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Woodstock artists pictured between 1969 and 1999.
The original Woodstock is arguably the most popular concert to be held in American music history. The iconic show was headlined by the world’s biggest artists on an August weekend in 1969.
Dubbed “Three Days of Peace and Music,” it became the defining moment of an entire era. Despite logistical challenges and weather issues, it was an overwhelming success.
That resulted in second and third editions of the event. Organizers tried to recapture that feeling. In some ways they did with a mix of new and old acts. In other ways, they failed.
There are performances that stand out from each of the three festivals. We’ve done our best to identify 15 of the most memorable.
15 Most Memorable Woodstock Performances
I’ve grabbed five sets from each show that are still looked back on today for one reason or another. The criteria for inclusion ranges from band to band.
Some will be highlighted for the overall setlist. Others will be recognized for lasting performances, even if for one single song. Then, there are those remembered for their, let’s say, personality.
We’ll start with 1969 before working onto 1994 and ending in 1999.
Memorable Woodstock ’69 Performances – Santana
Santana was one of the stars of Woodstock in 1969. He was somewhat unknown at the time. Just 22 years old, he was still months out from releasing his band’s debut album.
That didn’t matter. He absolutely crushed in a potentially acid-fueled performance that included hits “Soul Sacrifice” and “Evil Ways.”
Joe Cocker
Cocker was another relative unknown that had just broken through to the US with his Grease Band. He put on one of the show’s top sets, which included an all-time rendition of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
That version played at Woodstock is arguably more popular than the original, even appearing in the opening credits of the hit TV show The Wonder Years. That’s saying something given the tune’s origins.
Richie Havens
Havens was the first man on the stage at the original Woodstock and a soulful start to the iconic movement. He kicked things off with a furious performance of “Handsome Johnny” before getting a bit softer with songs like “I Can’t Take it Anymore.”
Havens, too, went the route of the Beatles to play his own version of “Strawberry Fields Forever,” which then wrapped into “Hey Jude.” His performance was a sign of what was to come in Bethel, New York.
The Who
Belting out a song that resonated with the crowd, The Who’s “My Generation” was a fan favorite. It represented a shift from the course as the band largely played tunes from their recently released album Tommy.
Those that follow the group know that they are loud and destructive. At one point in the show guitarist Pete Townshend may or may not have struck an activist in the head with an instrument after coming onto the stage during the performance.
Jimi Hendrix
Performing on the final day of the show, and well after his initially scheduled time slot, Hendrix sent the few remaining fans off with an epic rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner.” It was a powerful close to a protest of sorts.
The rest of his show was said to be somewhat subpar, at least for Hendrix’s standards. He was working with a new band after the implosion of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Regardless, this ode to freedom will remain a part of rock and roll history forever.
Memorable Woodstock ’94 Performances – Green Day
Green Day played on the final day of the 1994 Woodstock event and sent fans off with a bang. The pop punk band was fresh off the release of their Dookie album. They’d just gone mainstream yet chose to mix some lesser-known songs into the lineup. It was a great setlist.
Making the show all the more memorable was a literal mud-slinging competition between the band and crowd. The ’94 show is best remembered for the rain and mud. Green Day embraced the dirtiness while others, most notably Les Claypool of Primus, did the opposite.
Metallica
Metallica also took the stage on the final day of the festival and put on one of the top performances of the weekend. Mega-hits “Master of Puppets,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “One,” and “Enter Sandman” headlined the 17-song show.
Many of the songs came from The Black Album, and while hardcore fans viewed it as a sellout given the departure from a thrash sound, the album plays well live. Woodstock ’94 experienced that firsthand.
Jackyl
Jackyl was popular in the southern rock and metal scene prior to Woodstock ’94. They grabbed numerous headlines, many of which were linked to off-the-stage antics.
Partying was a heavy theme in their music. It showed in their infamous appearance in New York. Lead singer Jesse James Dupree poured a bottle of cognac into the crowd after entering in an oversized Uncle Sam hat and 40-pound mirror shard jacket. He also lit a stool on fire, chopped it to pieces with a chainsaw, fired a 12-guage into the air, dropped his pants, and smoked a joint that was thrown on stage. Not bad for an hour’s time!
Allman Brothers
The Allman Brothers played on the final day of the festival and delivered a powerhouse set that mixed blues, jam, and soul. The band bounced around from the Fillmore East album to Eat a Peach to Where it All Begins, and everything in between.
The setlist was great. The performance was even better. There was no drama related to the memorable Woodstock performance. The music shined.
Nine Inch Nails
This is widely considered the best show of the festival. Nine Inch Nails took to the stage on the second night. It blew listeners away with a haunting alt-rock performance.
They did so while completely covered in mud. Prior to the set, band members slung dirt (and whatever else was in the rain-drenched mixture) at one another. By the start of the concert, they were caked from head to toe. It was said to be a way of easing pre-show jitters. It worked.
Memorable Woodstock ’99 Performances – Korn
The 1999 Woodstock event is better known for negatives than positives. Crowd behavior was poor. The festival was well over capacity. Infrastructure, including bathrooms, was inadequate. Heat was an issue.
With that said, there were some major performances. Korn was one of them. The band played an intense set on the first night that sent fans into an absolute frenzy. At one point in the show, the crowd looks like a massive wave moving as one. It provided an incredible scene, but also one that would be a precursor of the riots to come.
Rage Against the Machine
Another band credited with riling up the crowd, RATM played an aggressive set that mirrored their uncompromising and politically fueled mindset.
Rage had one of the most notable setlists at the festival, headlined by showstoppers “Bulls on Parade” and “Killing in the Name.” By the end of the show, an American flag was lit on fire, setting ablaze an amp on the stage. Fires, unfortunately, would be a theme on the final day.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The RHCP had arguably the best show of the ’99 Woodstock festival. The setlist was incredible. Anthony Kedis and John Frusciante were great. Flea showed up naked, providing a forgettable image for drummer Chad Smith. It was quintessential Chili Peppers.
Near the end of their set, attendees began lighting fires and rioting. The band played an impromptu rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire” before leaving the stage. While it represented a flashback to the 1969 event, it might’ve been in poor taste, though the band denies it was intentionally inciting violence.
DMX
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DMX performing at Woodstock '99 in New York.
DMX had maybe the best rap performance of the 1999 Woodstock event, singing hits “Ruff Riders Anthem,” “Slippin’,” and “Get at Me Dog.”
The majority of his music came from the It’s Dark and Hell is Hot album, which had been released a year earlier. His energy was high and captivated the audience. The setlist would later be released as an album of its own, Live at Woodstock (DMX).
Creed
Everyone has their opinion of Creed. In 1999, they were undeniably at the top of rock music. My Own Prison is one of the best albums of the decade. The follow-up wasn’t too shabby either.
Creed played on the last day of the festival, though a bit before chaos began. The band’s setlist consisted mainly of songs from their debut album, though a few tunes from their second release, Human Clay, made the cut. In a surprise appearance, Robby Kreiger of The Doors joined the performance for a rendition of “Roadhouse Blues.” That came 30 years after his band rejected an invite to the ’69 Woodstock event. Creed’s sound was great and energy was high. It was absolutely one of the festival’s top shows.