How Well Do You Know Woodstock?

ENTERTAINMENT

By: Elizabeth Lavis

6 Min Quiz

Image: Wiki Commons by Elliot Landy

About This Quiz

Woodstock lives on in American culture and our collective imagination; a manifestation of the peace and love generation that sprung out of the late 1960s and early 1970s. All of the biggest musical influencers of the time were there, including bands and performers from all over the world. There have been many attempts to duplicate Woodstock, but none of them have ever lived up to the glory of that original festival. It is truly an iconic part of history that can never be re-created!

The roster of musical talent is almost as famous as the festival itself. From the biggest funk and soul names in the industry to folksy superstars who sang ballads calling for the end of violence and war, Woodstock was a collection of talent the world had never seen before, and you could attend for a comparably low cost. Woodstock had it all; great music, a true sense of community and a deep political purpose.

Those who went to Woodstock will never forget the experience, but even people who weren't lucky enough to be flower children during that amazing time can name many of the artists who performed. How well do you know the music and history of Woodstock? 

This iconic superstar took the stage at Woodstock. Who was she?

Janis Joplin is one of the most famous musicians of her era, creating and performing soulful songs like "Piece of my Heart" and "Me and Bobby McGee". She tragically died at the age of 27.

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What divisive event was occurring during Woodstock?

The Vietnam War bitterly divided the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, and it drastically impacted the music scene. Some of the most iconic musicians at Woodstock were known for their protest songs.

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What fan fave combined rock and roll with Latin jazz for an intoxicating sound at Woodstock?

Carlos Santana's signature sound is an infectious blend of rock and roll and Latin jazz. Santana is still popular today, pairing up with artists such as Rob Thomas on catchy tunes.

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What band, whose rock opera "Tommy" smashed the music charts, made an appearance at Woodstock?

The Who was one of the biggest names at Woodstock. They have an impressive roster of chart-topping albums, including fan-favorite "Tommy." The Who still has a massive fan base today.

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Was a bad moon rising when they played? We'll never know. Who were they?

The unique sound of Creedence Clearwater Revival, or CCR to their fans, is so catchy that the band remains popular today. Their work has been used in movies and television shows for decades.

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This British singer gets by with a little help from his friends. Who was he?

Joe Cocker's throaty version of "With A Little Help From My Friends," originally written and performed by the Beatles, is iconic. He played this plus many more incredible songs at Woodstock.

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Which band, fronted by Grace Slick, wowed crowds at Woodstock?

Jefferson Airplane has gone through many transformations in their time, becoming Jefferson Starship and then Starship in later decades. During Woodstock, Jefferson Airplane was rocking out in their original name.

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Far out, man! Where was the original Woodstock held?

Woodstock was held in Bethel, New York. Specifically, it was held on Max Yasgur's dairy farm. Yasgur's farm is mentioned in Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's iconic song "Woodstock".

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She is one of the era's most popular folk musicians. Who is she?

Joan Baez wrote and performed some of the most iconic protest music from the 1960s, including her soulful rendition of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind." She was nicknamed "The Queen of Folk."

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Who was the legendary jam band that rocked out at Woodstock?

The Grateful Dead is easily one of the most influential jam bands of all time, so of course, they graced the stage at Woodstock. To this day, they remain extremely popular worldwide.

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Who was the legendary guitar master who drew massive crowds at Woodstock?

Jimi Hendrix was easily the most influential person who performed at Woodstock. His guitar playing is the stuff of legends, and his catalog of work speaks for itself. Sadly, he passed on at 27.

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Which stars made their doo-wop debut at Woodstock?

Sha Na Na wowed the crowds at Woodstock with their signature doo-wop sound. They made their mark by parodying the music of the 1950s and putting their brand new spin on the tunes.

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How long did the original Woodstock last?

Woodstock lasted for three groovy, music-soaked days of peace and music. The lineup was jammed with all of the top acts and solo performers of the time, and the 400,000 attendees got their money's worth.

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Which soulful, funky band played a unique set at Woodstock?

Sly & The Family Stone was one of the most popular bands to perform at Woodstock. Their pioneering sound combined soul, funk and rock, and they remain extremely popular even today.

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Despite his last name, he played during the summer. Who was he?

Johnny Winter is still known as one of rock's most legendary guitarists. This renaissance man played a number of different instruments and was a skilled and prolific songwriter.

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Famous for founding The Lovin' Spoonful, he entertained the crowds at Woodstock. Who is he?

John Sebastian is the founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, but he put on a solo show at Woodstock. This Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame inductee is famous for his harmonica work and folksy tunes.

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Which folksy band encouraged fans to "put the weight down on me"?

The Band was famous for their ballads that combined rock and folk. They were expert storytellers and many of their songs such as "The Weight" and "Up On Cripple Creek" are still popular.

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During what month did Woodstock take place?

