Woodstock, Aug. 15-18th, 1969...Were you there?

[John and Janet Ruiz]

Did I get the dates right? It's all like, fuzzy and stuff man.Woodstock - Did you go? Were you "there"? Nearby?Of course, there's a Wiki page on it - "Woodstock Festival" - if you're unfamiliar with it or want to check out some interesting details.Share, please if you did or tried or wanted to but didn't, if you get a sec. Applicable statutes of limitations expired long ago, so don't be shy - hey - go for it.
Share your heart, recollections, best guesses, blessed messes, what happened, what might have happened. etc. etc. Wondering who travelled distances to get there, and what that might have been like, coming and going.
It's a free blog, dig it!

Peace and Love!

[Frank Abissi]

Oops. I already posted in this thread, sorry?

[Frank Abissi]

I was there, 12 years old. I told my parents I was going camping with some friends in Kent Connecticut and instead we went to Woodstock. I drank my first quart of beer there, tossed my cookies for what seemed like an eternity. Saw my first naked couple doing it on a blanket out in a field. Played a lot in the mud, I climbed the tower to the left of the stage once.  We were parked a few miles away and got out rather quickly. When I got home my parents asked me how the trip was. I just said "fine" much like any 12 year old would say. It was one hell of a ride.

[John Richeson]

John, saw your name and remembered this fun blog you started. The method for embedding (linking) You Tube videos on this site has changed from back when this blog was written. It's easier, for one thing. Unfortunately, older embeds on this site are dead links it seems.You have to re-embed (relink) your You Tube videos. It's easy.       

We all have regrets in life. Not running away from home way out in the country in Stanley, KY at age 16 and going to Woodstock is one of mine. "The grass looks greener" sometimes. I'm pretty sure it was greener on that farm with all those hippies. Pease & Love!    

[John Richeson]

That's cool Carol. I wish I could go. Maybe I will some day.

[lois gueli]

I believe the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival helped introduce white audiences to Otis Redding.
Two great music dvd's. "Festival Express" which took place in 1970 and "The Last Waltz" by Martin Scorsese about "The Band".

[John and Janet Ruiz]

Thanks for the comments, happy people! I hope others enjoy reading them too.

'Scuse me, gotta kiss the sky!

[dick michaud]

I was working at Fraser Papers earning money for college. when I went to college one student asked me if I went to Woodstock? I asked him "what's Woodstock". Hey what can I say, I lived a sheltered life in Northern Maine. lol

[Steve Burch]

Did not make it, but saw Santana that same summer at Baltimore Civic. I think Uriah Heep opened. Not sure.

The concert I wish I had made was the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. Many regard it as the festival that began what Woodstock sort of finished.

A couple of good clips: Paul Butterfield. And Janis singing Ball and Chain.

[Frank Abissi]

I was there. I was 12 years old and a whole group of us went. My friend Jimmy Carpenters brother drove. I told my parents I was going camping and climbing for the weekend in New Paltz, NY. I had no idea what i was in for. I got an education in life those 3 days. Saw my first naked couple getting it on, Drank my first quart of Miller Beer, Threw up my first quart of Miller beer. sat on the scaffold. I will never forget it. we parked around 4 miles away near the highway sign for Bethel. I hate to say it but I think I enjoyed it more than my first ROA.

[John Richeson]

I went to a "B" list Woodstock over Labor Day 1972. It was called Erie Canal "Soda" Pop Festival or Bull Island as it came to be known. By some estimates almost 300,000 people came. It was after Woodstock and was promoted like Woodstock. Tickets were $25.Turned out to be a big mess.

The scheduled lineup included Black Sabbath, Joe Cocker, Allman Brothers, John Mayall, Cheech & Chong, Canned Heat, Fleetwood Mac, Ballinjack, Amboy Dukes, Bob Seger, Bang, Ravi Shankar, Albert King, Brownsville Station, Mike Quatro, Gentle Giant, Black Oak Arkansas, The Eagles, The Chambers Brothers, Boones Farm, Slade, Nazareth, and Delbert & Glenn.

However, only a few bands such as Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids, Black Oak Arkansas, Cheech and Chong, Foghat, Albert King, Brownsville Station, Canned Heat, Flash, Ravi Shankar, Rory Gallagher, Lee Michaels and Frosty, The Eagles, The Amboy Dukes, and Gentle Giant actually performed.

No food, little water, drugs everywhere freely for sale. Riots ensued. They even set fire to the stage when the last act played. It was a messy dangerous place and I stayed all three days and slept safely in my car. I had fun but only because it was 45 miles from my home and some of ny buddies were there. Others had traveled cross country and were pissed at the lack of accomodations and music. Bull Island pretty much symbolized the end of the outdoor, "anything goes" festival era.The peace and love was gone. The next festival I would go to was Rock of Ages 1974. That began a whole new journey.

Here are a few links about Bull Island.

http://www.billbloodworth.com/html/bullisland.html


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Canal_Soda_Pop_Festival