New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ VH1) - In the summer of 1969, on a farm about 90 miles north of New York City, more than 500,000 people gathered for a three day music festival that in an instant, defined a generation and changed popular culture forever...Woodstock.
Now, 40 years after that historic moment, History and VH1 Rock Docs have joined forces for the first time, for a unique television collaboration, one that celebrates and explores the deep history and fascination of Woodstock, as well as the incredible music experience that defined a generation. The definitive two-hour documentary, "Woodstock: Now & Then", will premiere on Friday, August 14 at 9pm on VH1 and VH1 Classic and on Monday, August 17 at 8pm on History.
Directed and Produced by two-time Academy Award winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple and Executive Produced by Michael Lang, the original festival organizer, the film examines Woodstock from the perspectives of not only the musicians who graced the stage, but the fans who gathered in mass, the concert promoters who risked everything and countless others whose unique experiences help paint a tapestry of Woodstock that hasn't been seen in recent years.
"Woodstock: Now & Then" explores the frenzied days leading up to and throughout the festival, from how the planners scrambled to find a concert site and the traffic jams that shut down the New York State thruway to the infamously bad "brown acid," the thunderous rain and mud and, of course, the music. Weaving together first-hand accounts with rare archival images and an iconic soundtrack, the documentary allows those who were there a chance to relive the experience and gives an entirely new generation an opportunity to feel the magic of that time.
The film will also take an important look at Woodstock's legacy through the eyes of today's musicians and activists examining why Woodstock and all it symbolizes is still relevant in today's culture.
For more information please log onto www.history.com/woodstock and for more information on VH1 Rock Docs go to www.vh1.com.
"Woodstock: Now & Then" is part of History's celebration of the historic events that took place during the summer of 1969. History will premiere new specials that also include "Moonshot" (premiering Monday, July 20, 8pm) and "Sex in 69: The Sexual Revolution in America" (premiering Monday, August 3, 8pm).
"Woodstock: Now & Then" is the newest film in the Emmy Award-winning VH1 Rock Doc franchise. VH1 Rock Docs are feature-length documentaries that tell unique stories of artists and music from a wide range of genres, styles, and musical perspectives.
"Woodstock: Now & Then" is a co-production of History and VH1, in association with Cabin Creek Films and Woodstock Ventures, Inc. Brad Abramson, Stephen Mintz, Shelly Tatro and Jeff Olde serve as executive producers for VH1 and Julian P. Hobbs is the executive producer for History. For Cabin Creek Films, Barbara Kopple serves as director and producer and Michael Lang as executive producer.
VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.
History and History HD are the leading destinations for revealing, award-winning, original non-fiction series and event-driven specials that connect history with viewers in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of historical genres ranging from military history to contemporary history, technology to natural history, as well as science, archaeology and pop culture. Among the networks' program offerings are hit series such as Ax Men, Battle 360, The Universe, Cities of The Underworld and Ice Road Truckers, as well as acclaimed specials including King, Life After People, 1968 With Tom Brokaw, Lost Book of Nostradamus, Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed and Sherman's March. History has earned four Peabody Awards, four Primetime Emmy Awards, 12 News & Documentary Emmy Awards and received the prestigious Governor's Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network's Save Our History campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. Take A Veteran to School Day is the network's latest initiative connecting America's schools and communities with veterans from all wars. History's website, located at www.History.com, is the definitive historical online source that delivers entertaining and informative content featuring broadband video, interactive timelines, maps, games, podcasts and more.
