I was ten in 1969. My musical taste or the awareness of music
at that time was influenced by what I would hear on the radio in the kitchen of
my home. My parents were avid country music fans.
I was just getting into top 40 AM radio and choosing my own preferred genre of
music (which of course would not mix well with the the play list usually
controlled by the adults). Woodstock! I never even new what kind of sub-culture
was even around at that time. My parents being more conservitive hated the fact
of a boy’s hair touching the collar of his shirt. Bell bottom pants were a sign
of rebellion to the established authority and we were to believe that all long
haired people were wrong and not to be looked at as a mentor, or the way a
person should present themselves.
// Everything I have learned about Woodstock has always been from
articles or documentaries of the event. I never remember seeing or hearing
about it at the time it was happening. It has always been a history to me and
nothing that I can tie a specific meaning or revelation and how it did or did
not affect my life personally at the time. But now 42 years later and a fan of
rock and roll and the culture, I feel that the impact of Woodstock is a bench
mark of a time in our country when there was racial tension and violence and
protests, and the civil
rights movement, that a half million people could spend three days in
harmony and peace is amazing, and should be celebrated if not for any other
reason than that. Some still say it was just a bunch of people sitting around
and getting buzzed, stoned, high, whatever term you want to use. That is a true
statement that is well documented in film and interviews.
But let us drop or perceived ideologies and opinions and let’s look at this for
what it was. A couple of guys had an idea and a plan. They wanted to have a
concert featuring some of the top acts at the time and bring them together for
a weekend of peace, love and music. It worked for the most part. There was
music and love and peace. The big problem was it was bigger than had been
planned and before they knew it word spread and it was out of control. By out
of control I mean they could not control the huge influx of the mass of
humanity that showed up. Claimed it to be a free concert and took a loss and
put on a three day event to this day is still talked about. What is amazing
about the 1969 Woodstock and the following Woodstock’s is that the main event
the “original” is still an unbelievable event.
The anniversaries of Woodstock have been marred with violence
and mayhem. At a time when we are supposed to be more tolerant and accepting,
there were more personal acts of violence at these concerts then the original.
When a culture was being portrayed as anti everything there was no show of
destruction or mayhem for three days. But at every Woodstock after there was
destruction and disregard for a person’s safety or well being.// At the original there were warnings from the stage, along with some
encouragement when bad weather rolled in. All the Woodstocks afterwards had
scene after scene that many thought would have marred the weekend in 1969,
instead it’s a testament that “maybe” we as a people haven’t really matured.
There was looting and fighting and you saw crowds that at times were on the
verge of being out of control. This was not the case in 1969. At a time when it
would have been understandable and almost accepted, there was nothing more than
peace, love and music.
Woodstock was and is a phenomenon that will always be talked about and
debated whether it did any good for our country or culture or if was just a
bunch of long haired freaks who were together for a weekend of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Well I’m sure that there was a lot of that
along with the peace and love, but I feel that Woodstock was much more than
that. It was a time when our nation was divided over many different cultural
and political lines. We were definitely not politically correct! Yet half a
million people that I’m sure didn’t agree on everything agreed for three days
to just enjoy some music, to love the one who was next to them and hope for
peace. That’s what Woodstock was about. And for three days it was accomplished.
The phenomenon that was Woodstock will always stand as a testament that all
those who are different can still have some love and peace and let music join
them together.
Markley's Blog 