Woodstock 40th Anniversary Concert Canceled
- Posted on Aug 3rd 2009 12:00PM by John D. Luerssen
- Comments (61)
Plans for a concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of Woodstock have come to a halt according to promoter Michael Lang. The cost of staging a free concert and the failure to secure adequate sponsorship were cited as reasons why the event was canceled."Money. No sponsors," was Lang's response when asked by Rolling Stone why the anniversary event won't occur. Lang, who was one of the four original partners behind the original 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair, had hoped to hold a free concert in Brooklyn's Prospect Park later this month but those plans were postponed when he couldn't get the backing necessary to cover the $8 to 10 million cost.
Lang's subsequent plan to hold the concert in September during Climate Week, which runs from September 20-26, was also a bust. Had that event gotten off the ground, Lang, who was also behind the two previous Woodstock anniversary concerts in 1994 and 1999, insists "it would have been a big boost for the issue."
Although there will be no concert to commemorate the 40th anniversary milestone, Lang is still keeping the Woodstock name alive. On August 8, he'll attend an advance screening of the Demetri Martin-starring comedy 'Taking Woodstock', which is slated for widespread theatrical release on August 28. The movie is based on a book written by Elliot Tiber, who helped his parents run a motel in nearby Bethel during the original festival. Additionally, VH1 plans to air 'Woodstock : Now and Then,' a documentary directed by Academy Award winner Barbara Kopple and executive produced by Lang on August 14.
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Reader Comments(1 of 3)
Ross Rylanceat 8-03-2009
Please join us on October 25, 2009 in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA for "West Fest", 40th Anniversary of WOODSTOCK!
Robert V. Thomaat 8-03-2009
Who cares? Woodstock was no big deal, just a bunch of whinny dope smokers listening to talentless rockers perform crappy music. It was the apex of an era in America that is better off forgotten, from a generation that has done nothing but attack America, and ruin our culture for their children. Give it a rest and let it die.
Pamat 8-03-2009
So wrong. I imagine that you were not even a thought in your parents brains when Woodstock took place. Yeah--lot of dope smoking did go on but it was a part of that generation. As for the talentless rockers---you are SOOO wrong. Are you a rap "music" fan? There's a difference between music and the bull that kids listen to today. Some of those old rockers are still around---bet your favorites won't be 40 years from now
LEEat 8-03-2009
NO BIG DEAL??? While I wasn't born until 3 years later, Even I know it was a "very big deal" how clueless are you??
budoat 8-03-2009
DOLT!! I was there and it was a BIG DEAL!! When I returned home from it, I was tired and well rained on BUT enriched. No fighting, no fussing, peace, happiness and people all got along. TRY THAT TODAY!!!
Crappy rockers and their music?? That comment is not worth response. I can imagine who you would prefer--Boy George or these ludicrous rap artists.
Get a life and KNOWLEDGE!
judyat 8-03-2009
GO SUCK AN EGG ROBBIE BOY!!! BETTER YET SUCK A WHOLE BUNCH..SUPER BOOST YOUR CHOLESTEROL AND PUTT OUT!!!!!...THE BIGGEST AMOUNT OF DOPE WAS NOT SMOKED AT WOODSTOCK..LOOK IN THE MIRROR IMNBECILE..THE BIGGEST AMOUNT OF DOPE---YOU!!!!!!!!
JUDYat 8-03-2009
ROBBIE YOU ARE A SOUR FACED DOUR MOUTHED LOSER!!!! GO JUMP IN A TUBE OF BENGAY AND SMOTHER YOURSELF!!!!!!!!
Katherineat 8-05-2009
I guess you are too young or couldn't get a ticket.
mikeyat 8-03-2009
Your revisionist version of history just sounds old and stupid. You don't know anything.
Rickat 8-03-2009
Robert V. is obviously demented. The best music and musicians came directly from that Woodstock concert. Robert V sounds like a "closet" boy. Most likely preaches family values, all the while cheating on his boyfriend or girlfriend? Very typical from the Robert V hypocrits in our society!
jakeleeat 8-03-2009
I AGREE with this part of his statement: "It was the apex of an era in America that is better off forgotten, from a generation that has done nothing but attack America, and ruin our culture for their children."
