Woodstock’s 40th Draws Geezers, Maybe Sex and Drugs Too
It’s the 40th anniversary of Woodstock and they ought to be offering senior citizen discounts.
Ten Years After is playing 40 years later and Country Joe McDonald will be headlining: “Give me an O, give me an L, give me a D.”
In 1969, an estimated 400,000 music lovers descended on Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, N.Y. — now hallowed ground for hippies — creating the most celebrated rock festival of all time.
Despite food shortages, overflowing port-a-potties and torrential rain, Woodstock became a symbol for an entire generation — peace, love, beads and a lot of good music and drugs.
Some of the musical heroes of that drug-infused era have returned for the Aug. 14-16 retro concerts — Richie Havens, Wavy Gravy, Canned Heat and Big Brother and the Holding Company, among others — but nearly all are pushing 70.
…Drugs are not allowed, but 40th anniversary spokesman Amy Jaick confides there may be those who “have their own little experience” at the hillside monument erected on the original site.
Any free love will likely happen at new nearby hotels like the local Marriott, which are already booked for the entire weekend.
