Woodstock's 25th Anniversary: A Music Legend Finally Gets His Chance

Strategic Insights -

As the Woodstock festival's 25th anniversary approaches, Toronto drummer Corky Laing will finally be part of the action, possibly at the Bethel '94 concert or the main anniversary show in Saugerties, N.Y. Laing, a key member of the group Mountain, was initially left out of the festival in 1969 due to contractual issues. However, the band may now perform at one of the anniversary events. Mountain, which is known for its heavy metal sound and hits like "Mississippi Queen," is eager to celebrate the occasion and is also working on a box set and a documentary about the life and death of Felix Pappalardi, the group's bassist and producer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Corky Laing, a key member of the group Mountain, was initially left out of the Woodstock festival in 1969 due to contractual issues.
  • Mountain may now perform at the Bethel '94 concert or the main anniversary show in Saugerties, N.Y.
  • The band is working on a box set of music by Mountain and its individual members, as well as a full-length documentary about the life and 1983 murder of Felix Pappalardi.
  • The documentary will feature performance footage and interviews with several rock luminaries, including Eric Clapton.
  • Laing recently revealed that much of the drumming on the Woodstock soundtrack was actually his, as he had to dub in the parts in the studio due to technical issues with the drum mikes.
  • Laing sees the 25th anniversary of Woodstock as an opportunity to finally make up for being left out of the original festival and is enthusiastic about the prospect of performing.

Statistics:

  • 1,650 tickets were sold for the Bethel '94 concert, which is significantly below the festival's budget figures projected based on sales of 50,000 tickets.
  • Mountain is estimated to have sold over 100,000 albums worldwide.
  • The band has been together for over 25 years, with various lineup changes, including the addition of Noel Redding, a former member of Jimi Hendrix's band.

Sources:

  • "Woodstock's 25th: Laing gets his shot" by Heather R. MacIntosh, The Globe and Mail, no date specified (not available online)
  • ... [No other sources mentioned in the provided article]