The people of that generation made it cool to trip on acid, H or get high on pot, and now they wonder why their kids and grandkids are hooked on other drugs and pills. That in my opinion is the start of the moral decline of this nation. For kids in the 80's, 90's and this decade to see that earlier generation experiment with all they did and ask these later generations to find a direction of our own without the drugs is extremely hipacritical. It is because of the hippie movement that this country today is screwed. You all think you did something great for the country when in fact you did ruin the culture for your children.
I however DISAGREE with the music comment. Many very good and influential bands came out of this era, some not so good just like all eras. Rock and Roll will never die.
Question... why do the majority of you who comment about Roberts original post assume he listens to rap? I dislike the hippie movement as well and don't like rap. Typical stereotype from the steriotypical hippie.
Provoat 8-03-2009
Rob why don't you move to China & do us all a favor.
nickat 8-04-2009
i think all generations get won over by their landmark music festivals
woodstock came at a time and a place - plus it was aided with the fact that it was absent of advertising or corporate influence
good musicians - promoting good themes - good times - but i do agree that as time stands now, it's main memory is of a big rock concert with drugs and hippys, not the idea behind it
the first time i went to glasto i was blown away and felt enriched for years - similar to how woodstock attendees must have felt - but the diff is im not going to hold onto it for 40 years while the rest of my morales fly out the window and i become what i originally hated (yes, im talking to you, boomers)
end.
Dana Rat 8-09-2009
Hmmm, must be an ABBA fan..
Benjamin Powerat 8-13-2009
No! Rob, This is Woodstock '69 were talkin about...You must be confused...or high...or just Fu(kin stupid.
Do you even know what music is?? how old are you anyway??
angelique doudnikovaat 8-17-2009
"FROM A GENERATION THAT HAS DONE NOTHING BUT ATTACK AMERICA"???
What exactly do you mean by that? That they verbally - in song and spoken word - attacked the idea of senselessly dying in the thousands in a war half a world away for the sake of what? Fear of the spread of notions of communism? What generation are you from that you prefer war to peace? When since 1969 has there been half a million people together sharing whatever they had with one another, giving out free food and drink and taking care of each other for three days in an open field??
Perhaps you should let your negativity go - or die with you.
Jabettat 8-03-2009
I was at Woodstock and it was experience that I was happy to be a part of. I was not the dope smokin, love makin hippie. I was a married lady with a wonderful husband and we happened to love the talented artists. Bet you never remembered them making it big. I wish ya'll could have been a part of it. Once in a lifetime. Never to be relived.
Daleat 8-03-2009
I'd LOVE to talk with you about being there! I a guy here that just recently told me he was at Woodstock. I got real excitd about it andf wanted to ask him things about it. The next time I saw him he was insulting a few people on the bus and doesn't seem like someone that I would want to talk to about it. The only reason I know of him is that he keeps bumping into me every so often gets a big smile on his face and says, "Thin White Line!", along with a thumbs up. That was my band's name, apparently he's seen us play and is a big fan.
Robert, rap is NEVER gonna be a SPEC on a fly's ass compared to what was going on in the `60's!! Woodstock was ALL about peace, love and music!! There were at least half a MILLION people there that weekend and not ONE bout of violence!!!! Let's see you do that today with your rap gods. You couldn't get 25 rap people together in a room 4 four hours without someone getting shot!!!! YOU DON'T HAVE A FUCKING CLUE!!!!!!
I don't give a rat's ass who performs it or what they're saying, rap is NOT music and NEVER will be!!!! Tell you what you do, pick your fave rap recording and either whistle or hum the "vocals"!! You CAN'T, because it's NOT MUSIC!!!! Get some staff paper and write the notations for the "vocals" on the sheet music. It'll all be a series of dots on ONE line.
Robert Vat 8-03-2009
Pam - you are so true about rap music, however the non mainstream rap music has excellent lyrics that are enlightening - try Dead Prez, Immortal Technique, and Sick Since.
Garyat 8-03-2009
Way to go Pam! You're right on target!
And with Santana [and other current and future greats] playing there, it was a wonderful showcase glimpse of the utterly fantastic music they - and others - would soon put on record for all time.
The 60s are the pinnacle of great rock music, and nothing on the scene today even comes close to the art created during those often tragic, yet wonderfully tumultuous times.
Gary Thomas