Woodstock concert documentary (1 Viewer)

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Go for Broke

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Anybody see this show last night on PBS? 350,000 people getting along. Running out of food and the local community donating food. The army bringing medical supplies on helicopters. Its a good study on how people can cooperate. It was just a concert, but proves positive change can happen for a good cause.
 
I didn’t see it but it was more than a concert: it was a happening. A touchstone of the era.

For those who are interested, a 38 Cd set of the concert is being issued. However, if you think that’s a bit too much, it’s also bring issued in a four cd set.
 
My girlfriend and I actually bought tickets and thought the event would be a great concert under the stars.
We got there early Friday morning and the fences were already trampled down. We parked about 2 miles from the location
and couldn't believe the crowds. We brought sleeping bags but no tent and some food and wine. Were up on the hill so could
barely see the stage but could hear the music.
I think almost everyone was stoned but I'll never tell! Wall to wall people and then the rains came with mud and wetness all around us.
The lines to the portable bathrooms were over one hour waits and food concessions ran out early. Everyone was friendly (maybe drug induced)
and sharing of their food and drugs. I can't remember any fights or crimes, just 500,000 souls hanging out.
No sleep and no showers but an amazing experience. Got home on Monday and went to my lifeguard job on Tuesday.
Not what I expected and don't know that I would do it again but glad I had the experience.
 
While planning the concert, the promoters studied other large concerts and sporting events. They knew they needed security, but found that a police or security presence often caused problems. So they hired a commune called Hog Farm as their security whose leader was named Wavy Gravy. They used words like "its cool" and "please". It worked!
 
If there is one moment or song that for me epitomizes Woodstock and the Woodstock spirit or the spirit of that time, it’s Country Joe McDonald and his Fixin’ to Die Rag.

https://youtu.be/Jk68D91hTXw

Here’s Country Joe in 2016 talking about that moment.

https://youtu.be/4GD8qXInI00

To a certain extent, unless you were a teenager or in your early 20s in 69, it probably won’t have that much meaning. However, for me that said it all.
 
Thanks for the clips Brad. Country Joe McDonald's song is one of my favorites too. You should see this documentary. The concert promoters couldn't finish in time for the concert. They had to choose whether to finish the stage or erect a perimeter fence (one square mile). They decided on the stage and as a result, the concert essentially turned into a free concert for walk-ins.
Jimi Hendrix was the last act and he played his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. A reporter commented his guitar rifts represented the bombs and shooting in Vietnam. I never thought of it that way. I always thought is was the attack on Fort McHenry. I hope I named the right fort.
 
I saw it tonight. It was amazing how they pulled it off and people chipped in. Made me smile and think of those times and glad that I was from that generation.

The first time I heard the Hendrix Star Spangled Banner, I was blown away. It was incredible too. Probably being high didn’t hurt.
 
Good lord, we all should have "invested" in the $800 now sold out set, going on ebay and selling at 1750 and up!

In all seriousness, I was too young, not born til 1973, but I have enjoyed watching the dvd many times. Great music, pretty wild era.

TD
 
tdubel said:
Good lord, we all should have "invested" in the $800 now sold out set, going on ebay and selling at 1750 and up!

In all seriousness, I was too young, not born til 1973, but I have enjoyed watching the dvd many times. Great music, pretty wild era.

TD
Click to expand...

They made only 1,969 of the 38cd sets so profit taking was inevitable. However, there are 10cd and 3cd versions available. I’ve ordered the 10cd version.
 
One of the stations ran the movie uncut within the last few weeks and I watched it for the first time since going to the midnight showings in the 80's.
Of course those showing were filled with smoke so I did not pay attention like I did this time.:redface2:
It was a pretty amazing feat and I had heard a interview with the promoters recently. They made no money off of the concert which they address in the film when they realize the fences were down, it was amazing to hear them say "to hell with the money look what we did" and they also structured the deal on the film wrong so they received squat on that too.


All these years later they still didn't care about the money. Too bad that vibe at woodstock ended at Alamont.
 
I’m not sure they didn’t care about the money. I think I read that the venture finally turned a profit in 2009.
 
jazzeum said:
I’m not sure they didn’t care about the money. I think I read that the venture finally turned a profit in 2009.
Click to expand...

That is what the promoters themselves said in the npr interview. However I think they were referring to the concert not making money didn't bother them.
The film they got screwed on.
 
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