Music Box: Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage (HBO)

About Music Box: Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage (HBO)

Directed by Garret Price, Music Box: Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage is a documentary which chronicles the infamous 1999 Woodstock music festival that quickly spiraled into chaos. Multiple narratives weave a detailed account of the event, depicting the reasons for it turning into a disaster. The film blends archival footage with interviews of attendees and organizers, showcasing the dark side of a cultural touchstone that was initially established to celebrate peace and music.

Making / Production

The documentary, part of the Music Box series from Bill Simmons, was produced by HBO. It offers behind-the-scenes insight into the disastrous event, revealing the lack of proper planning, inadequate security and sanitation measures, and the prevailing cultural atmosphere that led to the chaotic outcome.

Actors

• Michael Lang: As one of the co-creators of the original Woodstock festival and its 1999 version, Michael Lang provides valuable first-hand information about both events and their stark differences.
• John Scher: Co-promoter of the festival, John Scher reveals the logistical and organizational challenges that contributed to the festival's outcome.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film uses never-before-seen footage to provide an in-depth understanding of the festival's debacle.
• The documentary is the first part of a series of documentaries under HBO's Music Box banner.

Quotes

• "Woodstock '99 was just supposed to be a big party." - Michael Lang
• "It was not your parents’ Woodstock." - John Scher

Music, Soundtrack

• The soundtrack for the documentary is drawn from the original live performances of the festival, showcasing acts from artists like Korn, The Offspring, and Limp Bizkit. The music is a time capsule into the late 90s rock scene.