Rock Festivals

A rock festival is a large-scale, outdoor music concert featuring multiple acts, that are often spread out over several days.

The first rock festivals were put on in the late 1960s (reaching a peak in this year, 1969) and were important socio-cultural milestones (Today, many rock festivals are annual events sponsored by major corporations).

Some achieved historical significance, such as the Monterey Pop Festival (1967), Miami Pop Festival (1968), and in htis year, 1969, the Atlanta Pop, Denver Pop, Altamont Free Concert, and THE festival of the decade (and in rock history), Woodstock.

Rock festivals had their origin in the Newport Jazz and Monterey events. Upon the rise of the folk music revival in the early part of this decade Newport added a folk component, which gave birth to other folk festivals across the country.

The roots of the all-rock festival caan be traced back to the 1965 San Francisco scene (that's one of the many reasons why I earlier cited this year as "the turning point"), particularly in a benefit show held at the Ark and in several benefits for the San Francisco Mime Troup organized by Bill Graham. Early prototypes would also include the Human Be-In (Jan. 1967), the Fantasy Faire and Magic Mountain Music Festival (also 1967), and the SkyRiver Rock Festival and Lighter Than Air Fair (1968).

The Monterey Pop Festival was the first major rock festival, but its logistics, expense, and commercial failure deterred other American promoters from mounting similar events until the Woodstock (New York) Music and Art Fair this year, becoming the prototype. Like Woodstock, many of the subsequent fests were commercial disasters, which prevented any rock festival from becoming an annual event like the jazz ones.
An extreme example is the Rolling Stones' show at Altamont Speedway(California) in which several people were beaten and one man stabbed to death. This event greatly diminished the appeal of rock festivals, to say the least. Another negative factor were expenses; because so many bands went unpaid by promoters, most who would be major attractions at a festival priced themselves out of the market. Only a trusted promoter like Bill Graham could attract big names.

Of the post-Woodstock events, only the Atlanta Pop Festival could be considered important in rock history; the lower end of the bill was packed with local groups, thereby launching the 1970s Southern Rock movment (Rock fests tapered off about 1975; they would be revived in the '90s).

Here are some highlights of a few major festivals:

Monterey Pop-Was held from June 16-18, 1967. over 200,000 attended. The festival was planned by Lou Adler, John and Michelle Phillips (The Mamas and The Papas), producer Alan Pariser, and Beatles publicist Derek Taylor. The board members included members of The Beatles and The Beach Boys. The artists performed for free, except for Ravi Shankar, who was paid $3,000. There was a one dollar entrance fee. The festival marked the first major American appearance by Jimi Hendrix (who Paul McCartney insisted on booking), and The Who. It also marked the first major public performance for Janis Joplin and Otis Redding.

Many record company executives were in attendance (the "suits"!), and a number of performers won recording contracts. Monterey was the first widely promoted rock festival in the world. There were no deaths, injuries, no overdoses, no violence, and no arrests. Although the audience was predominantly white, Monterey's bill was multi-cultural and crossed all musical genres. The Beach Boys were invited to play, but cancelled at the last minute. On Friday, June 16-The performers were The Association, The Paupers, Lou Rawls, Beverly,Johnny Rivers, The Animals, and Simon and Garfunkel. Saturday, June 17-Canned Heat, Big Brother and The Holding Company, Country Joe and The Fish, Al Kooper, The Butterfield Blues Band, Quicksilver Messenger Serivce, Steve Miller Band, The Electric Flag, Moby Grape, Hugh Masekela, The Byrds, Laura Nyro, Jefferson Airplane, Booker T. and The MGs, and Otis Redding. Sunday, June 18-Ravi Shankar, The Blues Project, Big Brother and The Holding Company, The Group With No Name, Buffalo Springfield, Scott McKenzie, The Who, The Grateful Dead, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and The Mamas and ThePapas.

Miami Pop-A two-day music event held at the Gulfstream Race Track in January 1969. Jimi Hendrix, The Mothers Of Invention, Blue Cheer, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, ChuckBerry, and Three Dog Night performed. The Mothers recorded "KingKong On Uncle Meat". Arthur Brown sang "Fire" with a a flaming hreaddress. The Sunday concert was rained out; Hendrix wrote "Rainy Day Song" about this. The Package opened the show and Hendrix was the closing act.

Atlanta International Pop Festival (1969)-The first one was held at the Atlanta International Raceway on July 4-5. At least 110,000-400,000 attended (Accounts vary).

Performers included Janis Joplin, Johnny Winter, Chuck Berry, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Canned Heat, Spirit, Ten Wheel Drive, Joe Cocker, Chicago Transit Authority, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grand Funk Railroad, Sweetwater, Al Kooper, Pacific Gas and Electric, and Led Zeppelin.

The Allman Brothers Band was booked, but by a phony promoter who had no authority to book them. When the group showed up, they weren't allowed to play.

The second and last festival was held the next year; this time, the Allman Brothers were featured performers.

Denver Pop (1969)-A three-day music festival from June 27-29. Peak attendance was 50,000. This event had the full support and local resources of the city, taking place in Denver Mile High Stadium.

The June 27 th lineup included: Big Mama Thornton, The Flock, Three Dog Night, Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention.

