Forgotten Images Of The Very First Woodstock Festival

Music festivals happen all around the world now. Belgium’s Tomorrowland and the United Kingdom’s Glastonbury draw music lovers from every corner of the globe. Before modern-day music festivals, though, there was 1969’s Woodstock festival, which lay the groundwork for every music festival to come. It featured 35 of the biggest acts of the time and was also a platform for free speech regarding the Vietnam War. There has never been a festival quite like it since, which is why it continues to be one of the most remembered historical events in recent history.

Some Missing Acts

Some key musicians did not play at Woodstock, and they were definitely missed. John Lennon had planned to be there, but his visa did not come through.

He had been very vocal about his lack of support for the Vietnam war, which may have contributed to why he could not enter the country. Bob Dylan was also meant to perform, but he had a family emergency, which prevented him from attending. This in no way hindered their careers, though, as they both continued to have a massive fan following, which is still true today.

Icons

There are quite a few iconic images from Woodstock, but none quite as memorable as this couple who have just woken up, and wrapped a blanket around each other.

Jefferson Airplane was crooning in the wee hours of the morning, and Bobbi Kelly and Nick Ercoline began to sway to the music. Their love can be seen shining through in the image, and the two later got married. They became the symbol of love for Woodstock.

Santana

While Santana is now a household name, the band was relatively unknown when they performed at Woodstock. They began playing psychedelic Latin-themed music, which was very different than the heavy rock and roll which had come before them.

The music swept through the crowd and got them moving in a way that the rock had not. After that performance, their album became a hot commodity. Now, they are a household name, and if you don’t know them, you should check them out!

Janis Joplin

Early into Sunday morning, Janis Joplin performed at the festival. She gave one of the most incredible performances of her career, full of fire and soul as it was usual of her.

The “Queen of Psychedelic Soul” had a solo act and sang festival hymns such as “Piece of my Heart” and “Try (a Little bit Harder)” among other covers.