Why They Didn’t Show: Why Some Great Acts Never Showed up at Woodstock, Man!

| April 8, 2014 | 0 Comments

By: Jack Castillo If you care about rock music from around 1969 then you are likely aware of the greatest music festival that has ever set its gentile fingers of starvation on this earth…EVER! However, this music milestone ,that took place in Woodstock NY “Bob Dylan’s back yard”,was turned down by some amazing artists for miscellanies  reasons. Here are all I could find:

Bob Dylan- Bob Dylan set off for another music festival in England via the ship “Queen Elisabeth II” on Woodstock’s opening day, however Dylan’s son when one of his children became ill. He came home and was quite distraught by the festival. He later did go to the other music fest.

The Beatles/ John Lennon- The supergroup really wanted to go, however they were in Canada at the time and couldn’t get to America in time. In addition the band was on the verge of disbandment.

The Jeff Beck Group- Beck’s group broke up shortly beforehand and canceled, but their pianist played with Jefferson Airplane.

The Doors- They didn’t think it be as big as it was, they lived to regret the decision.

Led Zeppelin- Zeppelin declined because they “would just be another band on a bill”.

The Byrds- The Byrds decided not to go because they were “burnt out on the festival scene, but then we missed the beast one.”

Chicago Transit Authority (Chicago)- Their manager rescheduled their tour forcing them to miss Woodstock.

Tommy James & The Shondells- The were in Hawaii when their manager called them saying “Yeah, listen, there’s this pig farmer in upstate New York that wants you to play in his field.” they denied due to this description.

The Moody Blues- Backed out due to another concert in Paris, France the same weekend.

Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention- Booked in Montreal.

Arthur Lee & Love- There was a lot of inner turmoil within the band at the time.

Free- [DECLINED] couldn’t find anymore on that.

Mind Garage- These guys didn’t think it would me as big a deal as it was and had a higher paying job somewhere else.

Spirit- Didn’t think it would be big, wanted to play other gigs.

Joni Mitchell- Missed due to an appearance on The Dick Cavett Show.

Lighthouse-[DECLINED] couldn’t find anymore on that.

Roy Rogers-[DECLINED] couldn’t find anymore on that.

Procal Harum- Refused due to their tour closing then and guitarist Robin Trower’s baby was due.

Jethro Tull- Hated hippies…that’s it.

Iron Butterfly- These beasts of rock was stuck at the airport because apparently an Iron Butterflies are flightless.

It’s A Beautiful Day- When Michael Lang (owner of the land) was negotiating for the Grateful Dead to come but their manager said he wanted another band to come. Lang flipped a coin between It’s A Beautiful Day and Santana…Santana won.

It’s unfortunate that these bands didn’t attend this amazing festival, but at least these talented artists hard good careers without the great festival.

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Category: Arts & Entertainment, Front Page, News

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