Woodstock Clamps Down on Deadbeats
The organizers of this summer’s Woodstock
extravaganzas — in upstate New York and Vienna, Austria — don’t
have much peace, love and understanding for gatecrashers.
As some will remember, the attendees of the original (1969) and
faux (1994) Woodstocks were supposed to pay for breakfast in bed on
Max Yasgur’s Farm, and for the privilege of firing mud at
Green Day, but only the squares and buttheads did.
Now, Michael Lang and John Scher,
who are promoting this year’s 30th anniversary European and U.S.
versions of Woodstock respectively, are “confident” that any
children of God who don’t pay will be sent walking along the
road.
Without divulging the design of their security system, Lang says
the guarded areas on both sites will be “taller and more
substantial” than previous enclosures and “decorative and
environmentally pleasing” as well. Scher adds, “We’re confident we
have a security plan where we’ll be able to maintain the integrity
of the outer perimeter and I think it will become self-evident when
we tell people what it is.”
Lang says willing patrons morphed into gatecrashers five years ago
because tickets were not available on site, a gaffe that will be
rectified for both Woodstocks this time around. Tickets for the
festivals, similar to the ’94 Woodstock, will cost around $135,
according to both organizers.
Thus far, virtually every A-list music act has been asked to
perform at one or both Woodstocks, including Page/Plant,
Marilyn Manson, Guns n’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Aerosmith, Pearl
Jam and the Beastie Boys, according to
various managerial sources. Scher offered a “no comment” on what
acts have been invited to perform, however Metallica, Iggy
Pop, Skunk Anansie, Anouk and Faithless
are all confirmed to play at least the Vienna version. Lang says an
estimated 80 to 100 bands are expected to play over the three day
festival in Vienna and 40 to 45 bands in Saugerties, N.Y. (site of
the ’94 event), or another location two-hours north of Saugerties,
on July 26-28.