My Recollections of Woodstock (Part 1) This weekend is the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock festival. There isn't a year goes by without me thinking about Woodstock as it made a big impression on me as a 25 year old drummer. Many impressions have been given by artists over the years and they've varied from vague memories to clear recollections. I recall everything with great clarity; I wasn't stoned, just frightened to death! It's odd with hindsight how things fall into place, I'd made one album for Decca called 'Halfbreed' and it had done quite well in the UK and so it was released on the London label for the US market. As a means of promotion, the record company thought that we should play at Woodstock as we were going over to the 'states on a series of dates to promote the album. The band and I looked that the list of bands that were going to be playing at Woodstock and we just couldn't believe it - this concert was obviously going to be special and it was our very first gig in America! The record company organised everything which was just as well. We landed in New York on the Friday and we were told to be in the foyer of the hotel at 10am the following morning. Me and the band were ushered into a station wagon and driven out of town and into a field were there was just a shack with a massive aerial and not a lot else. We were told to go into the shack and not to leave until we were told to. This was a helicopter landing pad and I'd never been in a helicopter in my life and I thought 'Oh shit'! So, from inside the shack we heard a helicopter land but we were told 'no no this one is for medical supplies'. We heard another chopper and more people were ushered into the shack, this time doctors and nurses who immediately left when the next helicopter arrived. This was starting to look like a war zone and we hadn't even got to Woodstock yet. Finally a National Guard helicopter arrived and this one was for us so we kept our heads down, clambered on board and headed off for Woodstock. The flight was uneventful although I was scared to death i don't mind admitting! As we approached Woodstock, I could see in the distance what looked like a patchwork quilt on the ground and as we got closer it looked more colourful. Eventually I could see the stage and then it became clear what the patchwork quilt was - it was the crowd. The scale was unbelievable - just seeing all those people in proportion to what seemed like a tiny little stage was a sight I will never forget. Keef(Friday 14th August 2009) Watch out for Part 2 tomorrow. |
My Recollections of Woodstock (Part 2) The helicopter touched down and we were taken to a backstage area which was built from logs, cavalry style and given very specific instructions: "If you have a can of anything to drink, don't leave it unattended and then go back and drink from it again (in case it got spiked)" and "Don't stop playing until the stage starts to revolve" I'd better clarify that one - the stage was split into two and whilst one band was playing, the next band would get into position on the other side and then around 20 burly blokes would revolve the primitive stage made from shuttering plywood by hand! The organisers didn't want much in the way of a gap in the music because they thought as long as music was playing, there would be no trouble in the crowd! We moved from the backstage area into the stage wings to watch Santana and we were told "Right, get ready, you're on next". We'd only been there just under an hour after the chopper landed and we were on. As Santana finished we were already set up at the rear of the stage and it began to revolve. We were introduced by John Sebastian and I remember saying to the crowd "This is our first gig in the USA and we're honoured to be with such good musical company". We launched into our set and we gave it everything we had - there was no chance to have a sound check, we just got on with it. The set lasted about two hours and we could feel the stage start to jerk as it moved around ready for the next band which was Canned Heat. We could hear Canned Heat start their set as we left the back of the stage - it was that slick. I can remember as if it was yesterday listening to Canned Heat in the wings and thinking I'm a lad from Preston, Lancashire at the world's biggest music festival and I'm listening to Canned Heat - I was just in awe of what was happening. We didn't get much time to listen to Canned Heat when we told that a chopper was waiting for us to get us back to New York. My biggest regret about Woodstock is the fact that we didn't have time to listen to the other bands - most of them heroes to me. We played at Woodstock but didn't get the chance to listen to much. The reason? Believe it or not we had a gig at the Electric Circus in East Village the same evening and had to get back in order to get there in time!! Keef
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My Recollections of Woodstock (Part 3) Not a word was said by any of the band as we flew back to NYC from Woodstock. We were all just trying to make sense of what just happened and that wasn't easy! When we got back to the hotel, there wasn't much time to dwell on the events of the day as we had to prepare for the evening's gig at the Electric Circus - it was now business as usual. Woodstock was massive in every way, the scale of the event, the mood of the people it reflected, the music and the legacy it left behind. I sometimes can't believe it when I think back that, as a young band, we had the opportunity to be part of it. Other English bands turned it down, not realising how big this was going to be. they include the likes of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Procol Harum and The Moody Blues. I can understand The Beatles not performing; they were all but finished by then and John Lennon was in Canada at the time. I certainly can't take any credit for having any foresight - The Keef Hartley band played there because a) the record company thought we should because we were already going to America and b) because I wanted to see all my musical heroes play! As I said previously, it was such a tight schedule I didn't get to see anyone properly. I always get asked about the fact that we didn't get filmed at Woodstock so we don't appear on any footage of the event. It's pretty well known that our manager was the one who refused permission for us to be filmed (along with other bands too) because he was looking for an up front fee. We changed our management as soon as we returned to England because of that and other accumulated reasons. People I speak to seem to think that I must be really cheesed off with the fact it wasn't filmed. I say why would anyone who had the opportunity to play Woodstock by cheesed off? I think I'd be really pissed off if I was Led Zeppelin - that was a big mistake for them. If they had performed at Woodstock it would have taken two years less to launch their popularity in the 'states. In any case it's pointless looking back - you make a decision and go for it right or wrong. Another question I get asked is 'were you paid for appearing or was it just honouring Decca's contract?' Well, for the record, we were paid £1000 which in 1969 was a tidy enough sum but we would have done it for nothing, such was the hope for humanity the event seemed to offer. I'd like to thank everyone who has sent emails with great memories of those days. It's an event that a lot of people won't forget, even life changing for some. As I said when I started writing this, I recall it all with great clarity because we were young eager musicians who were visiting America for the first time and our eyes were wide open in awe of what was happening around us and also in hope that the world would change. Peace and Love Keef |