#god bless max yasgur

[lonesomedreamer]

I came upon a child of God He was walking along the road And I asked him, “Where are you going?” And this he told me: “I’m going on down to Yasgur’s farm; I’m gonna join in a rock ‘n’ roll band...” Joni Mitchell, “Woodstock”

“It’s incredible! I heard the New York Freeway’s closed. [...] Isn’t that far out?” Arlo Guthrie

Though the New York State Thruway wasn’t actually closed, the roads surrounding Bethel, New York became gridlocked for almost 20 miles in mid-August 1969 as people arrived for the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair. The festival, which began on Friday, August 15, drew an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 attendees—vastly more than the crowd of 50,000 that the organizers had anticipated. Many of them simply left their vehicles on the clogged rural roads and walked the rest of the way.

[peremadeleine]

Woodstock ☮ ♥ ♫ August 15-18, 1969

“What you have here is this culture and this generation away from the old culture and the older generations, you know, and you see how they function on their own. Without cops. Without guns. Without clubs. Without hassles. Everybody pulls together, and everybody helps each other. And it works! It’s been working since we got here, and it’s going to continue working. And no matter what happens...this thing is happening, and it proves that it can happen! That's what it’s all about, you know?” ❀ Michael Lang, producer

“I think you people have proven something to the world! [...] We have had no idea that there would be this size group. And because of that, you had quite a few inconveniences, as far as water and food and so forth. [...] But, above that, the important thing that you've proven to the world is that...a half a million young people can get together and have three days of fun and music and have nothing but fun and music, and I God bless you for it!” ❀ Max Yasgur, host

The Woodstock Music and Arts Festival took place in August 1969. It was originally conceived in 1968 as "three days of peace and music" in upstate New York. Even before the organizers could secure a location, interest in the festival grew rapidly. Plans for an audience of 50,000 had to be amended to accommodate 200,000. Almost no residents of the area, however, were willing offer up the land needed to entertain hundreds of thousands of young “hippies”. Then, just a month prior to the festival, dairy farmer Max Yasgur volunteered to rent out part of six-hundred acre Bethel, New York farm to the organizers. Facing a serious time crunch, they struggled to complete all the necessary construction in time. 

Festival-goers began to arrive as early as Tuesday and Wednesday while these last-minute arrangements were made. The fencing had yet to be completed, allowing them easy, and free, access to the festival grounds. With no way to either check many thousands of people for tickets or finish erecting fences and gates, the four young organizers embraced “financial disaster”: they announced that Woodstock would now be a free event. People continued to pour in by the thousands, ultimately far exceeding the numbers for which the organizers had planned. Conservative estimates put the number of people who flocked to Bethel that August at 400,000. Others place it much higher, with some speculating that just short of a million people were in attendance.

A variety of folk, blues, and rock-and-roll acts had already been booked, including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Santana, The Who, Sly and the Family Stone; Crosby, Stills, and Nash; and perhaps most famously, Jimi Hendrix. Such iconic performances carved out Woodstock's place in music history. Its place in cultural history is due in large part to the attendees, the “hippies” whose presence locals had once so dreaded. They endured many inconveniences: heavy rain and subsequent mud, long lines for water and bathrooms, food shortages, and a lack of adequate medical facilities. In spite of this, hundreds of thousands of them lived together for three days without no reports of crime or of violence. 

The 1960s in America were a time of great social and political upheaval and uncertainty. Yet Woodstock had lived up to its promise: at the close of the decade, half a million people enjoyed three days in August full of peace and music.

[howrv]

Woodstock, 50 Years Later

Living in our HOW (Home on Wheels) for the past three years has been our ticket to amazing experiences. From rodeos to The Rose Parade, art museums to boat races, slot canyons to The Grand Canyon, we have done amazing things.  

A year into our journey we planned to attend Woodstock 50, wherever it was to be.  We reserved a spot for HOW at both Watkins Glen and the original location at Bethel Woods, knowing that eventually one would become the clear choice.  As the event approached, everything went wrong for the Watkins Glen event.  Michael Lang, who owned the Woodstock name, experienced withdrawals from promoters and artists, and never got ticket sales off the ground. Somehow, booking Jay Z, Chance the Rapper, Miley Cirus and hip-hop acts did not match our expectations of what a celebration of Woodstock should be.  Rolling Stone quoted David Crosby’s take on Lang, “it had nothing to do with anyone feeling good about each other.  It had to do with certain people making huge amounts of money.”

So, on the weekend marking the 50th anniversary of the greatest love-in music festival in history, we arrived at what seemed to be hallowed ground. The spot that was once Max Yasgur’s alfalfa field is now a beautiful venue for the arts and music, set in the pristine rolling meadows called Bethel Woods. Much has changed but the vibe was still there as an anticipated crowd of 100,000 passed through the gates in this four-day celebration, (far less than the 500,000 of ‘69.)  Arriving early, we tail-gated for a while, had some wine and cheese and talked to folks who were adorned with tie-dye, beaded headbands, bell bottoms and peace-sign jewelry. Some arrived in their original restored VW buses. We met old hippies who were there a half century ago, as well as first timers.  We were surprised how many young people there were. A blended mix of peace and love seekers of all ages. (pictures below)

The first night we rented lawn chairs and sat on the hillside right behind the covered amphitheater on immaculately manicured grass.  As the sun was sinking over the fields behind us, the stage lights illuminated Earth, Wind, and Fire as they took to the the stage playing: “You Made Me So Very Happy, Spinnin Wheel , And When I Die, and God Bless The Child. The band spanned all genres of pop, rock, featuring a new kid from American Idol, Bo Bice as frontman.  

