Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Newport Pop Festival - Any Old Timers?

Jeff Overley, a reporter with the OC Register, says he's working on a story about the 40th anniversary of the Newport Pop Festival. He send me a note asking if any OCThen readers ever visited a previous NPF event.

Hi Steve ... I'm a reporter with the Register, and I'm working on a story about the 40th anniversary of the Newport Pop Festival. I came across a commenter on your website who mentioned attending, so was curious if you might know of anyone else who was at the show....Any help would be awesome, please feel free to drop me a line any time ... Best ...
Give him a ring if you'd like to see your name in print...

Jeff Overley
The Orange County Register
joverley@ocregister.com
714-445-6683
714-932-1221 (Cell)

43 comments:

  1. I graduated from high school in Kettering, Ohio the day Bobby Kennedy was killed in L.A.in 1968. The next day I was on a plane to live in Mission Viejo with my parents. I went to the Sunday show in Costa Mesa of the Newport Pop Festival. Culture shock hit the farm boy from Ohio like a tsunami. Next stop Laguna Beach, the Sawdust Festival, the Brotherhood, Purcell and the rest is history. OC was such a great place to be 40 years ago....high in the Sierra's....whoray

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  2. I was 16 & went with a friend to the Sunday show. I remember a few of the bands that played that day: Blue Cheer, Jefferson Airplane, Chambers Brothers. Does anyone have the full line-up for Sunday, 8-4-68. I've seen the total line-up for the weekend but haven't seen the breakdown for each day. Any help would be appreciated

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  3. Newport Pop Festival, August 3-4, 1968

    Saturday, August 3, 1968

    Alice Cooper, Canned Heat, Chambers Brothers, Charles Lloyd Quartet, Country Joe and the Fish, Electric Flag, James Cotton Blues Band, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Sonny & Cher, Steppenwolf, Tiny Tim.

    Sunday, August 4, 1968

    Blue Cheer, Eric Burdon & The Animals, Grateful Dead, Illinois Speed Press, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Byrds, Things to Come.

    And there was another stage across from the main stage where Lee Michaels and Superchief performed, among others.

    rockdad

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  4. There was also another festival in 1969 I think, during spring break, called the Palm Springs Pop Festival. I remember especially Canned Heat was fabulous and James Gurley, formerly of Big Brother and the Holding Company, had his guitar stolen and there were repeated pleas over the PA system for whoever had it to return it for a reward, no questions asked. Also, Buddy Miles played but was loudly booed when he removed his shirt and exposed 350 pounds of flab while singing soul - not what the crowd came for!

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  5. My high school buddy and I drove in a $75 1956 B&W Chevy, all the way from Charlotte, NC to see the Pop Festival. I remember Blue Cheer kicking their equipment off the stage at the end of their set - of course, the Jefferson Airplane pie fight - a Coke bottle sailing dangerously close to Tiny Tim's head. Anyone got pics from the festival?

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  6. My name is Will Wiebe and I was born in San Diego, CA. I was raised from infancy until I was in 8th grade on a 10 acre orange ranch on 10331 Stanford Ave, Garden Grove. In fact, the house I lived in, now stands the Garden Grove Unified School District Building. My Grandmother owned the Orange Grove at the time and sold it to the school district, in the early 1960's. I went to Catholic elementary school at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Grade School, Westminster, and then transferred to St. Columbans Cathlolic School in Garden Grove.

    When I was growing up as a child and early adolescent, there was nothing but orange, lemon, walnut and avocado ranches, as well as acres and acres of strawberry fields. No freeways but one, to L.A. and San Diego.

    My dad's name was Arnold and he was a Rancher, Welder and Carpenter by trade. My Mother, Wilda was a stay at home mom as we grew up in Garden Grove.

    Growing up in Garden Grove as child and into adolescent age was wonderful. The area was so peaceful and the smell of orange blossoms was so riveting.

    I remember places like, HW 39 Drive In Theatre on Beach Blvd., the Gem Theatre, downtown Garden Grove, Zlackets Market,A great hamburger place on Chapman Ave called "The Pink Spot", the best of all as a child...playing, and helping my father drive his tractor, by sitting on his lap as we irrigated and disk our Orange and lemon Grove Ranch.

    I would love to re-connect with individuals who may remember me from the 1950's, 1960's and early 70".

    I'm currently living in Portland, Oregon.

    Thanks

    Will Wiebe
    will_wiebe@comcast.net

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  7. My name is Cheryl. My friend Glenda and I were at the Newport Pop Festival as dancers from Gazzarri's on Sunset Strip. We were in a large building with the bands, had our picture taken w/ the Byrds, took a member of the Grateful Dead back to Hollywood after they played and were kicked out, along with all other females, when Jefferson Airplane arrived. Seems no other women were to be in the building when they arrived. Good memories...

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cheryl,
      I'm writing an Encyclopedia Of Jerry Garcia Music Venues. Please email me at slipnut01@gmail.com

      Delete
    2. I remember a dressing tent and a raised stage where some of the ladies came out only in a feather boa and danced around in that heat. I was sitting by the tent to get some shade and the ladies were sitting on my head when they saw me lean up against it. Fantastic memory to go along with the music.

