Twenty-five years before I was born, a historical event occurred. It was, "A symbol of solidarity for the generations of flower children, Vietnam protestors, hippies, and other young people in their revolution against "The Establishment". Anyone who would define that movement in 1969, as a part of Rock History, would do so as one word, "Woodstock".In 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair drew more than 450,000 people to a pasture in Sullivan County, New York. For four days, this site became a, "Counter cultural mini nation", in which drugs were all but legal, music was plenty, and love was free. The music began Friday afternoon at 5:07 p.m. August 15, and continued until mid- morning Mon ...view middle of the document...
It read "Young Men With Unlimited Capital looking for interesting, legitimate investment opportunities and business propositions." They got thousands of replies. After John and Joel researched more of what they did they decided to abandon it. The two went from would-be-television writers to wanna-be venture capitalists. "Somehow, we became the characters in our own show," Joel said.Artie Kornfeld was 25 years old. He liked to wear suits but lapels were a little wide and his hair was brushed up on the top of his ears. He was the Vice President at Capitol Records. He was the company's connection with the rockers who were starting to sell million of records and he enjoyed smoking hash in his office. He wrote about Thirty hit singles, one was "Dead Man's Curve," it was recorded by Jan and Dean. "Cowsills" was another band he wrote songs and produced for.Michael Lang didn't wear shoes very often. A cosmic pixie with a head full of curly black hair that bounced to his shoulders, this is how his friends described him. When Michael was Twenty-three he owned the first head shop in the state of Florida. In 1968, Michael produced one of the biggest rock shows ever, the two day Miami Pop festival, which drew 40,000 people. At 24 he was the manger of a rock group called Train, he wanted to sign a record deal with. In Decemeber1968, he bought his proposal to Artie Kornfeld ant the Capital Records.Michael and Artie both lived in Bensonhurst, Queens. Michael got a appointment by telling the record company's receptionist that he was "from the neighborhood." The two guys hit it off immediately. Michael moved in with Lang and Arties wife Linda not very long after they met. They lived in a New York apartment. They had all night conversations and rumbling on while they smoked a few joints.An Idea they had was for a cultural exposition/rock/concert/extravaganza. And another idea was to have recording studio, to be in the woods more that 100 miles from Manhattan in a town called Woodstock. The location would reflect the back to the land spirit of the counterculture. By the late 1960's, musicians like Bob Dylan, The Band, Tim Hardin, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin were moving to the area and wanted a state of the art studio.Michael and Artie were searching in the classifieds for someone with money so they could have a festival and have money for a recording studio. They never saw the "young men with unlimited capital" ad, but the lawyer they had recommended they talk to Joel Roseman and John Roberts. The four men met in February of 1969. They were interested in the project. They wanted a written proposal, which Artie and Michel had but they left it behind. They all agreed to meet again with a budget to set for the festival.Michael and Artie say Woodstock was always planned as the largest festival ever held. At the second meeting Michael recalls setting a budget at $500,000 and attendance of 100,000. Michel looked in to locations for the festival to be h...
