Isle of Wight, 1970

[soapurr]

Will gladly purchase but would also be happy to borrow and return. Thanks.

[Andrew (Darby)]

Of all the places to run into an LC fan who was at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970, I discovered that one of the participants in our last two Toowoomba LC Events, Jim (who now lives in South East Queensland), was also at this landmark festival in England! It was so nice to make that connection with him at our event last weekend!

Cheers
Andrew (Darby)

[mirrormist]

Hi
I was at the Isle of Wight in 70 though I have little recall:)
Rode down there with a friend od a Honda ss50 two up with a tent a little else. Stayed the week and talked my way out of getting the sack from my job on my return. I was a hill dweller as I had little money being 17 years old at the time.
I do remember the experience if not many of the artists that played. (I have the dvd now though haha)
great memories...at least the ones i stil have
Also went to Shepton mallet around the same time...the one where the Moody blues refused to play cause it was raining

Saw the great man at the NEC. fabulous

regards


http://www.mirrormist.com

[John Etherington]

I've just realised that I've never contributed to this thread. My own memories of the overall event remain very clear, 38 years on. Although I appreciated most of the acts appearing, my main reason for going to the event was to see Leonard (who I'd only seen once previously). My friends who had come with me to the Isle of Wight Festival in 1969 were also meant to come to this. However, they were not committed enough, and backed out at the last moment. Undaunted, I bought a ticket just before the event (you could do that, then) and went alone - a kid of 19, who had just grown his hair to a reasonable length. I arrived mid-morning Saturday, and made my way as close to the front as I could - central, and just behind the press enclosure (about 30 yards from the stage). I edged into a small pitch of ground next to three other people (a French couple and an American guy). As a benevolent gesture, I shared my food with them, and we all got on well, and stuck together for the rest of the festival. The weather remained fine throughout the weekend. It was possible to just get high on the music and the atmosphere. even though I must have had a few puffs on a joint if someone passed one around. Come to think of it, there was probably enough of it wafting around to make you feel high, anyway!

One great thing about this festival was that all of the acts appeared at the time of day that their music felt most appropriate...i.e John Sebastian came on at the height of the good-day sunshine, and Donovan played his set on a lazy afternoon as bubbles wafted through the air and children played. Time seemed to stand quite still. The big-name rock bands (Moody Blues, Emerson Lake and Palmer and the Who) all came on late in the evening or after nightfall, and used the stage lighting to maximum effect. Things being so great then, you just had to pick the people you were least interested in, as an opportunity to go to the loo or buy some food. Hence, I missed most of the sets by Ten Years After, Miles Davis and Kris Kristofferson (apologies to Jim Devlin!). Jeff Dexter played some great music between the acts. The tracks I remember most clearly were the intrumental "Amazing Grace" (which got played repeatedly), The Radha Krishna Temple's "Hare Krishna", the Beatle's "Across the Universe", and Cat Steven's "Katmandu". I only slept for an hour on two the first night and as I woke, I couldn't remember where I was. I thought I was in a large dome with twinkling lights above me. I could hear an angels voice ("we must be in heaven, man!"). As it turned out, the lights were morning stars, and the angel was Melanie singing "Mr. Tambourine Man".

Although the DVD of the event focuses on the problems that occurred with people trying to tear down the fence etc., from where I was sitting, it was possible to avoid any heaviness and fully appreciate the music. The only time that things seemed a bit uncool were when I went to the side of the site and saw a number of heavy-looking police officers in shades and blue uniforms, with big dogs. I do however remember Joni Mitchell getting very emotional when she said her piece about Hopi Indians and tourists. I also remember Rikki Farr's angry outpouring, where he said words to the effect of "We've put an intensive year's work into making this event happen. If you're not prepared to pay £3.00 for a ticket, then fuck you!". However, when the fence did eventually get torn down, the organisers had to concede that from then on, it would be a free festival. Naturally a massive cheer went up from the crowd.

Appropriately the Doors came on as darkest night set-in. When Jim Morrison screamed "we want the world and we want it now!", it really felt like it was going to happen. I remember how devastated two American girls next to us were, when they slept right through the Doors set (despite our regular prodding). They had come all the way from the States specifically to see the Doors, and completely missed them. Since I had had very little sleep for 48 hours, I occasionally dozed for a few seconds myself during Jimi Hendrix's set! As I dozed however, I was awoken by amazing bursts of his musical brilliance. This was the only time I saw him live (he died soon after).