      Delete
  8. I was 13 I came across the US with a schizophrenic 22 year old guy. We were in Haight Asbury when we heard about the Laguna Beach pop fest so we hitched down there but not before almost being abducted by the Children of God in Anaheim. Luckily my boyfriend was sensitive to scary shit so I was forewarned across the "bible study " circle. I don't quite remember the bands, but I remember my boyfriend finding a whole pack of "Park Lane" cigs. (Smuggled from Vietnam)There were 20 in the pack. We traded people one for a pack of real cigs. Silly us! There was like a quarter oz of primo in each cig.

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  9. Spring break 1969,there was supposed to be an earthquake to end all and L.A. would be in the ocean. So way not go to the Palm Springs pop festival, my brother lived in Palm Springs. So my friend and I living in the San Fernando valley( at that time still had the spring fragrance of orange blossoms) went to Palm Springs. Interesting times, along with the above mentioned groups I remember the Ike and Tina Revue they were amazing! Lots of political stuff going on with people being guided out of Tahquitz canyon.
    Next was the Newport '69"pop festival at Devonshire Downs in Northridge about two miles from my house I went with a friend all three days and will never forget the experience,a great article 'a look at the newport "69" pop music festival is worth a read at CUN's old Devosh. Those concerts along with "Fantasy faire" at Devonshire Downs give meaning to the Hendrix phrase " are you experienced!!" history of this kind cannot be repeated or recreated, it was an amazing time.......s

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  10. Message for Cheryl the GAZZARRI DANCER - Just started up a brand new website about the Gazzarri ladies who danced on HOLLYWOOD A GO-GO in 1964-65. Were you in this group or only at the club? We've got pages on the site for June, Gwen, Dale, Jacqui, DeAnn, Carlie. Did you know any of them? Love to hear from you about your dancing days. jim@gazzarridancers.com

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  11. I was also at the Newport Pop Festival both days. I don't remember most of the line-up, but it was really great. The Iron Butterfly and Country Joe were ones I remember the most. I am from Huntington Beach and of course also hung at the Golden Bear and the Prison of Socrates in Balboa. Saw many great acts and have tons of memories.

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  12. I was there in 1968 during the summer before my senior year in high school (San Diego). Things I remember: It was hot. Tiny Tim was a huge draw at the time (amazing, huh?). Canned Heat lead singer was wearing pajama bottoms. It cost like $4.50 or something to go. I still have the original round flyer. One of the groups kicked over their amps and smashed guitars ala The Who. Chambers Bros. and Quicksilver were smokin'. Good times. Good memories.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it was hot. I was there but had to leave early because I think I got heat stroke.

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  13. I grew up in Newport Shores and went to both days of the festival and then went to Palm Springs for the Drive in Theatre concert where
    Lee Michals and Procol Harem took the show I really don't remember any other bands there I either got here too late or just forgot. The pop Festival was so good with Sonny & Cher Stepponwolf and Tiny Tim byrds Airplane The Animals wow! non stop bands both days never forget that one. Chambers Bros was a highlight and James Cotton was there I didn't see on the list. We saw Bob Dylan sitting on the side chairs of the stage and Sunday the last band was the Jefferson Airplane who din't get to perform as everyone stormed the stage so set cut short. Never been anything like it since.

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  14. I was there for the Sunday concert. Went down w/ friends (we lived in LA proper) and I wound up hitching home that night because they wanted to leave early. That's a cardinal sin in my book. You never leave the concert until you're sure the last note's been played.
    We didn't have tickets and I remember there was a rush for the fence just as we got there, so I went for it, and that day became a freebie for me. We heard the Speed Press and Quicksilver, and then I took a walk and saw there was a fenced off press area right in front of the stage. I had my camera w/ me so I decided to see about getting in there. In those days security was really loose, and I was only 16 and a bit head strong, so I walked up and said I was from Rolling Stone Magazine. The gal asked for my ID and I told her I didn't have it with me, so she let me in and I had a front row seat (on the ground) all day. Actually I remember going back to sit against the rear fence while the Dead played. What a trip!
    A couple posts up someone mentioned "One of the groups kicked over their amps and smashed guitars ala The Who". Well that was Blue Cheer. They absolutely rocked!
    Iron Butterfly was next and they ended their set w/ In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida and one by one each member of the band walked off stage as the other members continued to play. Doug Ingle was the last person left on stage (still playing) and he picked up his mike stand and laid it across the keyboard and walked off stage w/ the organ still going. Pretty cool finale for those days. The Dead was next, but I wasn't really into them - too mellow for me. The next band I remember was Eric Burdon & The Animals. By this time the fenced in press area was no more, as the crowd pushed the fence down and it was now just like a regular concert w/ the crowd pressed up against the stage. Next came the Airplane to close the show. They were great and I vaguely remember pies being thrown around the stage. It's rumoured that David Crosby organised this, but who knows. They say the Byrds played that day, but you couldn't prove it by me.
    Don't listen to the talk of not enough of this or that - it was a killer day for music and if that's what you came for then you left a happy camper.

