Bands who played at Woodstock 50 years ago and some were just at the edge of being in their prime.

And Woodstock pushed them over.

Back then, a three-day ticket cost just $18…giving attendees access to now legends like Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Sly and the Family Stone, and Sha-Na-Na (who apparently were totally amazing.)

What a bargain. Right?

Established bands like The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Santana and The Band, they were all there.

Others like Country Joe and the Fish…famous for their protest song “1, 2, 3, 4…What are we fighting for?”, Canned Heat, Melanie, Ten Years After, Jonny Winters and Jeff Beck Group.

It all started Friday July 15th with opener Richie Havens who had to keep playing because the next group hadn’t yet arrived. No doubt it was because of too much traffic getting into that little town in upstate New York.

The one that no one would ever think of in the same way. Ever.

Woodstock welcomed them all, especially Blood Sweat and Tears, Joe Cocker, Crosby, Stills & Nash (before there was a Young,) Jimi Hendrix and Iron Butterfly when they were all definitely in their prime. They say you can’t really go back and this year, with the revival concert looking like it will fail to come true, it appears that you actually can’t.

~ Dawn aka Hat Girl