The famous summer of love might have taken place a few years before, but Woodstock certainly closed out the summer of music and peace, with their late-summer August music festival.

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This band hit the music sweet spot at Woodstock. Which one were they?

Sweetwater was originally supposed to open Woodstock, but they wound up being stuck in traffic. This classic hippie band has the distinction of being the second act at the festival.

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What '60s stars never got to play their smash hit, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", at Woodstock?

Iron Butterfly got stuck in the airport while on their way to Woodstock. When they asked the festival presenters to send a private plane, the Woodstock crew responded with a coded insult.

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Who was the soulful star who opened the Woodstock festival?

Richie Havens had the distinction of being Woodstock's opening act. Havens specialized in soulful covers of pop and rock songs as well as original work played in his signature style.

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Which band was totally on fire at Woodstock?

Canned Heat's bluesy vibe was a major hit at Woodstock, where they played to a crowd of hundreds of thousands of fans. Formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s, Canned Heat was an iconic band of the era.

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Who was the San Francisco psychedelic band that made a splash at Woodstock?

Country Joe and the Fish was one of the most influential psychedelic groups to come out of San Francisco. They defined the music scene on the West Coast and were a prominent act at Woodstock.

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Who was one of the first musicians to perform at Woodstock?

Ravi Shankar wowed the crowds at Woodstock early on, with his expert sitar playing. He was also famously a spiritual leader and very respected by the attendees and musicians at Woodstock.

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Whose song "Jennifer" was a smash hit at Woodstock?

Bert Sommer might not be the most well-known performer at Woodstock, but his classic song about romance in the age of peace and love, "Jennifer," was a hit on the opening night of the festival.

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Woodstock was billed as a festival of what?

Woodstock was officially promoted as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music." It is often mistaken for the festival of peace and love, but officially it was about the tunes.

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Looking back, Woodstock was the musical event of the decade. How many people were there?

A staggering 400,000 attended Woodstock, which was far more than the organizers thought they'd get. Those without tickets simply strolled in through some large holes in the fence.

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This rollerskating hippie queen is often known only by her first name. Who is she?

Melanie Safka is better known simply as "Melanie," and her song "Brand New Key" is a whimsical romp through teenage love. It was also featured in the popular movie "Boogie Nights."

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Which folksy fave serenaded the crowd at Woodstock?

Arlo Guthrie is famous for his folksy style that often weaves in a bit of Americana with themes of longing and change. His famous song, "The City of New Orleans," is a classic example.

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A band of all-stars, they were a huge draw at Woodstock. Who were they?

All of the members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are superstars in their own right. They were skilled songwriters, and their music is still beloved today. Many of them went on to have amazing solo careers.

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What harmonica masters made crowds swoon at Woodstock?

Paul Butterfield was a true Renaissance man whose ability to play a number of instruments flawlessly won him, and his band, recognition during the experimental music era of the 1960s.

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What psychedelic British band wowed crowds at the famous festival?

The Incredible String Band was a psychedelic folk band who crossed the pond to come play at Woodstock. Known sometimes by their initials, ISB, this band was very popular in the 1960s.

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Which British band crossed the pond to perform at Woodstock?

The Keef Hartley Band is a play on the singer's first name, Keith Hartley. This British cult favorite energized crowds in the middle of the festival and kept the party going strong.

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What literary-named band got a shot at fame at Woodstock?

Quill might be one of the more obscure bands to grace the stage at Woodstock, but at the time they were a fan favorite in New England. Their album "Flipping Off The Devil" is a fan favorite.

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Whose jazzy-rock upbeat style went over big at Woodstock?

Blood, Sweat & Tears was known for their upbeat style that expertly combined rock and roll and jazz. Their tunes are catchy, extremely fun and are still routinely played even today.

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Which British top 40 pop stars took the stage at Woodstock?

Ten Years After was a bluesy British band that routinely hit the top-40 charts across the pond. They were well received at Woodstock, too. Their popularity peaked in the 1960s and 1970s.

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Which top 40 hippie fave played on the inaugural night of Woodstock?

Tim Hardin's top 40 smash hit "If I Were A Carpenter" was covered by a dazzling array of groovy musicians in the 1960s, including Johnny Cash. Unfortunately, this musician struggled with personal problems, including heroin addiction.

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Who hailed from the East Coast and rocked out at Woodstock?

Mountain is most famous for their 1970 classic rock hit, "Mississippi Queen" as well as dominating the stage at Woodstock. These Long Island boys definitely brought it during the middle of the festival.

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How much did it cost to attend the whole Woodstock festival?

Such a steal! Tickets to the iconic Woodstock festival could be had for the low price of $24. Adjusted for inflation, the ticket cost would be $164.21 today, which is still a bargain!

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Time for round two! When did the iconic Woodstock festival return?

Woodstock came back for round two in 1994. A whole new generation of modern hippies had the chance to experience the festival. The lineup was new, with one exception: Santana performed.

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