Thus, I hope I have put in perspective the state of wipe-out that generally prevaled as Leonard took to the stage. Indeed many people were asleep by then, and remained unconscious through his set. I sat there in the cold night air, and hung on every word with rapt attention. I clearly remember Leonard asking the audience to light matches, and then saying "we're sore in need of matches". Ironically though, I remember little of his set apart from "Suzanne" and "Sing Another Song Boys" of which we have the recorded evidence. Along with Leonard, Joan Baez helped us make it through the night. I decided to avoid the rush and return home at dawn, while Ritchie Havens was still playing onstage. As I recall, I had no trouble catching the coach, and the ferry back to the mainland.

Love and peace, John E

[NickShears]

Whilst I wasn't at the Isle of Wight, I was at "The Picnic" at Blackbushe, July 1978. (Hey Andrew, maybe we actually met there 30 years ago, rather than at your Toowoomba Cohen event 2 years ago!)

Not only was I there (with the other 120,000) but I still have the programme to prove it, and the pin-on badge! I'm not at home right now, but Dylan was the headline act and supports were Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, Graham Parker and the Rumour, and Lake (a Reggae band), in descending order.

[Andrew (Darby)]

Hey Nick, that's a nice thought! However, I can't recall talking to anyone except my friends that night, but perhaps we exchanged smiles as we passed by each other or such like!

That crowd was so big - I waited in a car queue after Leonard's Hunter Valley concert (Jan 31) for about 45 mins, but at Blackbushe it was about a 6 hour wait!

Cheers
Andrew

[John Etherington]

I was also at Blackbushe, but my memories of the Isle of Wight are much stronger. I went to Blackbushe with some friends, and we got a good central pitch that was a little closer than the mixing desk. My strogest memories of the concert are Graham Parker singing "Hey Lord, Don't Ask Me Questions" and "Waiting for the UFOs", and Dylan singing "Changing of the Guards" and "Senor" ("Street Legal" is one of my all-time favourite Dylan albums). I remember that Dylan wore a top hat, and played for possibly three hours (the longest set I've ever seen him play). I can't remember exactly how we got home, but I remember a long but happy walk with hordes of other people. At the time, I thought that this would most likely be the last ever grear rock event. After all, some of these artists were almost forty years old, and it seemed inconceivable that they would still be playing when they were over forty!

All good things, John E

[John Etherington]

Let's revive this thread, with discussion of the Isle of Wight happening!

[kwills]

I've just realised that I've never contributed to this thread. My own memories of the overall event remain very clear, 38 years on. Although I appreciated most of the acts appearing, my main reason for going to the event was to see Leonard (who I'd only seen once previously). My friends who had come with me to the Isle of Wight Festival in 1969 were also meant to come to this. However, they were not committed enough, and backed out at the last moment. Undaunted, I bought a ticket just before the event (you could do that, then) and went alone - a kid of 19, who had just grown his hair to a reasonable length. I arrived mid-morning Saturday, and made my way as close to the front as I could - central, and just behind the press enclosure (about 30 yards from the stage). I edged into a small pitch of ground next to three other people (a French couple and an American guy). As a benevolent gesture, I shared my food with them, and we all got on well, and stuck together for the rest of the festival. The weather remained fine throughout the weekend. It was possible to just get high on the music and the atmosphere. even though I must have had a few puffs on a joint if someone passed one around. Come to think of it, there was probably enough of it wafting around to make you feel high, anyway!

One great thing about this festival was that all of the acts appeared at the time of day that their music felt most appropriate...i.e John Sebastian came on at the height of the good-day sunshine, and Donovan played his set on a lazy afternoon as bubbles wafted through the air and children played. Time seemed to stand quite still. The big-name rock bands (Moody Blues, Emerson Lake and Palmer and the Who) all came on late in the evening or after nightfall, and used the stage lighting to maximum effect. Things being so great then, you just had to pick the people you were least interested in, as an opportunity to go to the loo or buy some food. Hence, I missed most of the sets by Ten Years After, Miles Davis and Kris Kristofferson (apologies to Jim Devlin!). Jeff Dexter played some great music between the acts. The tracks I remember most clearly were the intrumental "Amazing Grace" (which got played repeatedly), The Radha Krishna Temple's "Hare Krishna", the Beatle's "Across the Universe", and Cat Steven's "Katmandu". I only slept for an hour on two the first night and as I woke, I couldn't remember where I was. I thought I was in a large dome with twinkling lights above me. I could hear an angels voice ("we must be in heaven, man!"). As it turned out, the lights were morning stars, and the angel was Melanie singing "Mr. Tambourine Man".

