21 photos that compare the original 1969 Woodstock to its disastrous recreation in 1999

Publish date: 2024-08-12

Thirty years later, in 1999, festival promoters attempted to honor the original Woodstock with another music festival in upstate New York. But, this time it didn't turn out as successful. By the end of the weekend, rioters looted, burned, and destroyed the festival in its entirety.

This year will be the 50th anniversary of the original Woodstock and the 20th anniversary since the disastrous Woodstock of 1999.

From location to food prices, here's how the two music festivals differed.

Between August 15 and 18 in 1969, people flocked to Bethel, New York, for a historic music festival.

John Dominis/ Getty

In 1999, another musical festival was held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Woodstock.

Scott Gries/ Getty

In 1969, almost half a million people attended the music festival in New York.

Festival planners expected no more than 200,000 to show up in Bethel. However, when the festival started, thousands flocked to the free-loving festival. The promoters decided to take down the fences and allow everyone to enjoy the concerts for free on the 600-acre farm.

Meanwhile, more than 200,000 attended the 1999 music festival.

Joe Traver/ Getty

In 1969, the festival had iconic performances from Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, and Sly and the Family Stone.

Peter Tarnoff/AP Images

Jimi Hendrix raked in the most money at Woodstock, earning $18,000 , while Janis Joplin earned $7,500, and The Who was paid $6,250.

On the other hand, the 1999 Woodstock festival featured Limp Bizkit.

Frank Micelotta Archive/ Getty

Woodstock '99 had a very different type of line-up, with Verne Troyer who played Mini Me in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" as the emcee. In addition to Limp Bizkit, the schedule included Kid Rock , Creed, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Korn.

In 1969, Woodstock concertgoers were able to connect with nature while enjoying the music.

Ralph Ackerman/ Getty

Meanwhile, at the 1999 festival, concertgoers suffered heat exhaustion because it was held on asphalt pavement.

Andrew Lichtenstein / Getty

Woodstock '99 did not offer the same opportunity to connect with nature. Instead, the later festival was held on a black tarmac , which made the summer's heat even more unbearable. There was also a 1.5-mile walk between the two main stages, so many suffered from dehydration. In fact, 700 people were medically treated for heat exhaustion.

Organizers struggled to serve the massive crowds at the original Woodstock, but everything stayed pretty civil.

John Dominis/ Getty

Thirty years later, the organizers again struggled to feed the giant crowd, but concertgoers retaliated.

Andrew Lichtenstein / Getty

In 1969, they set up makeshift tents made of fabric.

John Dominis/ Getty

Back in 1999, they stayed in tents that were littered with trash.

Andrew Lichtenstein/ Getty

During Limp Bizkit's performance, a near riot broke out when he told the crowd to "break stuff." People destroyed water fountains, creating mud pools all over the festival site.

The original Woodstock was a symbol of peace and love.

Michael Ochs Archives/ Getty

In 1999, however, many didnt follow the rules nor adhered to the peaceful vibes of its predecessor.

Joe Traver / Getty

In all, 44 people were arrested at Woodstock '99. Another issue was the multiple accounts of sexual assaults. For example, many reported gang rapes during some of the performances (inside mosh pits, for example).

The original Woodstock wasnt all smooth sailing, though. Lines of stalled traffic stretched for 17 miles.

Hulton Archive/ Getty

"The situation is hopeless and getting worse," a state trooper said at the time.

Similarly, roads were blocked in 1999.

Joe Traver/ Getty

Traffic snarled during the '99 festival as well, and some even sat in the road to relax in the summer heat.

The original festival left the farm in Bethel, New York, covered in trash and debris.

Three Lions/ Getty

But, on the last night of the festival in 1999, people rioted and destroyed everything.

Joe Traver / Getty

On the last day of the festival, people started to get rowdy. Insane Clown Posse threw money into the audience to watch the massive crowd fight over it. Likewise, Kid Rock prompted people to throw water bottles at the stage. All of this led to a cataclysmic ending of the weekend.

They even set fire to cars and created bonfires from festival materials.

Andrew Lichtenstein / Getty

In addition to the fires, people broke into ATMs , overturned cars, looted supply trucks, and tore down speaker towers.

The Woodstock of 69 turned the area into a dump, but it was to be expected at a large music festival.

Bill Eppridge/ Getty

Years later, the area where the original Woodstock took place is now open for outdoor concerts . The festival not without its faults went down as a game-changing moment in music history.

The festival in 1999, however, turned into a wasteland.

Andrew Lichtenstein/ Getty

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21 photos that compare the original 1969 Woodstock to its disastrous recreation in 1999

Between August 15 and 18 in 1969, people flocked to Bethel, New York, for a historic music festival.

In 1999, another musical festival was held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Woodstock.

In 1969, almost half a million people attended the music festival in New York.

Meanwhile, more than 200,000 attended the 1999 music festival.

In 1969, the festival had iconic performances from Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, and Sly and the Family Stone.

On the other hand, the 1999 Woodstock festival featured Limp Bizkit.

In 1969, Woodstock concertgoers were able to connect with nature while enjoying the music.

Meanwhile, at the 1999 festival, concertgoers suffered heat exhaustion because it was held on asphalt pavement.

Organizers struggled to serve the massive crowds at the original Woodstock, but everything stayed pretty civil.

Thirty years later, the organizers again struggled to feed the giant crowd, but concertgoers retaliated.

In 1969, they set up makeshift tents made of fabric.

Back in 1999, they stayed in tents that were littered with trash.

The original Woodstock was a symbol of peace and love.

In 1999, however, many didnt follow the rules nor adhered to the peaceful vibes of its predecessor.

The original Woodstock wasnt all smooth sailing, though. Lines of stalled traffic stretched for 17 miles.

Similarly, roads were blocked in 1999.

The original festival left the farm in Bethel, New York, covered in trash and debris.

But, on the last night of the festival in 1999, people rioted and destroyed everything.

They even set fire to cars and created bonfires from festival materials.

The Woodstock of 69 turned the area into a dump, but it was to be expected at a large music festival.

The festival in 1999, however, turned into a wasteland.