By now you can see the play on words that I'll be using as my meme for Beavers' Blog in the weeks to come: Wordstock-Word Stock. Woodstock, this musical event in 1969, celebrated its 45th year anniversary this past summer. Many lasting associations are attached to this word based on a person's perspective and experience. Regardless of opinion or viewpoints, the word that comes to mind when Woodstock is mentioned is significant.
The festival was a three day explosion of humanity held on a 600 acre dairy farm in Bethel, New York. The four young organizers (their music company created the name "Woodstock" for concerts they sponsored), had no idea or completed plans how to handle the prior pitfalls in pulling this off. Expecting 50,000 paying concert goers at $18.00 a piece, turned out to be 400,000-500,000 youths experiencing the ultimate "free" concert. Ticket takers were overwhelmed, highways turned into parking lots, food concessions were limited, and construction of the stage and a pavilion for the performers barely were finished.
It seemed to set a scenario where everything and all could and would go wrong. The "establishment" in the local communities thought nothing but trouble, riots, and just plain 'sinful' behavior would run rampant. Instead, people who camped, stood, and splayed out on mud soaked blankets, heard some of the most amazing music. In fact, after it was all said and done, there were zero arrests due to violence.
Richie Havens officially started the Festival because Sweetwater who was to open the Festival of Peace and Music, was delayed in traffic. One of my favorites, Joan Baez also performed that first night. Over the course of the weekend, music was non-stop. Psychedelic bands like The Grateful Dead, Santana, Janis Joplin, and The Who, stamped their place in rock-n-roll history. The beginning of the legendary band of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young also said yes to this opportunity. For those who stuck around until Monday morning, the great Jimi Hendrix closed things up with a memory the final 25,000 or so were fortunate to take with them: a never heard before Rock-n-Roll rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. Time magazine would later call the event, "The greatest peaceful event in history."
yes, the word Woodstock has, over the years, been associated with ideas, judgments, and varying perspectives. No, I wasn't there. I was nine years old, but I can feel its remnants.
The hippie culture, as it was labeled, was not just a way of dress but a way of living. To each its own meant love and peace. War was raging over in foreign jungles, and young people who were fortunate enough not to be drafted, empowered themselves with "flower power." This concept based on individual freedom, 'was against the winds of super powers killing innocents'. Was all behavior 'innocent' at this symbolic event of unity tied by the revolution of a new kind of music that was raw with words of rebellion? No. But that was part of what the culture was all about: freedom of choice. For many that was the draw, the appeal. A powerful image of peace among a young populace was forever created.
Which brings me back to the concept of words. Words also create a power, a freedom, especially in the form of lyrics within a musical composition. Many songs performed by solo artists and bands were packaged with power based on the words they contained. Words that stirred, gave thought to, and provided an outlet for a message that conveyed their values in such a chaotic world. This was a historical case where rebellion protesting the status quo was meted out, not in violence, but in the power of song and unity of purpose...and that my friends is excellent. Groovy...