Woodstock is 40. I know, there's been so much hippie hype it seems like we've been celebrating the anniversary for the past five years. But in reality, it's this Saturday, August 15. Forty years ago, Max Yasgur's farm was overrun by mud, musicians, and beatniks. Yes, it was "three days of peace and music" but it was also three days of drugs, chaos, and not enough bathrooms. Woodstock has been as overhyped, over-analyzed, and over-glorified as nearly any other '60s moment.
It's exactly the contradictions the make Woodstock a constant topic of conversation. How could a generation of free spirits end up becoming the poster children for '80s corruption? How could so much hedonism somehow be construed as selflessness and "free love?" And how come more brothers weren't there? It was a pretty white crowd.
But the music was good. Great. There's no arguing. The music at Woodstock contained some of the most pure, passionate, and singular performances ever in the history of rock. Yes, we're all a little numb after seeing them for 40 years but watch Jimi Hendrix play "The Star Spangled Banner" and tell me you've seen anything that comes close to its LSD-mashup of protest, patriotism, and pure transcendence. It's just one of the great musical moments of our time. And Woodstock was filled with a bunch of them.
Here's the reality: the Woodstock generation is dying. They're getting old. And when you get old, you get nostalgic. When you get old, you want to chronicle your life and wrap it in a neat bow for others to look at. When you're old, you want people to know your life meant something. I can empathize with that. So I'm down with the Woodstock generation taking over the media for a bit to talk about the good old days. This is probably the last time they'll be able to do it. It's probably the last time anyone will care. Although, I hope that's not true. There's lots to learn - good and bad - about Woodstock. Like how to not stage a concert (lesson one: prepare for rain and big crowds) and how to make sure the music is magical.
Unfortunately, the first of the Woodstock generation to drop were the musicians who played. Hendrix, Joplin, half of the Who and the Band are all gone. The ones who are left have a history as confounding as the generation they represent. Here are a few tales of Woodstock artists then and now.
GALLERY: See Woodstock's alumni then & now
Richie Havens
THEN: Richie Havens was barely known outside of Greenwich Village when he opened Woodstock at 5:07 pm on Friday, August 15. Told to "kill time" on stage, he played an 11-song set that included a couple of Beatles covers. When he ran out of material, Havens improvised a version of the spiritual "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child." The song was put in the "Woodstock" film and made Havens an international star.
NOW: Havens is an omni-present figure on the folk circuit and has been adopted by a new generation of artists. He appeared in Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan homage "I'm Not There" and was invited by Sean Penn to play the 2008 Cannes Film Festival Opening Ceremony. He played "Freedom," a song born from his "Woodstock" improv.
Melanie
THEN: Singer-songwriter Melanie Safka shared the same New York City building as the festival producers, which is why she got booked. She played a brief set at 11:00 pm on day one, switching times with the Incredible String Band who wouldn't take the stage in the rain. The experience gave her the inspiration for a subsequent hit "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)."
NOW: Like Richie Havens, Melanie has been adopted by a new generation of artists. Jarvis Cocker invited her to play the Meltdown Festival in 2007, which reintroduced her to the UK. She has since become a mainstay on the concert circuit there.
Arlo Guthrie
THEN: Woody Guthrie's son followed Melanie on day one. He had made a name for himself with his 1967 album "Alice's Restaurant" and the 1969 Arthur Penn-directed film it inspired. The film was released on August 19, 1969 - three days after Guthrie's Woodstock appearance. Arlo's set is most memorable for his one line commentary on the overflow crowd. Before playing a Bob Dylan cover of "Walking Down the Line," Guthrie noted, "New York State throughway is closed, man. Lotta freaks!"
NOW: Guthrie has dedicated himself to bridging cultural and political divides. The son of the ultimate leftist, supported Republican Ron Paul during the 2008 primary explaining his choice by saying, "We had enough good Democrats. We needed a few more good Republicans." He bought the church owned by "Alice's Restaurant" namesake Alice Brock and has turned into the Guthrie Center, a meeting place for people of all religions.
Joan Baez
THEN: Bob Dylan's ex-girlfriend was six months pregnant when she closed day one of Woodstock (or opened day two: she went on at 1:00 am). The baby's father was not Dylan but draft resister David Harris, who was in jail as Baez was performing. Her nearly hour long set was suitably political closing with "We Shall Overcome."
