Book a tribute to Woodstock

  A frequently asked question is “Where were you when Kennedy was shot?” Another question of that era would be “Where were you when Woodstock took place?” Both were defining moments in history.
  With the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock music festival this year, many people who were a part of the extravaganza are telling their stories of the three days of peace, love and music. And one of the most interesting tales comes from the man who thought the festival up himself.
  Michael Lang’s book, “The Road To Woodstock: From The Man Behind The Legendary Festival,” follows Lang’s journey from a hippie headshop owner in Miami to becoming the driving force behind the Woodstock event.
  It would not cross a lot of people’s minds to think of the work that was involved to put together a show of this magnitude but actually months and months of work went into organizing and finalizing the details that resulted in the final event. Lang and his partners went out and found the best people in the various fields of music, promotion and construction to create what would be known as Woodstock Ventures. It was a massive undertaking. There were stages to be built, concessions to bring in, and the ever-present port-a-potties to arrange for. And Lang documents each and every detail that had to be worked out.
  Perhaps the biggest obstacle the partnership faced was finding an actual place to hold the concert. After battling and losing to the bigoted town council of Wallkill, N.Y., just weeks before the festival was scheduled, Lang was lucky to stumble upon Max Yagsur’s farm which would become the location where the world would amass for three days of music.
  Lang includes the memories of the people he worked closely with, including the musicians who brought the music to life. There are quotes from Carlos Santana, Pete Townsend, Levon Helm and many others. There are also wonderful photos of the behind-the-scenes action backstage and throughout the “village” that had cropped up during the festival.
“The Road To Woodstock” is Lang’s version of what happened during the months leading up to the famous event. It was his baby from the start, and he watched it mature into a historical moment never to be forgotten. His book is a fascinating tribute to that hard work.