Nineteen Sixty-Nine was a
very ripe year for the concert-goer of the legendary 1960s of which it
is nostalgically said “If you remember the 60’s, you weren’t really there.”
Well, I was really there!
And I remember reading the news reports, and the photos of three “free” yet troublesome
major concerts. Though not in attendance at any of them, they nonetheless had
much impact upon me.
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| Shea Stadium 1965 (I claim Fair Use) |
Please note that my
personal review of the history of 1960s concerts begins with the Beatles 1965
Shea Stadium event (I know, I leave out have of the decade). I was not present
at this event, but it was this concert which first got my attention of the
culture, sensation, and sense of ephemeral community attached to a large
gathering of people for a “rock band” experience.
As well-planned as was
this 1965 event, I consider it the debut of an emerging rock phenomena.
The year 1969 closed out
the decade with some events that seemed quite ad hoc in execution.
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| Rooftop of Apple Records (Fair Use) |
To begin, there on the
rooftop of Apple Records, January 30, 1969, we have the Beatles performing,
quite impromptu and free to the world, about forty minutes worth of yet to be
released music, which caused traffic congestion, disruption of business, and
involvement of police.
Oh, how I wish I could
have been there atop that roof, looking down upon the commotion.
No longer were there
teenage girls screaming until they faint into the arms of folk who will
protectively attend to them. News video show the gathering crowd as comparatively
subdued in response and interest as if to indicate a sense of “Now what are
they up to?”
Though the rooftop shenanigan
remains, probably, more legendary than even Shea Stadium, it also then served
as harbinger of other ripe concert events with dubious consequences.
Such as was Woodstock.
Though well-planned, the
Woodstock event also turned out to provide some very uncomfortable side
effects. Many folk experienced health problems. Food and water had to be
distributed by National Guard. Though there were ticket sales, at one point,
because of the flood of people and no fencing to control them, it was announced
that the concert was “now free”. Yes, like the Beatles roof top…free, yet
troublesome.
I wonder how many divorces
resulted as a consequence of this event.
Oh, how glad I am that I
did not get a ride to that event, as I, at age 14, was trying desperately to do.
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| Fair Use...I do not monetize |
And of course, on
December 6, 1969, sunsetting the year in rock and roll extravagance, we have
the Altamont Concert which was designed as a free event yet also met with much
problem. This event turned violent and even deadly for Meridith Hunter. I will
leave it to you to read about it on Wikipedia or some other source.
Oh, how glad I am to not
have even considered that one.
I don’t mean to dampen
the excitement associated with these legendary concerts of 1969. But let us
remember that they came at great cost to those who paid a price other than a
ticket.
Yes, 1969 was a very ripe
year for the concert experience.
It was also the inaugural
year for what has become infamously known as the “27 Club”.
Yes, July 3, 1969, Brian
Jones of the Stones died at age 27, followed by Jimi and Janis the following
year, and Morrison in 1971.
But I bifurcate.
Think of a banana that
has become mushy. That is how I think of the legendary year of 1969.
Thank goodness for Neil
Armstrong and company to give the year a high point!
