Iconic Woodstock Couple Keeps Festival Spirit Alive
- Posted on Jul 9th 2009 4:30PM by Adam Horne
- Comments (741)

Forty years after the legendary festival in Bethel, N.Y., a photo of two lovebirds taken at Woodstock has become an iconic symbol of love. Having only met three months prior, the picture captures a young couple -- Nick and Bobbi Ercoline, both now 60 -- embracing underneath a dirty blanket, surrounded by exhausted concertgoers. To the Ercolines' surprise, the image became the cover of the 'Woodstock' album in 1970 and was featured on posters for the subsequent documentary film.
What resonates most about the photo is that it speaks to what many Woodstock veterans consider to be the true meaning of the festival -- not just music but a movement of peace, love and unity. In a recent interview with Spinner, Woodstock performer Richie Havens cited a Martin Luther King Jr. speech, saying "It's not him or him or him, it's all of us or nothing. That was our thing, that's what we went against the war with."
The couple themselves acknowledge the social significance of the now legendary picture. "It's an honest representation of a generation. When we look at that photo ... I see our generation," Nick told the NY Daily News.
Original Santana percussionist Michael Carabello witnessed firsthand how his generation came together for three days in 1969. "It was about the music and it was about everything else, but it was more about us getting along." Noting the hectic and exhausting nature of the festival (as evidenced by the background of the photo), Carabello told Spinner, "You know, you get so absorbed in it you just don't want to hear it anymore, you forget about it, so the only thing you can do is become a family. You just help one another out."
Certainly Woodstock has been romanticized over the years, but for many, the image of Nick and Bobbi wrapped in a blanket represents exactly what Carabello is talking about.
What's more, the couple has been together ever since.





Reader Comments(1 of 36)
Austinat 7-11-2009
awwwwwwwwww
Dawnat 7-11-2009
wow that is so awesome to hear a story like this. I am 34 yrs old and never been to a woodstock but have heard all about it and what magic it does cause for generations to come!!!! Keep it going cuz there will always be a spark with the one you are with when you do little outings or big outings like that!!!! Congrats to them and to all!!! Much Love goes to you all from me
jesse fradkinat 7-11-2009
WHAT COMPLETE & UTTER HOGWASH! Emblematic of the media's total lack of adherence to any moral concerns for fact checking or truth in reporting, is this fabrication of who was in that photo.
I was there at the moment it was taken. I know who the photographer and I know who were the two individuals in the famous photo. I even know where the spread (not a blanket but it looked like one) came from. They were definitely not the two lying bastards being used by god knows who for god knows what in this fake propaganda piece. I wonder if those two phonies have actually reconstituted some fake memories and even believe it was them. Can you spell marijuana high and dementia?
Believe me, it was never that couple who were the real people pictured in that famous photograph. Nicci and Bob, you really should shut up. Did someone pay you to fake us out? Shame on you.
The Woodstock Nation is Dead.
Totally co-opted by a society gone mad by greed, corruption and endless baseless lies.
As Lennon/Dylan mighta sorta said: Gimme some truth, cause it sure ain't those guys babe.
glenn5876at 7-11-2009
Hey Jesse, put up some proof instead of just a bunch of harsh words. You say you were there but doesn't sound like it when you make statements like "The Woodstock Nation is Dead". It was a "feeling", an ideology of how to live your life. It sounds like, if you were there, you lost that.
sarahat 8-05-2009
i know them!
im related to them. no joke. theyre really nice
Margieat 8-16-2009
After living in Haight Ashbury in 1967 and seeing most of the bands at Woodstock up close and personal at the Avalon and Fillmore, also for free at Golden Gate Park and Panhandle Park, Woodstock was more about the atmosphere of love than the music for me. I hadn't seen my former college roomate in 3 years, so it was an amazing coincidence to me that after sliding down a large hill of mud during the night, when I woke up, there she was miraculously sleeping next to me again. The spirit of love and oneness were very real. We need more of that spirit today.
Mareat 8-16-2009
i did not go to this, but recall the era as i was 13 yrs odl at the time. could someone PLEASE tell me why todays kids ( not all) are so angry or voilent and some are just plain out of control and have no respect. The peace and love era was not all that, but alot more than i see today.
The Hillsat 8-16-2009
Just like to say, God bless you two. You have a true love story. I was not old enough to go to the original woodstock, but I wish I was. It renews my faith in love, peace, and the human race to hear a story such as your. May you have 40 more years of love, happiness, and peace in your future.