NOW: Baez and and Harris divorced in '73 and she subsequently dated Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart. However, Baez never remarried, saying in her '87 autobiography,"I am made to live alone." Baez has continued to be a vocal activist for peace and human rights. She posted a new video of "We Shall Overcome" on YouTube earlier this year in support of Iranian protesters objecting to that country's election results.
Santana
THEN: Santana's 2nd-day Woodstock appearance was timed to coincide with their self-titled debut album release. Their Latin infused rock was a highlight of the festival, although Carlos Santana might have difficulty remembering parts of it. He has said that he took a powerful dose of LSD before going on stage, turing his guitar neck into an electric snake. Santana prayed to just make it through the set. "God, please help me. I'll never do his again," he bargained.
NOW: After languishing in '90s obscurity, Santana had a huge comeback at the end of the decade with his Grammy-winning album "Supernatural." He was paired with dudes like Rob Thomas and Everlast who were born three years after Santana was battling his electric snake at Woodstock. Santana has also made an unlikely move into female footwear. Good way to meet chicks if the guitar playing doesn't impress them.
John Sebastian
THEN: Sebastian had recently split from his band the Lovin' Spoonful and was a last minute, unscheduled performer at day two of Woodstock. He played a brief set which ended with some advice for the crowd: "Just love everybody all around ya and clean up a little garbage on your way out and everything gonna be alright."
NOW: After Woodstock, Sebastian became best known for writing the theme song for the '70s sitcom "Welcome Back, Kotter." He also returned for more peace and love by playing Woodstock '94. He accompanied fellow original Woodstock vets Crosby, Stills & Nash on harmonica.
Sly & the Family Stone
THEN: Sly & the Family Stone's fourth album "Stand!" had been released a few months prior to Woodstock. The band gave one the most incendiary performances of the festival, including a 10-minute rendition of the album's single "I Want To Take You Higher." It was one of the last high points for the band who would begin to implode with Sly's increased drug use.
NOW: Sly was largely a recluse through the '70s, '80s, and '90s. He was honored at the 2006 Grammy Awards but walked off stage mid-song. He spent the following year touring clubs and occasional festivals with a new outfit named the New Family Stone. The sets were notable for late starts and minimal stage time from Sly, who often left after two songs.
The Who
THEN: The Who played at 5:00 am on Saturday morning in between Sly & the Family Stone and Jefferson Airplane. Their set is one of the most well-known from the festival, culminating in the performance of their recently released rock opera, "Tommy." It's also known for activist Abbie Hoffman getting booted off-stage by Pete Townshend. Hoffman took the mic to protest fellow activist John Sinclair's imprisonment. After hitting him with his guitar, Townshend said the next person who got on stage would "get killed." So much for peace and love.
NOW: Keith Moon and John Entwistle are gone but Daltrey and Townshend soldier on. They have been awarded with a Kennedy Center Honor in 2008 and Townshend has farmed out his Who hits to every TV show, commercial, or film willing to pay. He's also staged his post-"Tommy" rock opera "Quadrophenia" on stage in the UK. Meanwhile, Daltrey is hitting the road for a solo tour this fall.
Joe Cocker
THEN: British singer Joe Cocker opened the final day of Woodstock at 2:00 pm on Sunday, August 17 with his Grease Band. The centerpiece of his performance was his cover version of The Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends" which became his signature song for years to come. Ironically, despite Cocker's seemingly uncontrollable grimacing and twitching, he was reportedly totally sober during his set.
NOW: Cocker may have been sober at Woodstock but it didn't last long. He fell deep into alcoholism, which left him over $800,000 in debt and threatened to end his career. It was Woodstock co-creator Michael Lang, who agreed to help Cocker resurrect his career if he got sober. He bounced back with "Up Where We Belong" from the 1982 film "An Officer and a Gentlemen." He was another alumnus to return to Woodstock '94 and was honored by the Queen of England in 2007 with an OBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
Sha Na NaTHEN: The faux '50s outfit was the warm up act for Jimi Hendrix' festival closing set. Although their performance was a clear WTF moment, it gave the group the biggest audience of their career and jump-started a '50s revival which gave hippies something else to take credit for.
NOW: Sha Na Na rode the '50s wave into the '80s with a variety show, an appearance in the film "Grease," and regular touring. The iconic Bowzer (who joined after Woodstock) tours under his own name. Rhythm guitarist Elliot Cahn was Green Day's first manager while two members, Scott Powell and Joe Witkin, are physicians.
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