Surely, the 1969 was a year of numerous historical moments, but for music fans that year holds unique significance of the year of Woodstock. An event like no other, the Woodstock stage was graced by legends like Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Santana, and others who performed in front of over 400,000 fans. Those who got to witness the event will tell you that nothing like this could ever happen again… and if they may also tell you that it was a crazy production and took years to turn a profit.
It’s true, for such a monumental event, it left some investors feeling robbed. With all the lost money put into it and the location not being optimal, they decided to shelve Woodstock. After over two decades, they tried it again for the 25th anniversary in 1994. The lineup was adjusted to fit the times, bringing in alternative, hip hop, and metal to create the perfect blend for what the festival needed at the time. Plus the thought of Metallica leading into Crosby, Stills, & Nash then to Rollins Band makes me wish I was there to watch the polarized reactions of concert goers. The 1994 edition was successful enough that the producers decided to bring it back again, but this time sooner.
Well that is exactly what they did for the 30th anniversary of Woodstock 99’. This one would also be called, “the one that killed Woodstock.”
It’s true, for such a monumental event, it left some investors feeling robbed. With all the lost money put into it and the location not being optimal, they decided to shelve Woodstock. After over two decades, they tried it again for the 25th anniversary in 1994. The lineup was adjusted to fit the times, bringing in alternative, hip hop, and metal to create the perfect blend for what the festival needed at the time. Plus the thought of Metallica leading into Crosby, Stills, & Nash then to Rollins Band makes me wish I was there to watch the polarized reactions of concert goers. The 1994 edition was successful enough that the producers decided to bring it back again, but this time sooner.
Well that is exactly what they did for the 30th anniversary of Woodstock 99’. This one would also be called, “the one that killed Woodstock.”
To tell you every detail that lead to this title would take a while, so here is a list to help!
- Oppressive heat that reached over 100 °F
- Increased prices for food and drinks to alarming degrees
- Restroom facilities were limited and unusable, with a septic line backed up to boot.
- Music artists were frustrated and let the audience know
- Music artists inciting frustrated audience to get even more angry
- Trash littered everywhere
- Bonfires became out of control
- People began to loot
- Low security to stop the looting
- Someone died
Look, at that point I don’t care how many Nu-Metal bands were there, that festival seemed to crazy… even for me. After the festival, the investors shelved Woodstock again, hoping to forget that it even happened. At that time, I remember my friend telling me that “Woodstock is dead forever, my dude” and I believed him. With such bad press and the rise of various other music festivals, I thought Woodstock would just become a name synonymous with being the best and also the worst festival ever. But, just when you think it’s dead, the current rights holders seem to think the time is right to give Woodstock one more try in 2019 for its 50th birthday.
- Oppressive heat that reached over 100 °F
- Increased prices for food and drinks to alarming degrees
- Restroom facilities were limited and unusable, with a septic line backed up to boot.
- Music artists were frustrated and let the audience know
- Music artists inciting frustrated audience to get even more angry
- Trash littered everywhere
- Bonfires became out of control
- People began to loot
- Low security to stop the looting
- Someone died
Look, at that point I don’t care how many Nu-Metal bands were there, that festival seemed to crazy… even for me. After the festival, the investors shelved Woodstock again, hoping to forget that it even happened. At that time, I remember my friend telling me that “Woodstock is dead forever, my dude” and I believed him. With such bad press and the rise of various other music festivals, I thought Woodstock would just become a name synonymous with being the best and also the worst festival ever. But, just when you think it’s dead, the current rights holders seem to think the time is right to give Woodstock one more try in 2019 for its 50th birthday.
Live Nation is partnering with the historic site of the original festival, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, and agency Invnt to revitalize Woodstock in a world of festival madness. The date of the festival is currently being set for August 16th to the 18th. Only time will tell if I get a chance to experience this rebooted event spectacular, but I'm going to get myself in the mood early by sharing what I consider the best thing to come out of Woodstock 99’ for me. I am of course, talking about Korn performing “Freak on a Leash.” Let’s see what Woodstock 2019 has to bring!