Why didn't the Byrds go to Woodstock?

[kvalois]

Hi, all:

I've heard different theories. But, does anyone know for sure WHY the Byrds did not go to Woodstock?? Were they invited?

[libratune]

Okay, I've done the research. They were invited but declined. At that time they had been re-formed with Roger, Clarence White, Skip Batten, etc. and were playing in Chicago that weekend with Tim Buckley and Linda Ronstadt. As you may recall, David Crosby had just joined CSN, who made their debut performing live together (so they said) at Woodstock.

Source: Chris Hjort's book, So You Want to Be a Rock 'N' Roll Star.

[kvalois]

Thanks, Ron!!!

[firstbassman]

From Johnny Rogan's book:


"We were flying to a gig and Roger came up to us and said that a guy was putting on a festival in upstate New York,” John York remembers. “But at that point they weren’t paying all of the bands. He asked us if we wanted to do it and we said, ‘No’. We had no idea what it was going to be. We were burned out and tired of the festival scene. … so all of us said, ‘No, we want a rest’ and missed the best festival of all.”

and were playing in Chicago that weekend with Tim Buckley and Linda Ronstadt.

According to this web site . . .
http://www.geocities.com/byrdsflyght/concerts69.htm . . .
They were free the weekend of Woodstock.

[vynesmusic]

From Johnny Rogan's book:


"We were flying to a gig and Roger came up to us and said that a guy was putting on a festival in upstate New York,” John York remembers. “But at that point they weren’t paying all of the bands. He asked us if we wanted to do it and we said, ‘No’. We had no idea what it was going to be. We were burned out and tired of the festival scene. … so all of us said, ‘No, we want a rest’ and missed the best festival of all.”

I don't think the Byrds missed ANYTHING.....with the exception of The Who, Ten Years After and Hendrix, Woodstock was terribly over-rated, historically and culturally....

[firstbassman]

I don't think the Byrds missed ANYTHING.....with the exception of The Who, Ten Years After and Hendrix, Woodstock was terribly over-rated, historically and culturally....

Well, this is a thread that is now close to be being locked or deleted but were you there?

I was and you have no idea what you're talking about.

[wayang]

Right on, Mark...gee, Gee, you left out one or two perhaps worth mentioning:
Richie Havens
Ravi Shankar
Arlo Guthrie
Santana
Canned Heat
Mountain
Grateful Dead
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Janis Joplin
Sly & the Family Stone
Jefferson Airplane
Joe Cocker
The Band
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Johnny and Edgar Winter
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Evidently The Byrds thought they missed something...

[jimk]

No, I'm not going to lock this thread; at least not at the moment. Just a word of caution.

JimK

[vynesmusic]

Right on, Mark...gee, Gee, you left out one or two perhaps worth mentioning:
Richie Havens
Ravi Shankar
Arlo Guthrie
Santana
Canned Heat
Mountain
Grateful Dead
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Janis Joplin
Sly & the Family Stone
Jefferson Airplane
Joe Cocker
The Band
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Johnny and Edgar Winter
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Evidently The Byrds thought they missed something...

ok...I'll give ya Credence and Mountain......

[wayang]

Gee...there are several more there that I'd be perfectly willing to go to the mat with you over...but I'm willing to let it all go...except...

...please tell me you're not gonna 'dis' RAVI SHANKAR!?