Tom R.at 8-16-2009
jesse fradkin
at 7-11-2009WHAT COMPLETE & UTTER HOGWASH! Emblematic of the media's total lack of adherence to any moral concerns for fact checking or truth in reporting, is this fabrication of who was in that photo.
I was there at the moment it was taken. I know who the photographer and I know who were the two individuals in the famous photo. I even know where the spread (not a blanket but it looked like one) came from. They were definitely not the two lying bastards being used by god knows who for god knows what in this fake propaganda piece. I wonder if those two phonies have actually reconstituted some fake memories and even believe it was them. Can you spell marijuana high and dementia?
Believe me, it was never that couple who were the real people pictured in that famous photograph. Nicci and Bob, you really should shut up. Did someone pay you to fake us out? Shame on you.
The Woodstock Nation is Dead.
Totally co-opted by a society gone mad by greed, corruption and endless baseless lies.
As Lennon/Dylan mighta sorta said: Gimme some truth, cause it sure ain't those guys babe.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
codiousonat 8-16-2009
so jesse fradkin yeah im sure that your "facts" are just as true as you say. You say that they were'nt the original because they have no proof.. where is your proof your were there? where is your proof that you saw it and witnessed it. its like me saying i was there and i saw it too.so where is your proof that you know where the supposed "blanket" come from or that you even have been to woodstock??get off your high horse! woodstock isnt about whos right whos wrong.. thats whats wrong with the world now.
may the spirit of woodstock live on. (peace music love and happiness!)
pootat 8-16-2009
Gee, Jesse, you sound almost pathetically bitter. I suspect this comes from the fact that your ass is clenched so tightly that it's cut off the blood circulation to your brain. Maybe if you got laid more than once ever 25 years you'd feel a little better about your own pathetic life.
tommyboyat 8-16-2009
Well, I can say with cynicism that Nick and Bobbi symbolically represent MY GENERATION. We are responsible for being the generation that fought the war and changed the country.
Now as we quickly enter into our "Medicare years" we can look back and be proud of our being responsible for producing a SILENT generation who twitters, texts, and emails their disdain for an unjust war or the need for single payer health care, and ...oh...wait...no,
I'm wrong, they seem to be just "twittering" about with their thumbs up their butts.
Overall and with few exceptions, Nick and Bobbi and the rest of OUR Viagra generation got a fine man elected President but raised and watched silent generations willing to bow to the proverbial "Corporate Insurance INC", FRIGHT-Wing religious fanaticism, and their obnoxious ignorance amounting to the "squeaky-wheel" that keeps getting greased.
As TRUE health reform slips away and our countrymen and women die in the Middle East, let's remind ourselves that newer generations barely know basic civics or who their thieving congressman is.
Bitter Much?
Who me?
Nah, just truthful, thank you very much.
Linc Martinat 8-16-2009
I was 15 yrs old when I went to woodstock. I ran away
from home on feb. 8th 1968 lived in the Village on the
lower westside and the upper eastsid of NYC. Woodstock help me grow up, I was turned on to led zepplin by some friends that I met. my good friend Steve Perham from Conn. the both of us spilt up and met at the front Entrence of the Concert! now that I'm 55 yrs. old and a
Martial Arts Teacher in Providence, R.I. I grew up in Hoboken, N.J. all of my friends and student plus my Children couldn't beleave that I was part of History that was made in 1969. this event will aleways stay in my heart foreve! there should be a Woodstock reunion.
Jerryat 7-11-2009
Good for them!!! They look happy and a bit less tired.
murrayfuentesat 7-11-2009
I was 13 yrs. old and begged my mom to let me go (with some older teens from the hood). She said no, so I am left with the albums and video. Must have been amazing to be there!
joat 7-11-2009
This is a great story. I hope they have another 40 years togehter !
dorisat 7-11-2009
I agree with you. It makes me sad to see such ignorance by others. We are entitled to our opinions, but I wish others could be respectful. thanks for the nice post.
PEACE
Lou Lambertat 7-11-2009
WOODSTOCK?
THAT'S A FUNNY YELLOW BIRD ... RIGHT?
mitchat 7-11-2009
youre a DUMBA**. woodstock was a 3 day vestival of music and art that took place in ny in the summer of 1969. how could you not know what it was. its the most famous american concert EVER. it was the most beautiful, amazing, powerful festival in history & i was born in the early 90's but i mean, i wish with all my heart that i had been born in the 50's so i couldve witnessed it.
youre ignorance amazes me.
archer6831at 7-11-2009
Mitch, HELLO !!! I think you must br the dumba$$. You cant even see when someone is making a joke. Lay off the bong and let your head clear.