Although the DVD of the event focuses on the problems that occurred with people trying to tear down the fence etc., from where I was sitting, it was possible to avoid any heaviness and fully appreciate the music. The only time that things seemed a bit uncool were when I went to the side of the site and saw a number of heavy-looking police officers in shades and blue uniforms, with big dogs. I do however remember Joni Mitchell getting very emotional when she said her piece about Hopi Indians are tourists. I also remember Rikki Farr's angry outpouring, where he said words to the effect of "We've put an intensive year's work into making this event happen. If you're not prepared to pay £3.00 for a ticket, then fuck you!". However, when the fence did eventually get torn down, the organisers had to concede that from then on, it would be a free festival. Naturally a massive cheer went up from the crowd.

Appropriately the Doors came on as darkest night set-in. When Jim Morrison screamed "we want the world and we want it now!", it really felt like it was going to happen. I remember how devastated two American girls next to us were, when they slept right through the Doors set (despite our regular prodding). They had come all the way from the States specifically to see the Doors, and completely missed them. Since I had had very little sleep for 48 hours, I occasionally dozed for a few seconds myself during Jimi Hendrix's set! As I dozed however, I was awoken by amazing bursts of his musical brilliance. This was the only time I saw him live (he died soon after).

Thus, I hope I have put in perspective the state of wipe-out that generally prevaled as Leonard took to the stage. Indeed many people were asleep by then, and remained unconscious through his set. I sat there in the cold night air, and hung on every word with rapt attention. I clearly remember Leonard asking the audience to light matches, and then saying "we're sore in need of matches". Ironically though, I remember little of his set apart from "Suzanne" and "Sing Another Song Boys" of which we have the recorded evidence. Along with Leonard, Joan Baez helped us make it through the night. I decided to avoid the rush and return home at dawn, while Ritchie Havens was still playing onstage. As I recall, I had no trouble catching the coach, and the ferry back to the mainland.

Love and peace, John E

Really enjoyed that ,it made it come alive for me.Wish I had been there,but I would have been only 7 years old!

[MaryB]

John E-

What a wonderful personal recollection of this concert! I felt as though I was there with you and now wish I had been.

Kindest regards,
Mary

[John Etherington]

kwills and Mary B - thanks so much for your kind words. It's good to share my memories of this event, which are still very clear.

All good wishes, John E

[Womanfromaroom]

Ah, John -
I really would not have had a chance to attend the Isle of Weight (I was only born six years after that), but your vivid account has somehow managed to transport me right there. Thank you - can't wait for the DVD!

[Mordy]

There's an exhibition relating to the 1970 festival (and others) at Dimbola Lodge just outside Freshwater on the Isle of Wight. There's a lifesize statue of Hendrix outside the building, looking towards the festival location, which is very nearby. Dimbola Lodge was the home of photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. We went along to see the JMC exhibition, and it was quite a surprise to find ourselves also looking at pictures and press cuttings about Leonard et al. If you're into photography - and curious about the festival - worth a visit.

[maureen]

I have just found this link, I too was there, along with my then husband to be . He can remember much more than I.
I had been to approx 6 festivals in the previous 3-4 months( ah it was a busy, fun time) but I was much younger then too! Among them were Hollywood, Bath, Phun City(anyone else go there). Can remember the hill very well, and some of the acts, in particular Leonard,Joan Baez, Family, Melanie and John Sebastian. I'd originally heard Leonard's songs as sung by Judy Collins so was very interested to see him, although I'd had his earlier albums for a few years. Also a friend reckons that we saw him at The Royal Albert Hall in 69, can anyone confirm if he was there then, as the tour page doesn't show this time I'd been to I.O.W. in 69 too, so it all has blurred into one in my memory.
Hubby can remember that once off the ferry going home, someone was asking £1 per person for a lift to London, he was spending his time running aback and forth! Ah those were the days. All in all it was wonderful, my memory has always been bad, but can remember the feelings very well and strongly still. x

[John Etherington]

Hi Maureen,

Leonard first played at the Royal Albert Hall in 1970 (May 10th, if my memory serves me well). In 1969, Bob Dylan was the headliner at The Isle of Wight. I attended t both the 1969 and 1970 Isle of Wight festivals, and also Leonard's first concert at The Albert Hall.

All good things, John E