Woodstock at 50: Anatomy of a Revolution

by Aidan Prewett

Overview

As the 1960’s drew to a close, the gathering at Woodstock defined a moment in history and redefined the world of music and politics over the course of a single weekend. From the Cuban Missile Crisis to the Vietnam war, Woodstock placed three days of peace and music amid a decade of political turmoil.

Woodstock At 50 by Aidan Prewett captures this significant, historical anti-war movement and event from luminaries that were a part of the 1960’s hotbed of political and musical revolution. The collection of interviews with Woodstock performers, crew, and a host of entertainment icons such as Chip Monck, Michael Shrieve (Santana), Joe McDonald (Country Joe & the Fish), D.A. Pennebaker (Monterey Pop), and Dick Cavett, offer perspectives from the sixties for today’s bizarre political landscape. Placing the reader at Hendrix’s feet during the Star Spangled Banner and in Mick Jagger’s dressing room after Altamont, the book also delves deeper into the philosophical legacy of Woodstock and the political implications of the festival.

Woodstock at 50 isn’t just about the music, it’s about the wider meaning of the Woodstock festival, its impact on world culture, and how it engendered a sense of belonging for an entire generation. The book looks at the connection between music and politics, exploring the festival through the lens of music as a tool of the revolution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781895131390
Publisher:	Political Animal Publishing Inc.
Publication date:	08/10/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	332
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Upon completion of his Master of Film&Television in 2009, Aidan Prewett was presented with the coveted Victorian College of the Arts Best Achievement in Direction, as well as Best Documentary Script. Carrying on his work in personal documentary storytelling, he soon found himself flown to a number of film festivals in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, where his films have picked up various awards and honors. Prewett's films often feature a strong music focus, from the historical Me and the Devil Blues, about the legendary Robert Johnson, to the '60's rock/politics documentary A Venue for the End of the World and the aural addiction of Me, Myself&iPod. His non-music documentaries include Selected Works of Uncle Neill and most recently The Trump Antidote. Prewett's films have been shot on location across the globe and feature a host of entertainment luminaries. His first non-fiction book is entitled Woodstock at 50.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Preface 9
Introduction 11

PART ONE
Woodstock 19
Country Joe McDonald 23
Chip Monck 37
Michael Shrieve 49
John Morris 59
Dale Bell 70
Jeanne Field 81
John Binder 86

PART TWO
Altamont and the Aftermath 99
Altamont 101
Ian Anderson 110
Dick Cavett 116
D.A. Pennebaker 126
Chris Hegedus 139
The Crowd Mind 147

PART THREE
Present Day 157
Paul Provenza 159
The Gregory Brothers 168
Ted Leo 177
Jann Klose 191
Groupthink 199
Subversive Politics 205

PART FOUR
Psychology 217
Dr. Justin Clemens 218
Professor Leon Mann, AO 231
Professor John Frow 246
Professor Louise Hitchcock 256

PART FIVE
Conclusion: The Ariadne Thread 271
The Power of the Crowd 273
A Culture War 281
Backstage Stories 294
The Power of Music 306
Hope for the Future 312

Outro 317
Acknowledgements 327

Editorial Reviews

"This is flavor-filled; wrapped in the experience. Get to it!"
?Chip Monck, Woodstock M.C.

"I was 13 when Woodstock happened and I'm part of the generation who grew up in the wake of one of the most mythical gatherings of our time. You think of the assassinations of JFK and John Lennon, the landing on the Moon and Woodstock in the same breath. It was that significant and entrenched in history and popular culture. I thought I knew pretty much all there was about Woodstock. I've heard all the music, seen the film, read the memoirs - and then I encountered Aidan Prewett's book and realised there was still a lot to learn. This is essential reading for anyone who has ever wondered what it would have been like to have actually been there."
?Stuart Coupe, Dirt Music/Tune Up and Author of ?Roadies?

From the Publisher