The original 1969 was hatched on a handshake deal by Lang and a few others who wanted to hold a music and arts festival. The place, bands, and size of the grounds constantly morphed during the seven months between conception and execution. This type of 'ever changing scenario' would not be allowed in today's world. Neither would a 'handshake' deal. Hell, even Lang knew this at the start of his 50th anniversary idea because it was mostly and heavily backed by a Japanese financial conglomerate. What kind of contracts and confidentiality agreements would poor old Max Yasgur have to sign if he were still alive today?
Everything is a business now. Air. Water. Literally everything. And how about these 'radius clauses' (MEANING: a tour promoter stipulates that a performer, for a certain length of time prior to or following an appearance at a concert or festival, must not hold concerts at other locations within a certain radius of the city where they are to perform. In essence, it gives the promoter a form of territorial exclusivity, ensuring that the performer does not book concerts with competing promoters and venues in nearby areas, which can undermine ticket sales for their main event.) This kind of thing forced several bands to drop out because of ties to companies like Live Nation who love this type of practice.
Would legendary rock concert promoter Bill Graham have done that type of thing? Hell no, man. Live and let live, right? When the original Woodstock ran out of tickets to sell, the promoters started to just let people in for free because they felt that if these people who came from everywhere, they shouldn't be denied entry because of their poor job at ticket selling. Like, pretty heavy, huh?
What would have happened if at the end of Jimi Hendrix's appearance at the 1969 event, he suddenly grabbed the mic and said 'I'm gonna be auctioning off this guitar I was playing right after the show and whoever gives me the most money or five football fields full of hash can have it?" I believe the hippie dream would have gone up its own ass right then and there.
Not everything needs a sequel. Woodstock is just one of those things. I'm sure Mr. Lang had good intentions (he was trying to raise money to promote voter participation) but these intentions are just going to have to stand on their own two feet as a separate entity. Bummer.
