

I was there, Cape Cod here 71 still rocking|

[@hawkinthewind]

EIGHT minutes? C'mon man... happy 50, and Love is still the answer.

[@cwb0051]

Woodstock was so cool, I was 18, didnt go but I Always thought it Awesome!.. I couldnt go 3 days with no bath...lol..

[@denboe2894]

Please read mine CWB.

[@jackjohnson7396]

50 years, remember it well. 👍

[@badtriad9684]

Nice presentation! thx! Wknd changed MY life -seeing is POSSIBLE for everyone to get along!

[@ThoseBackPages]

really enjoyed this! Thank You

[@krusty6246]

Great stories

[@dph22013]

Great testimony’s guys!!! Thanks for sharing. John V. I believe I see you standing behind Michael Shrieve after the epic drum solo in Soul Sacrifice. Agree on Sly sir. Pete Townsend was grateful they went on before them because they got the crowd into it. Prior to that, John Fogerty was saying how many in front of him were asleep.

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Thank you for sharing ❤️

[@tomservo5007]

imagine a 3 day hip-hop festival with 400,000 people and no fatalities

[@JohnP.Conley-gt5ce]

@Robert Heintze SHUT UP. OFF POINT. HIP-HOPPERS WOULD SLAUGHTER EACH OTHER BEYOND BRUTAL IMAGINATION.

[@allenjames4808]

True, despite some unfortunate instances in Woodstock, hip-hop venues generally carry a different vibe and attitude...and it ain’t “love”.

[@Hubcapdiamondstarhalo]

@@allenjames4808 haha yes!

[@0Imtheslime0]

@Robert Heintze 2 childbirths makes up for that..

[@mikaelzerai440]

Its the times man. Not the music. Any festival around the world ends up with fights and rape. Maybe not all but still. I think many festivals in the 60's where eay more chill. Since the eighties you cant expect with any crowd let alone 400000 people

[@JeanetteFaith]

My generation had Woodstock and we stopped a bad war and we took down a bad president.....

[@stevenikazy2943]

Yes we did! We were inspired to investigate and enlighten, while reaching for the stars.

[@stephens9462]

You took down LBJ and replaced him with Nixon.

[@mikesimonian484]

And went to the moon.

[@donjindra]

You flatter yourself. That's not what happened.

[@michaelbaker3598]

you did what???😂😂😂 the bad dope still lingers. Wow hallucinating the must be fun

[@Creek54]

It was one of the rare times that there was no rules. The music was good but the freedom was glorious. It was like an island in the stormy ocean of life. They knew it wouldn't last but for a brief time it was magical. I wish I could have gone but I was too young. I was 14 in August of 1969.

[@AnnaD25]

Yes, I couldn't go either, but I remember going to the drive in theater when the movie came out...We could only imagine being there!!!🗽💕

[@redryder57]

I was there and in the original movie it was one of the most memorable times of my life especially that my big smile was on the big screen

[@jadednicci]

I wish I were my age now (17) during the Woodstock days

[@davekriz7019]

Went to see a place of history a few years ago. Did not go, I was eleven years old and living in St. Louis. But walking on the site and museum brought me goosebumps.

[@seatstitcher3636]

Three historical events happened within mere weeks of each other in summer 1969. Moon landing, Manson family murders, and Woodstock.

[@maureendevries1904]

Let's not forget Altamont, California. The hippie bubble burst on December 1969.

[@markmager6000]

Make that four. Chappaquiddick.

[@mandoist]

Also -- I lost my virginity that weekend! And it was of historical proportions!!

[@stillnotwoke]

@@mandoist Me too...but I was raped by the Hells Angels at Altamonte.

[@danielcox-gonzalez7430]

I love this especially since I lived in Syracuse for 9 years and worked at the paper!

[@5171967cafk]

Wow! Kept notes and all!!

[@jrsmith1998]

Mannnn I bet this was awesome!!!! Especially the pond 😂

[@mstarsg1]

I wonder what everyone thought about their experiences before it became iconic. Ive met Woodstock attendees and without reservations they all say it was great, but dont remember how long they stayed, or things that were not in the movie. Lack of food, toilets, fresh water, a rain storm, drug overdoses, injuries and walking 10’s of miles may not have seemed all so wonderful at the time to many of the folks there, until the legend started to surface awhile later

[@scottwallace901]

Wise words. Very true. After all this time people just remember to good stuff. The Woodstock festival is a legend because of the 2 movies. The Woodstock film and that Jimi Hendrix film. They try not to Remember how hungry and tired they must have been. Having to go home to get back to their jobs when Jimi was playing. Some people just want to remember iconic moments from the past as wonderful no matter what the reality was.

