With Woodstock's 40th Anniversary fast approaching, many of the legendary performers are sure to recall the finest aspects of that historic event and their special performances, the moments where they connected with everyone and everything around them. Legendary folk singer Arlo Guthrie, on the other hand, had quite a different yet still profound experience.

"I was never anticipating performing that day," Guthrie tells Spinner. "So, I was excessing in all kind of indulgences. And after that day, I never did again. Because when I heard the record and saw the movie, I said, 'Oh my god. You can't make a living doing this.' It was the best time in my life but it was the worst moment in my life, both at the same time!"

Although his choices scared him straight, there were a few things that were going on that were outside of Guthrie's control. First, he says the crowd wasn't that focused on what he was doing. "We knew that there was never going to be an opportunity to play in front of that many people that were that distracted," he recalls. "I look back on it fondly, but it was a course correction that I made as a result from performing there."

Also, there was the issue of his mic not being turned on at the start of his set. The version you hear on 'Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More' has a different beginning spliced within. "It had to be the same key, in the same tempo, from the same era," he says. "And that's what you hear on the record. They substituted the first verse with music from an entirely different event. And the rest of the song goes on, as we're doing it. I just discovered that."

For a better Guthrie highlight from '69, check out his recently unearthed lost recording that will be released on his own Rising Son Records next week. You can also see him this fall, when e's scheduled to hit the road with his children as part of the 'Guthrie Family Rides Again' tour. Expect the mics to be turned on this time.