Maybe it’s time to—I don’t know—stop hosting Woodstock? I don’t know, while the original concert was something, as the documentary accurately explains, romanticized, it was also a disaster. It also acted as a means for a whole generation to blow off steam and wreak havoc. 1999’s “Woodstock” which ushered millennials in to a new century ended up not just as pure chaos and mayhem, but it indicated that new generation were just getting fed up with the boomer generation. Not to say that those that were involved in the massive riot and incident at the 1999 Woodstock concert were justified, but were coming off a tumultuous decade.
Not only did we have to deal with wars and recessions, and the implosion of idols like Bill Clinton and OJ Simpson, but we ended it all on a massive school shooting that foreshadowed darker times.
Not only did 1999’s “Woodstock” reflect where the world was heading, but it also dictated the undercurrent and anger boiling under the surface. Corporations like MTV were exploiting the younger generation, wannabe reporters were taking advantage of the misery, and promoters Michael Lang and John Scher took the typical route of people of their generation. They did nothing but disavow any responsibility in what happened. “Woodstock 99: Peace, Love and Rage” chronicles the shocking and horrifying riot that occurred during third annual iconic concert and what happened over the span of the days from the unfortunate construction, the horrendous turn of events, and the tragic end.
Anarchy just outright prevailed; probably the most disgusting and disturbing anecdote involves the backing up of the port o potties resulting in a pool of waste. Thinking it was mud concert goers began swimming in it and sliding in it, unaware they were in actual human waste. “Peace, Love, and Rage” doesn’t seek to lend justification or excuse what unfolded during “Woodstock ‘99” but merely give us reasons why concert goers sought to destroy rather than ring in the end of an era. There was confusion, and anger, and worst of all their one escape from the world: their music heroes–also turned on them. The tone is by no means celebratory or romanticized, as concert goers took advantage of their numbers and sought to not only rebel but to commit awful crimes.
There’s a big focus on sexual assault as many women were groped, assaulted, and even raped. There’s one story in particular in which an EMT rushed to save a small girl who’d had her clothes ripped off. There just isn’t enough time to cover the long list of potential sexual assault victims, as the documentary just barely scratches the surface. It’s just sad that it was able to go this far, and no one tried to cut it down before it was all FUBAR. No one is willing to realty come forward and take blame, whether it’s Fred Durst for riling the audience up, Kid Rock was taunting the audience, MTV for exploiting concert goers—even going so far as staging obviously disliked MTV personality Carson Daly front and center.
Not even promoters Michael Lang or John Scher ever really seem apologetic. John Scher, worst of all, does nothing but deflects blame, evade accountability, and even slut shames all of the women that were raped or sexually assaulted. He has no remorse, and no empathy, and spends his entire time on screen just pitting the violent chaos and blatant criminal acts on everyone but himself. “Peace, Love, and Rage” indicates the end of a very rough era where a generation stricken with PTSD sought to vent rather than breathe a sigh of relief. There’s just so much more to be explored about how and why the dam inevitably burst, and how, quite simply, our idols just let us down.