It's almost here! This weekend marks the actual 40th anniversary of one of those magical moments in the Summer of '69 - the anniversary of Woodstock. In Woodstock Peace, Music & Memories (Available now, Krause Publications) the memories, experiences, influence and viewpoint of this weekend built on music, unity and peace, are told by the people who were there.
It's been 40 years since 1969, but the impact, imagery, and influence of this one year, and this one unifying event, remains a thread that weaves through our culture still today.While there is occasional commentary and story telling from organizers, including Michael Lang and Artie Kornfeld (who also inked the foreword), as well as performers, the bulk of the book is the memories of Baby Boomers who were part of the youthful mass of nearly 500,000 who called Bethel, NY home for three days.
These are the memories of those who made the trek across the state, across the country, and across the ocean to simple “be” in the presence of others with a passion for peace and a love for music with a message. Whether readers relieve their own experiences at Max Yasgur’s field those three days in the summer of 1969, or simply gain a deeper appreciation for the transformation of three ordinary days into an extraordinary moment in American history, this book is definitely a trip worth taking. Readers will reminisce with co-organizer Artie Kornfeld as he recalls the planning and promotion of the event, from the meeting with Yasgur at the site of his farm field, through the clean up after three days of memorable, but muddy, peace and music.
Just like any great trip back through time Woodstock Peace, Music & Memories also brings memories to life through a variety of color and black and white photos of people, places, memorabilia and legendary musical moments. Framed by groovy illustrations and a photo album appeal, stories about eating at the Hog Farm Free kitchen as rain fell from the sky, hitching a ride from the Garden State Parkway to get to the field, and sitting mesmerized while the likes of Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana and Jimi Hendrix moved a generation, fill page after page of this entertaining and inspiring book.
“The sixties saw the golden age of rock and roll, the advent of psychedelica, and the turmoil of the most violent times in American history,” said Don Ater, famed rock music photographer and historian, in Chapter 1 of Woodstock: Peace, Music & Memories. “The migration to Woodstock was a gathering of ‘Rainbow Warriors.’ We were communal, culturally diverse, and in search of universal peace through the music that defined our generation.”
Authors Brad Littleproud and Joanne Hague are founding members of the Woodstock Preservation Alliance and active in the preservation of the festival site. They continue their work through the Woodstock Preservation Archives, www.woodstockpreservation.org.
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