June 28 th -Aeorta, Zephyr, Poco, Johnny Winter, Tim Buckley, and CreedenceClearwater Revival.

June 29 th -Aum, Rev. Cleophus Robinson, Sweetwater, Joe Cocker, and The JimiHendrix Experience (their final performance together).

Ticket prices were $6 per day, or $15 for all four days. On Sunday, after all possible tickets had been sold, the promoter declared a "free festival".

Altamont-The infamous and notorious Altamont Free Concert was held on Dec. 6 th , 1969 in California. Some 300,000 attended.

The concert was headlined and organized by The Rolling Stones and also featured Santana, Jefferson Airplane, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. The Grateful Dead were also scheduled to perform, but canceled at the last minute.

There were three accidental deaths, in addition to the well-known killing of Meredith Hunter.

The concert was originally scheduled to be held at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco (The permits were never issued for this, or were revoked after the fact).

The Oakland chapter of Hells Angels were hired as "security". Some accounts say that they were actually hired to give directions, watch equipment, help out, etc.). But crowd management became difficult. The Angels had also been drinking and drugging, becoming increasingly violent. And things got totally out of hand.

Altamont was widely contrasted to Woodstock, and had come to symbolize the end of "peace and love".

Other notable U.S. festivals included Newport '69 (California), June 20-22. Attendance 150,000, Texas International Pop Festival, Aug. 30-Sept. 1 (1969), attended by 120,000, Atlantic City Pop Festival, Aug. 1-3 (1969) where 110,000 gathered, the Isle of Wright Festival (England, 1969) attended by 150,000, NewportJazz (Rhode Island, 1969-Special Rock Lineup), July 3-6, 78,000 attendance, Seattle Pop, held on July 25-27, 1969, attended by 70,000, and the Second Annual Sky RiverRock Festival (California), Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 1969, where 25,000 attended.

And then there's Woodstock, the big daddy of them all. This festival became one of the best known representations of the late '60s counterculture and the hippie era. It has proven over time to have been a very unique and legendary moment, one of the greatest in rock history.

The event was captured forever in a successful movie, "Woodstock" (1970) and in JoniMitchell's song (of the same name), by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (Mitchell also did her own version as well).

In this year, 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held on Max Yasgur's farm on Bethel, New York (At least 50 miles away from the actual Woodstock, N.Y. The event was scheduled for three days (Fri., Aug. 15-Sun., Aug. 17- 400,000-500,000 attended; accounts vary here.) but due to weather and technical delays, the festival actually ended around 10 am. On Mon., Aug. 18. Jimi Hendrix was the closing act.

The festival was very peaceful, considering the number of people and conditions involved (There were three fatalities, three miscarriages and two births. And there weren't enough portable toilets and first-aid tents (the event wasn't intended for such a large crowd).

Woodstock started out as a profit-making venture-tickets were $18 in advance (Adjusted for inflation, this would be $100 today) and $24 at the gate. Ticket sales were limited to record stores in the greater New York City area or by mail at a Radio City P.O. Box.

On Friday, Aug. 18, Richie Havens opened the festival, performing seven encores. Swami Satchidananda gave the invocation. Country Joe McDonald, John Sebastian, Sweetwater, Incredible String Band, Bert Sommer, Tim Hardin, Ravi Shankar, Melanie, Arlo Guthrie, and Joan Baez performed.

Saturday, Aug.16-Quill, the Keef Hartley Band, Santana, Canned Heat, Mountain, JanisJoplin, Sly and The Family Stone, Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who (Activist Abby Hoffman interrupted to attempt a protest speech regarding the jailing of John Sinclair of the White Panther Party), and Jefferson Airplane performed.

Sunday, Aug.17-Mon., Aug 18-Ten Years After, The Band, Country Joe and The Fish, Joe Cocker, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Johnny Winter (His brother, Edgar Winter, was featured on two songs), Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Paul ButterfieldBlues Band, Sha-Na-Na, and Jimi Hendrix closed the festival.

Acts that were invited, but canceled were: The Jeff Beck Group (they broke up the week before), Iron Butterfly (wanted special arrangements), Neil Young was there with CS+N,-but refused to be filmed; He felt it distracted from the music, Joni Mitchell (her agent's decision), and Lighthouse.

John Lennon offered to play with his Plastic Ono Band, but was turned down (The promoters wanted The Beatles). The Doors were considered (but Jim Morrison disliked performing in large outdoor venues. Led Zeppelin were asked, but their manager refused. Jethro Tull and The Moody Blues refused to perform. Tommy James and TheShondells declined (Tommy James and The Shondells??!), as did Paul Revere and TheRaiders , Bob Dylan (son's illness), Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention, and Free.

Did You Know?

John Sebastain wasn't originally scheduled to perform; He was enlisted when several acts were late arriving due to the festival traffic.

The Richie Havens song "Freedom" was totally improvised . He was called back for so many encores that he ran out of songs to sing, so he just picked up his guitar and started singing "Freedom". The song includes lyrics from "Sometimes I Feel Like A MotherlessChild."

The Woodstockcharacter from Peanuts was named after the festival. Woodstock (the character) was also modeled after the bird in the festival logo.