[@mstarsg1]

Scott Wallace by the end there were about 30,000 people left to see Hendrix-which means somewhere between 350, 000 to 500,000 people left early... Im sure it was memorable to see that many people in one place but I question that many people would have left if it was really the greatest thing that had ever happened on earth which it is made out to be... it was an event, but I wonder what it was like before the myth makers got a hold of it

[@dabigisland1]

Bill Dodds It was great walked 50 miles first day I got there Didn’t sleep for 4 days but didn’t mind that because everyone was friendly and the music was great.

[@denboe2894]

@@dabigisland1 Please read me.

[@benferrer1730]

These guy's are so LUCKY,,, absolutely LUCKY..

[@darrylbrown634]

Wow,great time,at 19,my second rock fesrtival that year. Great vibes there % then.ROCK ON!!!!

[@MarcS4R]

God bless these people , i wish i would have been there. maybe in the next life

[@markwilliams5606]

Yeah children! Enough said 🤠💕🌧️

[@pohakumana4288]

We had Sly in small venues like Frost Amphitheater at Stanford. He was so smaked back he knocked over his keyboard into the crowd.

[@undergroundjohnny]

Ok , for the record , The Grateful Dead performed an amazing "Dark Star" at Woodstock. Please check it out everyone. :) Happy 50 years!!

[@robertbrown9912]

I was right down near the front when Grateful Dead played and unfortunately their set wasn't great, compounded by the fact the power went out. I suspect that's why they didn't show up in the movie. Too bad. They did have the best intro though. They were introduced as "the best effing rock group in the world" by one of the emcees.

[@mandoist]

Every time I see comments on various forums attached to Woodstock topics, two things are abundantly clear: 1. People who were not there have no business attempting to describe what they think it must have been like (negative or positive). 2. Apparently almost one billion people "were there".

[@Hubcapdiamondstarhalo]

Lol 1 billion? Where are those comments at? They're 999,650,000 off on that one. The national guard would of for sure shut it down peaceful or not lol. I've spotted many fakers and story tellers in my day but that takes the Cake LMAO!!!

[@Hubcapdiamondstarhalo]

That's like 30% of the entire world's population lol I'd love to see who wrote that. And you can kind of tell whose story is full of crap from the real ones. It's always funny to see a comment claiming they were somewhere like Woodstock and you look at they're channel and it's a 10 yr old kid. One commented they met Kurt Cobain and I looked into them and they turned out to be 13. Oh and did I tell you I was George Washingtons body guard? 😋

[@Martin-gz4qn]

I assume they didn't see Hendrix play Monday morning. Most of the crowd was gone by then. Only about 40,000 people remained to see him.

[@marksantucci4230]

Very cool!

[@accountclosed8569]

Peace love and harmony

[@onlythewise1]

this was a happening and I missed it , people coming together, without commercial invasion

[@lynb2039]

actually, people invaded the commercial, and the commercial was forced to accommodate

[@kodidrumz2436]

we changed the world those 3 days......yup

[@Willdous]

Love you from France :))

[@aboutdafunk]

Nice recollections.

[@MrMisterChiliPepper88]

Woooooow 1:34 she walked 11 miles

[@195511SM]

I turned 14 about a week before Woodstock, but don't think I became aware of it, until I saw something on the evening news. Living out on the west coast.....there wouldn't have been much I could have done to get there anyway. I was still a couple of years from my 'rebellious' stage ( running away from home & hitchhiking all over the place, etc. ). Would like to have been there though.

[@DannyStarr1976]

that's really cool... watching the documentary I was wondering where the people who were up front are today and one of them is in this video!

[@michaelgaynor6866]

Danny Starr,as well as the couple on Album cover,wrapped in blanket.✌♥️

[@hildagarcia6278]

15 years old was there we walked all away from monticello , what a historical time .

