Cuarenta años

I believe there was a song that went, "It was twenty years ago today"... well, it was really forty and on that day I was sitting very close to the stage at Woodstock, maybe row 50, dead center. At the time, I lived in Upstate New York, not very far from the site, so we just jumped in the car and got there very early, early enough to watch setup and prep. I was a freshman in college and was there with my high school sweetheart. It was the time of concerts at large venues and I had been to a bunch. Plus, the Fillmore was close and many of the biggest names in the business were playing small intimate clubs and colleges. However, none of them prepared us for Woodstock.

I was interviewed for the 25th anniversary by Relix, the Dead's magazine. I can't remember what I say, but I bet I mentioned the first sound check and Richie Havens. The sound was so loud and clean, it was magical. This was long before the good equipment of today. We were used to hearing (or not hearing which was often the case) stuff through really crappy amps and PA's. So when Ritchie played his guitar and the sound was so clean, pure and powerful, we knew we were in for a good time. And sure, people were high on many things besides the music, but damn, it was a fine buzz - The Who, Hendrix, John Sabastian, CSN&Y, Sly, Santana... damn, I was there. Great memories.