TRAINWRECK: WOODSTOCK 99 – IT’S SO F*CKED

Trainwreck: Woodstock 99 is a Netflix series talking about the disaster that unfolded at Woodstock 1999 in New York, USA. In this article, Liam Barlow of Unearthed Music talks about why it is still so shocking to hear about the events that unfolded and to talk about the disgusting behaviours that where pretty much allowed to be carried out at this particular event to raise awareness to all those in and outside of the industry as nothing like this should ever happen again.

Please be aware when reading that this article contains sensitive language, topics such as sexual assault are mentioned and may contain images that could be upsetting.

Author: Liam Barlow – CEO of Unearthed Music

+ Derby Alt Fest

I was going to write a nice humbling piece about how well my Desolated show went on Saturday 6th August in Derby, and the underground UKHC scene in general, but then I watched Trainwreck: WoodStock 99 and it’s honestly all I can think about. I thought I knew a lot about the festival and what happened, but after watching the new Netflix series, I’m just in shock.

Being a promoter myself I just cant get the sour taste out of my mouth about Michael Lang and John Scher and their absolute neglect to the 220,000 plus paying guests they had on site. I understand about outsourcing to gain more sponsorship money and such but what they did is just next level removal of basic human rights, such as water and safety. The festival was in New York, its not exactly a third world country.

I’m going off the back that most of you have seen the series by now, but if you haven’t go and watch it and then come back to this article, you’ll understand more where I’m coming from and where my pure rage and sadness has materialised.

So Lang did the first Woodstock in 1969 and its probably the greatest and most renowned festival in the world right? The free love and peace vibes that you think of when the 1960’s comes into your mind, it was great, or so I’m told. So why, why, do you think to yourself 30 years later (without taking into account the failed fest a few years before – which should have been a sign) lets do it again ?? One reason, money.

Am I the only person watching the series and thinking that Lang, yes now deceased, lived in an awfully nice house and smiled a lot for someone talking about it all ? After doing some digging I’ve found that 37-45 million dollars was made from Woodstock 99…. That’s just the promoters from ticket sales and such. Wonder if anyone was given any compensation for being treated like vermin for a weekend?

So lets talk about what went wrong, contaminated water, not enough shaded areas or chill zones, it was full of litter, over priced items (which they increased over the weekend due to demand – get f***ed), severe lack of professional security – you had that dude talking who spoke about selling his shirt for 400 dollars (again, get f***ed), not enough knowledge of the new age scene – putting Korn just before Bush ?!?!?! and just damn right sexual harassment on every level, from artists to audience. This as well as just the pure negligence and lack of care from the people in charge, those press conferences that Lang and Scher did just made me want to throw my remote at my TV.

Yes, you can talk about generational differences and the fact that no one forced them to get totally messed up etc, but I think id lose my mind after being penned in on hot concrete, and being charged 12 dollars for a bottle of water after being not allowed to take your own in. On top of everything else.

I really need to touch on this, but the Fat Boy Slim scene with the truck and what the production team saw happening in the back just left me jaw dropped and upset, I wont go into it in this but I’m sure all those who have seen it can agree. As well as all the stories that came out after the fest, if this is what was reported, I can only (horribly) imagine what never was brought to light. I have two step daughters who are my world and it really did bring a tear to my eye of just the thought of what women, and even girls (like the one who talks on the series who was 14 at the time of Woodstock) had to just go through that weekend. NO ONE SHOULD FEEL UNSAFE AT SHOWS.

As the end of the three part series approached and the riots began I didn’t feel shocked at this point, I understood why, everything I’ve ever read or been told about Woodstock 99 was just that the crowd was too big and they were just wild (fair enough I’ve never delved into it as much as I probably should have), so to finally know the ins and outs I got it. But seriously, why give out 100,000 f***ing candles to people who you have just annoyed for 3 days??! Sort of asking for trouble. Made me laugh when Scher commented saying that the fire fighters should “Do their f***ing job” – maybe you should have done yours better…. I honestly think things would have been different if they had not done the vigil and added the actual secret band, was just a ploy to keep people until the end through another day of awful conditions and overpriced basic items. Lang & Scher basically just armed an angry crowd with fire and let them loose.

– Liam Barlow

Footage of the moment that all hell broke loose at Woodstock 99 can be seen during Limp Bizkit’s performance of ‘Break Stuff’, after this performance, there was no saving this gig. The organisers of Woodstock 99, in particular John Scher blamed the Limp Bizkit crew as they did not attempt to calm the crowd down, when in actuality the reason the crowd was so aggressive was due to the poor organisation and the fact everyone had been treated like animals.

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