[@vanman2359]

I was just 10 years old then, but I remember it being on the 6 o'clock news

[@kenrapp3145]

The name of the pond that the people were all swimming naked at was Filippini pond. And my grandfather was William Filippini. I was 13, and was with my family at my grandparents house for Woodstock. I’m 63 now, and will never forget the amount of people everywhere. We were handing out water to people, selling milky ways and junior Mints. Lol. His property was down the hill from Yasguars farm, the site of the concert. I remember falling asleep with the windows open, hearing the music from the concert. My grandfather is in the original Woodstock movie. It’s an experience that stands out in my mind, something I will never forget...

[@timmarks5691]

It was a incredible experience.....

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

I have always had some strange connection with this event even though I wasn't born yet when it happened. Little somewhat related story....when I was in middle school I was sort of a nerd,well not sort of ,I WAS a nerd and did not have any friends.honestly think maybe I was a little bit on the spectrum but back then noone really thought about that unless you were just blatantly strange and non functional, in 1989 I was just a weird kid that didn't understand why I was such an outcast, anyway one weekend towards the end of the summer right before I started into highschool which was something I dreaded like you couldn't believe, my parents basically forced me to go up to a cabin that belonged to a friend of theres, a place they all used to hang out during the late 60's and thru the 1970's the place was like a time capsule, there were pictures in albums and laying around in drawers from that era taken at the cabin and everything still looked exactly the same (this was around 1989 or 90?)well long story short the place was also full of old records and they were all the greatest bands from the 60's and 70's and some dating back way further. my parents basically ditched me and I spent the whole day listening to records and it was like some weird transformation happened to me, I came awake to that music and it redefined me, I just loved it and the way it made me feel. it got cold that night and I went through a closet looking for a jacket, found this old ruined suede leather jacket with purple silk interior , pointed tipped collars,deep purple stitching deep purple buttons and way too big for me it looked like it had been tossed in a mud puddle for a few days then hung up for 20 years. it was the only thing in the closet aside from some old mothy blankets so I put it on and continued listening to music. parents came in late after visiting friends up there and right away my mom said "oh that was our friend Rons jacket, he wore that to Woodstock and had hung it up in that closet when he returned from that trip. it was plastered in mud and ruined and I even found pot seeds in an inner pocket. I ended up keeping the jacket, we planned to track Ron down and give it back to him, I still have it to this day . I wore it as my own jacket for the next few years starting into highschool, it was like some kind of "power" jacket for me haha I even wore it when it was way too hot (yeah yeah I already tol you I was a weird kid) I started into highschool shortly after that trip and from day one was not a nerd to anyone and had ridiculous amounts of friends,people liked who I was and it was just such a good time. I couldn't figure it out until as an adult looking back that I had changed, I didnt care what anytone thought of me, I was more into my music and just sorta doing my thing,I let my hair grow, became a musician, wrote my own songs and just had become redefined and free of any care for what someone else thought of me.I think that is what that music represents, freedom and self exploration. it was my little coming of age and discovery of a passion. always wished I could have gone to Woodstock event though Ive been to many festivals and concerts, it just would have been awesome. still have the jacket to this day but keep it as a relic ,its a little too tattered to wear anymore and unfortunately I am not weird enough to wear such a thing anymore either haha. if I ever have the money I want to have one made exactly like it though!I had it priced out once and it would be very expensive to replicate, I wonder what I would be like if I had not discovered that music that weekend? really just interesting to no end to me how music can change you.

[@platadeluna]

Very nice memories. I was born 6 weeks before. Today 50 years after, I think still nobody can imagine to what extent this event is influencing the planet. I saw in a documental that the organizer gave out some kind of acquarian motto. Maybe after world war 2 this event has been the first massive manifestation of today's era.

[@doninmichigan]

Yes, listen to 'The Age of Aquarius' by the 5th Dimension right around that time. That was the era that was to be, but sadly never manifested, but gave great hope of what could be. 👍

[@areshotrod6395]

I wish life was like this today, kinda makes me sad we have went backwards

[@mistypines1]

happy 5oth everyone

[@nguyenkhoacap1992]

Can someone tell me the song started at 0:32 ? It stucked in my mind for two weeks already. I cant find it Thanks

[@gregdolecki8530]

They need to put Bert Sommer on the memorial plaque.

