Peace, Love and Fires

I was trolling Reddit last night and came across the top 10 corporate moments in rock n' roll from Earvolution
I was disappointed the whole Napster/Metallica spat didn't make it, but in no way can I argue with the top choice. Woodstock '99. Here's what it said.

"Raping their own legacy and sinking to deplorable depths of capitalistic corporate behavior, Woodstock's organizers tried one last time to milk a dollar out of 3 more days of peace love and music. To counteract the storied legions of festival-goers who crashed the gates at the original Bethel, NY concert and its 1994 Saugerties, NY sequel, Woodstock 99 took place at the well-defended Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY. The fenced in, concrete covered space not only kept anyone without a $150 ticket (a steep price at that time) outside the gates, it also trapped in the 90 degree heat. Bringing life to the grizzly yet surefire marketing concept of selling water in the desert, the festival's organizers were more than happy to hydrate the sweltering fans - for $6 a bottle. Contrary to the spirit of brotherhood fostered at the original Woodstock, everything at Woodstock 99 was for sale, with corporate tents and ATMs set up throughout the grounds. By Sunday night, the breaking point had been reached. Limp Bizkit's "Break Stuff" seemed to inspire many in the crowd to recklessness and by the time the Red Hot Chili Peppers launched into Jimi Hendrix' "Fire," rowdy, lawless fans had attacked numerous booths, ruined a great deal of merchandise and destroyed the Woodstock myth beyond repair. Woodstock 99's desire to wring every last cent out of their franchise, to the point of turning the crowd into a dehydrated, captive mass of marketing targets for food, water and merchandise, created the circumstances that led to the perfect storm of revolt against the "noble" corporate goal of maximizing profits at the expenses of the most communal, anti-commercial festival in rock and roll history."
-David Shultz

Ahhh. so very true. Enjoy Woodstock 99, brought to you by the same people as "My Super Sweet 16" on MTV. I mean, I was fucking there, man, and that's what it was. The lines at the ATMs were 20 deep, until they all ran out of money late in day 2. Around the same time as the epic East Stage night line-up of Limp Bizkit, Rage against the Machine and Metallica. During Limp Bizkit's set, people started tearing 10x4 planks of plywood off of somewhere and crowd surfing on top of them. And then someone stole Fred Dursts hat. At least the slogan for the weekend was "inked, pierced and ready to rock."
Fucking shills.

Really the only positive memory I have left besides "bobbin and weaving in the old GB" is Sean trying to regulate the fire-building due to his status as a volunteer fireman back home. Which usually meant we needed more wood from the "peace wall." Even the guy with a clown face painted on his cock and balls couldn't brighten the day.





"You wanna go to the all night rave in the giant hangar that used to hold B-52s? No, not the B-52s, its not a Love Shack."









But seriously, nothing says Woodstock like "killing in the name of"


edit: watch for the girl "having a tough time crowd surfing" appx. 1:30 in. Woodstock '99 the gift that keeps on raping!