My Woodstock Experience: I WASN'T There!

I was only 5 years old in 1969 so I did not attend Woodstock. I’ve always felt I was there in spirit however, like I SHOULD have been there. I grew up with three older brothers, the oldest of which is 10 years older than me, so for as long as I can remember, there was music all around me. I shared a room with my brother Bob who is 4 years older, so as the younger brother, I had no choice as to what music I listened to. I was turned on to the Beatles, the Stones and the Who at a very early age, and all sorts of bizarre artists…. Ever heard of Roger Ruskin Spear of the Bonzo Dog Band? His “Electric Sparks” LP was a favorite of ours.

In 1970, the Woodstock film was released and my brothers took me to see it at the theater. I was mesmerized. Between the split/triple screen effect, seeing these performers that I had heard on the radio on a giant screen, the nudity (hey, I was 6!) and the music, I was hooked.
I fell in love with the first three songs in the film…CS&N’s “Long Time Gone” and “Wooden Ships” and Canned Heat’s “Going Up the Country” all heard while footage of the stage is being assembled and thousands of hippies are arriving. Many years later in my 20’s I listened to these songs as I drove up route 17B to Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, NY to visit the site. It was a moving experience to say the least.

This past weekend marked the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair and I eagerly anticipated reading the memories and thoughts of local residents who attended. The Morning Call printed several of these, and I must admit I was a little disappointed. I guess I was expecting more provocative statements like “It changed my life forever.” It seems most who attended don’t remember much about it, but I guess that’s understandable. One poor guy reported that he never even made it to the festival site, while another remembers being soaked, hungry and cold. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they had a great time and heard some great music, but I seem to have felt the impact of that weekend by just watching the movie as a little kid and listening to those songs for the last 40 years.

On Sunday, August 15th, 1998 I attended the “Back to the Garden” concert at the old Yasgur’s Farm site. It was the last of a 3-day weekend of music with a handful of original acts mixed with newer and local artists. David Crosby was the headliner, and I had a euphoric musical moment when he opened with “Long Time Gone.” It was so cool to be at the original Woodstock site and to hear musicians who played the original concert. It became closure for my Woodstock fascination… I was actually there…listening to Melanie and Crosby who played there in 1969. It was cool and a much better musical experience than attending the Woodstock ’94 concert. Although I got to hear some favorites like the Allman Brothers, Peter Gabriel, Traffic and CS&N to name a few, I also had to sit through Metallica and Nine Inch Nails… no peace, love and Kumbaya in THAT music, nor in their fans. I had a great time camping with my best friends for four days, but got tired of rude teens and drunken dudes who don’t know how to be cool with other people. I also had my favorite Grateful Dead shirt stolen that I had bought at a show at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California. Would that have happened at the original concert in 1969? I think not. I stayed far away from Woodstock 99, anticipating the problems they eventually had. I hate to sound like my father, but kids today….

My whole rambling point here is that Woodstock was NOT just a bunch of hippies smoking dope, dropping acid, getting naked and listening to the greatest lineup of musical acts of that generation. Well….OK, it WAS, but only for those who were there. For kids like me, it gave me an identity that I hold to this day. A peace-loving, anti-war music nut. I love boxing, football and hockey. All pretty violent sports, but with rules. As a youth hockey player, I once punched out an opposing player for taking a run at our captain, yet refused to fight a kid in Junior High who had challenged me, because I just didn’t see the point and had done nothing to him to provoke it. I don’t believe in invading countries and getting involved in their wars when they have done nothing to us, yet after the 9/11 attacks on American soil I would have volunteered to fight for my country if I were young enough and about 50 pounds lighter.

During my years as a news videographer, I often did stories with Veterans, and those who served in Vietnam always complained that they were never welcomed home and never thanked. They’re right. To me, Woodstock was about that generation gathering for a weekend to show the world that they were united in their convictions: That sending men and women off to fight and die in war that we have no business being in is just wrong; To be told to keep your hair short and to do what you are told because "I said so" or "because that's the way it is" is also wrong. Also, you don’t have to actually BE at an event to affected by it. As much as I wish I was old enough to be there, I’m glad Woodstock had the positive effect on me that it did. Whenever I see a Veteran, I thank him or her for her service to our country. When I read about the death of a soldier I feel pain for their loved ones. When I see someone who needs help, I offer to help them. If I hear there’s a massive traffic jam, I do everything I can to avoid it. And one last thing…..if I EVER find the dirtbag who stole my Dead shirt, I’LL KILL ‘EM!