In August, 1969, the era filled with love and peace was drawing to a close. America was still high from the achievement of landing man on the moon, whilst also still grieving the many losses of that decade, including President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. The sixties had defined musical talent, and what better way to end the 60's than with an event featuring music, sex and drugs all rolled into one?
So, on the 15th of August ’69, almost half a million people headed to a dairy farm in Bethel, New York, to attend the event of a lifetime. One of the largest music festivals of the century, playing host to the epitome of musical talent of that era- Woodstock was created.
The Grandfather of American music festivals featured legendary
artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Who. Woodstock was the ultimate
symbol for love, peace and music, creating a sense of unity and a musical
revolution. Fans were so excited to attend that they even tore down the fences,
making a ticketed event a free-for-all instead, summing up the political
movements of that decade in one move.
Musicians are looked up to by their fans and it isn’t a
surprise that the musicians of this time influenced the public with their
music; many would write hidden messages into their lyrics as another form of
protest against the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement and a number
of others. Bob Dylan was just one of many that made politically influenced
music, making this another way to protest, using their status to reach all over
the globe.
The artists of the sixties not only created new music and
styles, but also entered a dangerous cycle to get these ideas- drug induced
psychedelic highs. The Beatles were known to dabble with cannabis, whilst Pink
Floyd were linked to LSD, eventually leading to the exit of founding member Syd
Barrett[1]. With bands and soloists
openly admitting to drug use, many fans took it upon themselves to experience
the highs for themselves, and what better place to do this, rather than one of
the biggest festivals in history. Psychedelic drugs were often used for
internal reflection and imaginative experiences, linking people together in
dangerous ways.
Drug use is still associated with festivals today, however
the ‘hippies’ of the sixties cemented spaced out vibes and experimental drug
use into the decade and the sixties is often thought of as simply a drug
induced experience. “The hippie culture shook the foundation of conformity to
its core”[2]- this was true for all of
the era that was the Sixties, culminating into an exceptional and phenomenal
few days of unity, experimentation and celebration. Woodstock is a moment in
history that that will always be looked upon as the epitome of the hippie
generation; a care free event, focusing only on drug use, sticking it to the
man and listening to epic music.
Woodstock 1969 defined an era, a culture and created a
legacy, ending the 1960’s with an array of enigmatic music, trippy highs and an
undoubtable vibe of peace and love.
[1]
Samantha Richards, “The Influence of Drugs throughout Music
in the 1960s: The Psychedelic Era” World
Music. https://blogs.longwood.edu/worldmusicsm/2013/04/29/the-influence-of-drugs-throughout-music-in-the-1960s-the-psychedelic-era/ <last accessed 21/11/2017>.
[2]
“Woodstock 69” Woodstock Story. http://www.woodstockstory.com/woodstock1969.html
<last accessed 21/11/2017.
Right on, man! Groovy.
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