[@chriscooper3117]

Greg Dolecki That's right man. But you just proved that he's not forgotten.

[@stevenikazy2943]

Yes, absolutely.

[@rosannesavine6443]

Yes they do ,,,,

[@colinmccarthy7921]

We should definitely have another WOODSTOCK in the near future.In the decade of the 60’s,we had the war. There were many Issues in America at that time.The Young People wanted Change and they wanted to Express themselves.You had the Summer of Love (1967),Monterey and other Festivals.There was Peace and Love. Then there was WOODSTOCK,(the Icing on the Cake).This changed everything.There was Peace,Love, Music,Drugs and UTOPIA. This is the TIME the Music did not Die. The Musicians/Groups at Woodstock, there MUSIC lives on forever more. You had Joe Cocker,Jimi Hendrix,Janis Joplin,Jefferson Airplane and many more. This was a Historical Event and Moment in the DAY THE MUSIC DID NOT DIE. We must have another WOODSTOCK. (WE MUST).Love & Peace to you All. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️.

[@juancastillaalejandro5476]

Qué festivales tan increíbles!!!!!!!!

[@blackpoolrox6475]

Wow!!

[@Shawnne01]

Wish I could have been there. I was pregnant and had no money, lived at home in Minnesota. Longed to be there.

[@jayes12]

Monday morning was the extension of day 3. Hours before Hendricks played the National Anthem, Hurricane Camille made landfall along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Just thought I would share that with everybody. It's not a well known fact. God bless the resilience of the concert goers and the victims of the 200 mph Hurricane Camille.

[@jamestownsend3673]

I remember hurricane Camille, I was a kid and we lived in S.E.Louisiana at the time. There was wind gauge at the weather station there that broke at 210 mph.

[@msr1116]

Years ago I watched a PBS special on hurricanes. Somebody along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi decided to have a hurricane party. 25 people attended. One survived.

[@jamestownsend3673]

@@msr1116 it was at a motel they thought could take it, but after the storm passed it was found to leveled to the ground.

[@msr1116]

James.....Yes, you're right...it was a motel but it's been so long that I can't remember if it was the tremendous wind or the storm surge that destroyed the structure. Can you imagine their terror? Did you evacuate with your family or ride out the storm?

[@jamestownsend3673]

@@msr1116 we evacuated, but it was a combination of wind and storm surge.But to mention the fear,can you imagine realizing it's too late to get out and hearing 200mph winds outside your shelter and CAN'T leave. I rode out hurricane Katrina at my home just south of Hattiesburg,Ms.and we clocked 150mph winds.

[@youngkeys]

Netflix has Woodstock on there

[@josephhirsch171]

🎸💖🌸🎸😊🌷🎸

[@pjoconnor718]

Oh yeah it was a party.Santana Sly CCR and God bless Richie Havens Janis and all the rest.I also found myself the Life magazine issue and then found it in AARP magazine.Hey it’s been a long strange trip ☮️

[@salonirana9537]

Wish it was still on the run...

[@wesleyalan9179]

Absolutely astonishing...I wish I were alive back then to of witnessed it!✌✌

[@christopherharrington778]

Good old days

[@rchydrozz751]

If everybody that said they were there, was actually there. The earth would of tilted over from the weight.

[@RedVynil]

Any way I can get a copy of David's notes?

[@MrNextdoorscat]

pleased to see sly and the family stone being voted the best act ( funky soul band at a hippie festival?) they were dynamite

[@mandoist]

Part of some of the artists sounding "better" than others was the fact that many of the other acts were just starting out and had not necessarily reached their definitive sounds.

[@Hubcapdiamondstarhalo]

5:06 my thoughts exactly.

[@carolmartin8204]

While the guy talks about getting there (at 2:30), the picture shows people getting out (it didn't rain before Saturday 10 PM). At the beginning, the woman ignores that there were showers with clean cold water.

[@kimberlybahrs5176]

Wow

[@RANDY4410]

I was 14 during that time living in NYC i wanted to go to Wood Stock for at least one of the three days my mother told me no she was not having it lol, a friend of mines hitched a ride and went to the concert, he was 5 years older then me.

[@musaadbakr4450]

As you see very old cars but strong and large

[@BROOKS39]

Where did you go if you wanted to drop a No2?