Groovy, baby!
I'd suppose that any self-respecting Baby Boomer worth his or her remaining brain cells know about Live Peace in Toronto, when Yoko brought her walrus-or the other way 'round-to Toronto's Varsity Stadium for the Rock 'n' Roll Revival extravaganza that featured not only John Lennon's pick-up Plastic Ono Band, but also such luminaries as the Doors, Alice Cooper, and some good old vintage r&r acts like Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry.
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However, many fewer BBs know that just 3 months prior to Live Peace, there was the first Toronto Pop Festival, also held at Varsity Stadium.-
As the scan at upper left shows, the three day event was well attended to the tune of 25,000 per day plus, and demonstrated that Varsity was in fact a viable rock venue.
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Interesting, as well, that two artists/groups-Alice Cooper (not listed on the poster, but a late add), and Chuck Berry would return for the Live Peace fest in September.
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And what a line up it was in totality that warm June, 1969, weekend.
Interesting, as well, that two artists/groups-Alice Cooper (not listed on the poster, but a late add), and Chuck Berry would return for the Live Peace fest in September.-
And what a line up it was in totality that warm June, 1969, weekend.
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Just two months from becoming an international superstar at Woodstock.
Sly Stone and Family rocked it up in Toronto, along with Johnny Winter,
and even the Velvet Underground.
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Also of note was Al Kooper, who had founded Blood, Sweat and Tears-but
was replaced by David Clayton Thomas just prior to this concert- helped open the fest, whilst the
DCC fronted BS&T closed it, along with Steppenwolf.-
Oh, and don't forget, Tiny Tim warbled as well
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Now, another salient notion: suppose this festival was recorded?
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I'm not aware of any recordings from this gig, but common sense
would dictate at least some of the record companies rolled tape.
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Now, another salient notion: suppose this festival was recorded?
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I'm not aware of any recordings from this gig, but common sense
would dictate at least some of the record companies rolled tape.
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It would be nice to hear from anyone who was at the Toronto Pop
Fest, or for that matter, anyone with more info on the concert. Especially if there was any of that brown acid making the rounds to freak the freaks out.
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Thanks to that wonderfully wild, olde hippy-chick Restless Red, who dug up all these images up for your terminally, terribly lazy correspondent.
Fest, or for that matter, anyone with more info on the concert. Especially if there was any of that brown acid making the rounds to freak the freaks out.-
Thanks to that wonderfully wild, olde hippy-chick Restless Red, who dug up all these images up for your terminally, terribly lazy correspondent.
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I'm sure that the Woodstock promoters were watching what happened in Toronto closely-tickets in TO were 6$ per day as opposed to $8 at Woodstock- as these large outdoor gatherings were in their infancy, at
I'm sure that the Woodstock promoters were watching what happened in Toronto closely-tickets in TO were 6$ per day as opposed to $8 at Woodstock- as these large outdoor gatherings were in their infancy, at
least on the east coast and one never knew what would happen, did one?
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In any event, those certainly were the daze, and blah, blah, blah.
Oh, and far out as well.
Did Joplin play at either the June 21-22 or Sept 13 varsity festivals?
ReplyDeleteWhich one(s)did Alice Cooper play. Asking on brhalf of a friend who was at June festival who swore Joplin played.
ooops ....I didn't read carefully enough. Alice played both varsity events....the second being the infamous clucky meets the hippies fiasco.
ReplyDeleteIt was advertised as June21-22, however my friend says she was there Fri June 20, and you also mention it was a 3 day event.
Would love to get a setlist compiled for the June event