Next to perform was the biggest surprise of the night. Edgar Winter Band rocked the planet (or at least Bethel Woods) playing Tobacco Road, Frankenstein, Free Ride, Rock-and-Roll Hoochie Koo, and Dying to Live. Winter is a multi-instrumentalist but is acclaimed as the first person ever to put a neck strap on a keyboard and dance the stage with a Moog Synthesizer.  The most remarkable performance was his vocal ability.  He mimicked complex riffs and was answered by the lead guitar, bass player, keyboards and drums to the amazement of everyone in attendance.

The stage fog increased, pounding bass notes vibrated and pulsed with intensity. Strobing, motion ellipsiodals, pars and dichroics traced through the sweet smelling, pot laced air, ushering in the headliner… Ringo Star and his All Star Band.  

An extremely fit and young-looking Ringo Star danced to downstage center and the crowd responded in thunderous unison.  Gobos painted peace symbols on the upstage scrims and familiar tunes echoed through the hills.  The setlist was epic: It Don’t Come Easy, Boys, Hold The Line , Act Naturally, Matchbox, Down Under, The Weight, Anthem, You’re Sixteen You’re Beautiful and You’re Mine , Pick Up The Pieces, Work to Do, The No No Song, Photograph,  and I Wanna Be Your Man.

Leaner and livelier than Ringo’s 79 years should allow, his message was peace and love, but his anthem was FUN.  He did jumping jacks to Yellow Submarine that frenzied the crowd who responded by singing every word.  

Ringo has surrounded himself with luminaries of Rock-and-Roll fame and his band reflects amazing talent.  Colin Hay, the Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist and actor was lead singer for Men at Work.  He displayed his talents on the keyboards, percussion, bass and lap steel.

Hamish Stuart of Average White Band has played with John Lennon, Chaka Khan, David Sanborn, Smokey Robinson and the list goes on.  He led The All Star band with his signature hit Pickin’ Up The Pieces.

Vocalist, drummer Gregg Bisonnette who hailed from Van Halen, Santana and later Toto, joined Ringo to duet on the drums.

Guitar legend Steve Lukather was the original guitarist and vocalist for Toto and served in that capacity for the band’s entire existence. Steve demonstrated unbelievable licks throughout the entire set.

The Hammond organ has always given that unmistakable “goin-to-church” feel to R&B, rock and jazz.  Keyboardist Gregg Rolie who sang for Santana and Journey made me want to yell hallelujah!

Warren Ham came to the All Star Band from the Maranatha Praise Band and toured with Promise Keepers.  He also toured with Kansas, Donna Summer, and Olivia Newton-John.

Ringo’s encore finale electrified the audience with A Little Help from My Friends. People held hands and waved their lit phones above their heads.  We left that night feeling a little more peace and love and ready for the next day’s events.

The next day was special as we were able to share it with our daughter, Kirby and Phillip. We had incredible preferred seating.  We arrived early and were able to enjoy the venders, people watch, and stand in line to buy Woodstock tee-shirts.

I had mild expectations for Santana’s opening band. The Doobie Brothers, surprised us with their tight, amazing sounds and vocals.  The band’s ability to evolve and remain connected to multi generations of audiences is a testament to their craft.  Only two originals remain, Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston, but they have added young progressive talent to their roster to deliver their unmistakable style of pushing the beat. 

Dancing erupted and continued throughout the whole set as the Doobs belted What a Fool Believes, Listen to the Music, Takin’ It To the Street, China Grove, Black Water, Jesus is Just Alright, and possibly the most recognizable opening guitar riffs of all times, Long Train Runnin’.

But the headliner of all headliners was about to emerge from the green room.  Santana began his set with dramatic video of Woodstock ’69, a documentary set to music that took you back to the chaotic days of Vietnam, Martin Luther King, Bobby and John Kennedy and the emerging peace movement.  Santana, dressed in a black original Woodstock t-shirt and played his signature red guitar. Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman, Gypsy Queen,  Maria Maria, Oye Como Va, and of course, Smooth had the crowd memorized and dancing in the isles. Carlos paid tribute to Lennon, Caltrain and Hendrix. The stage production, set design, lighting and sound were masterful. The energy level peaked and stayed there for three-and-a-half hours resulting in sensory fatigue for most of us, but a high we will never forget.  

We left with the message of peace and love, sharing and caring which, I believe, has diminished in the past 50 years, when the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Joe Cocker, and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young echoed across the soggy fields known as Bethel Woods,  the real Woodstock.

[donkies11]

"...a half million young people can get together and have three days of fun and music and have nothing but fun and music, and I – God Bless You for it!” ~ Max Yasgur #woodstock #peace https://www.instagram.com/p/B1UjGZ_pIcG/?igshid=yw5ximfqptf8

[slspencer]

I’m a farmer…(interrupted by a cheer from the audience)… I don’t know how to speak to twenty people at one time, let alone a crowd like this. But I think you people have proven something to the world — not only to the Town of Bethel, or Sullivan County, or New York State; you’ve proven something to the world. This is the largest group of people ever assembled in one place. We have had no idea that there would be this size group, and because of that you’ve had quite a few inconveniences as far as water, food, and so forth. Your producers have done a mammoth job to see that you’re taken care of… they’d enjoy a vote of thanks. But above that, the important thing that you’ve proven to the world is that a half a million kids — and I call you kids because I have children that are older than you are — a half million young people can get together and have three days of fun and music and have nothing but fun and music, and I – God Bless You for it!” Max Yasgur. 1919 - 1973 https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Y6mOnlassOFIyRTiNK9-fypvj-kgjhVv1POI0/?igshid=m4b8ksfyntrf