4:32 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, 1969
Right now we’re experiencing a terrible, terrible storm at Max Yasgur’s field. I’m talking bad.
The rain started just after Joe Cocker’s set, and hasn’t stopped; in fact, it’s only grown in tenacity. Onstage the announcer was ordering people down from the sound towers, as the wind is blowing tremendously every which way.
Before that, however, Cocker impressed mightily. He performed the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends” with so much soul, it probably single-handedly brought the rain. Amazing, staggering performance shimmying all over the stage.
I gotta hide right now. I’ll be back soon.
1:35 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, 1969
Joe Cocker – a young English singer who recorded the Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends,” will perform first today, sometime around 3 p.m.
Right now people are gathering their lunches and bathing in the pond. Max Yasgur has been awake all weekend, pacing around and moving his milk trucks toward the stage. And we’ve received word that the Army National Guard is dropping food from helicopters any time now. We are in a federal disaster area.
9:56 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, 1969
The Jefferson Airplane have wrapped up their set and the sun is now high in the sky.
It’s day three of the Aquarian Festival, and currently we’re only finished day two. If that makes sense.
A run of the biggest acts of the day went through the night. We had Creedence Clearwater, then Sly & the Family Stone, then Janis Joplin, the Who and the Airplane.
Best of the lot was Sly, manically moving around and screaming at the top of his lungs. The Who also were electric, playing their full newest record “Tommy.” Pete Townshend bonked a guy on his head – I’m pretty sure that guy was Abbie Hoffman, leader of the Yippies.
People are asleep now, while others are freaking out, bad acid trips all over the place. It’s cold now, so most are bundling up. Should be a good day of rock later, with acts like the Band, Paul Butterfield and Jimi Hendrix wrapping the show up. Crowd is about 300,000 deep now, as some people left overnight. Still an unbelievable mass of people today.
12:49 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, 1969
As we reach the third day of the Aquarian Exposition, we’re seeing no end in sight. Still a bunch of acts to go before this second day ends. The Grateful Dead started about an hour and a half late, and right now they haven’t sounded too great. A lot of pitch problems. They’re in and out. Plus it’s past midnight — I’m convinced this band works better in the late afternoon.
People are stoned out of their mind. A lot of kids are in the Freak Out tents, trying to rehab after some bad acid trips. There’s also a lot of sex. I’m hearing different things from my vantage point, which is with a few kids who I’ve started talking with. They’re from Utica. They don’t know how they’re getting home, since they hitchhiked here.
Good luck, men.
8:28 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, 1969
Finished up the story for tomorrow. Right now on stage is Canned Heat, a hard rock band with real bellow and hard guitar. Their lead singer is The Bear. Real big dude. A man ran onstage, but the Bear just hugged up and lit up his cigarette. Real peaceful.
Crowd really into it now. They’re rocking hard. Pond is no longer filled with nude people, which I was among. A girl even gave me a soap down on the back. Everyone is real cool and groovy out here, and thankfully, I’m clean.
Mountain is coming up next, then some real heavy hitters: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sly and the Family Stone, Janis Joplin, the Who, Jefferson Airplane. Wow, man, biggest bands of the day.
6:24 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, 1969
Santana, or Carlos Santana, really rocked today at the Aquarian. Brought a lot of good vibes to the festival. The 22-year-old can wail.
It’s about time for me to grab some food, take my shower dip in the pond with the other nudes and start writing my story for the morning edition. Most of the story will concentrate on the amount of people in Bethel — nearly 500,000 people here since Friday. The place is a disaster area, and the state of New York cannot handle it anymore. The U.S. government is going to fly in some reinforcements, and some are a little nervous about it. Still, everyone is mostly at peace.
5:14 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, 1969
A young band, Santana, is starting up their set on stage. The guitarist, Carlos Santana, is 22. Mustache aside, he looks like a kid.
There’s a lot of bad stuff floating around. Bad acid, bad water, bad sandwiches. Peanut butter and jelly are being made up at the top of the hill. The Hog Farm has ran out of food. People are eating Hershey bars and bread, whatever they can find. But people are sharing and calm. Really, it’s just a big happy fest right now.
Still, I’ve been told we’re in a disaster area, and highways are shut down 50 miles every which way. This whole festival is world news. It’s incredible. Looking around, I honestly can’t believe it.
3:58 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, 1969
John Sebastian just played a real nice set of soothing folk and singing music. He closed with “Younger Generation,” a nice tune.
I got some word that there’s been some freak outs, and people are being checked on in tents toward the back. Everyone is real cool, though: Nurses are stroking people’s arms and talking to them calmly. Then there’s mescaline, which also does the trick.
Meanwhile over at a pond nearby, some kids started jumping in naked. I’d guess they’re bathing — nobody here has really showered since Thursday. Including me.
I might need to jump in the pond, too.
Keef Hartley Band is minutes away from starting.
Hendrix closes it up
10:11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, 1969
Jimi Hendrix just finished the Aquarian Exposition with an unbelievable performance.
He played many of his well-known songs, as well as stuff like “Villanova Junction.” But best of all was his performance of “Purple Haze,” which started with an impromptu cover of the national anthem. He weaved his guitar feed in and out, echoing bombs and rockets. It was a twisted, maniacal version of the song, but studied and deep. Very cool. Very, very cool.
Watching him was a reduced crowd, as many people left overnight. Maybe about 70,000 remained to watch Hendrix jam onstage, just playing whatever. It was an odd, anti-climactic end to the festival, but certainly was an incredible show.
I’ll have more soon.