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  15. I too was there but only for Saturdays show. I do remember Sonny and Cher. I think she was pregnant with her daughter at the time and I remember Sonny saying something like "You know what she's been doing" For the life of me I could not understand why people acted crazy when Tiny Tim came on. Does anyone remember a band called The Womb or Cat Mother/newsboys.

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  16. This was my first concert that I went to at the age of 13. I finally convienced my older brother to take me and to keep me from hanging around from him and his friend he took my older sister too to keep an eye on me. It was the Saturday show and I remember that Sunny and Cher came by helicopter and it was made into a big thing. The Canned Heat, Chambers Brothers, Electric Flag with Buddy Miles, Alice Cooper, and steppenwolf was all I remember seeing. There was booths selling black light posters, incense, bongs, etc.
    It's pretty amazing to think back about it. My older brother died the following year because of a motor cycle accident and a year later my parents divorced. Crazy times but I survived it all.

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  17. "Does anyone remember a band called The Womb or Cat Mother/newsboys."
    Yes. I was teenager when these guys were around. Don't think they had more than the one LP called The Street Giveth & The Street Taketh Away, which I had and loved.

    http://www.totalmusicgeek.com/2007/11/cat-mother-and-all-night-newsboys-good.html

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  18. I was at both the 68 Newport Pop Festival at the Orange County Fiargrounds as well as the 69 festival at devonshire downs. Had no money at the time and hitch hiked to both from San Pedro with my girlfriend. Stayed both days. Was one of the bets experiences I can remember!!!

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  19. I was the schiz...boyfriend Lumpin Pollie was talking about. I can't argue about the schizophrenic description since I had taken 1 to many trips in the 60s. I do remember, however, that I was 17 years old, but did not know she was 13. Laguna Beach Pop Festival was another festival, like Powder Ridge Pop in Conn, that was canceled at the last minute, but everyone decided to stay. All I remember was Sly and The Family Stone. I was just coming off some more acid I took in the Haight. I do remember the imported cigs. from Viet Nam and the Christian abduction of Teresa. California was even to wierd for me. I loved the East Coast version of Haight called Saint Marks Place. If anyone else remembers anymore about Laguna, please respond.

    Love you all,

    Steve

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  20. I was there, '68 Newport Pop Festival. Just graduated from Costa Mesa High School with my boyfriend (now my husband). I remember all the above bands Canned Heat, Chamberlain Brothers, Jefferson Airplane (and could have sworn Jimmy Hendrix was there???)we were there both days,there were so many "love children", those were the days. I remember seeing a couple with a 2yr old boy with long hair and both parents were tripin' (in a good way), I wanted to be like them. Anyway, I came up pregnant 1 month later and had my own long haired baby boy:) PEACE

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  21. I was there in '68 as a 15-year-old farm boy from Missouri who was there working and living with my brother and his family in Costa Mesa. A girl cousin of my sister-in-law and her two friends, and I("double-date")went on Sunday,ALL day long! It was completely mind-blowing for me! I enjoyed not only the main stage acts, but also the secondary stage ones across the way, not to mention the totally foxy go-go girls/models on another stage. It got really hot, no they brought in water and made a great big mud-hole and lots of people jumped in and frolicked away! I still have a few pictures of that day somewhere. There was also a tent from where a certain type of smoke leaked out all over. I went in and enjoyed the slide show and a VERY critical satire of L.B.J. Coming from back East, I was used to such straight out "stuff" about a President, but enough of the information stuck to really change my thinking. I went back home changed from my experience in California, and a good part of that was because of the Newport Pop Festival!

    RM

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  22. 1969: Shortly after I took a hit of DMT in Balboa Park, my visual world took a bizarre 20 degree tilt. My friends and I piled into a "paddy wagon" (VW Bus). And somebody with great presence of mind and a firm grip on reality (was it Mad John?) drove us all to Devonshire Downs for the weekend. I listen to chatter on the police radio the whole way there. It was blissful. Some jerk swiped my sleeping bag shortly after we arrived (it rained the first night). But I didn't care. I tripped the whole weekend on some crazy new musical planet. In one blurry moment of memory, Mad John and I are sitting in the middle of a riot - cops vs hippies. John and I are carelessly suckin' up watermelon slathered in Red Mountain wine and feeling immune to the violence. It was the perfect state of mind to witness Hendrix.

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  23. My experiences at both the 68 and 69 Newport Pop festivals will always be some of the highlights of my life. Although I was only 15 and 16 at the time and now am 57 years old, I have very vague memories of what actually took place and it's not because I was high at the time, jeez, I hadn't even smoked pot yet! It's only been recently that I have started to try and gather my memories about these shows in some sort of cohesive manner or order of time. I'd give anything to be able to discuss the shows with anyone else that was there. If anyone is interested my name is Raul Aguilera and my email is nawlidge55@yahoo.com...............Thank You

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  24. Does anyone remember seeing Arthur Lee & LOVE play at Newport 1969?

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  25. just found this site, great reading, i was one of the priciple promoters of the show at age 26 (68 now), can reach me at nobullschmidt@hotmail.com or at garyschmidthappens.comm or reformnevadapolitics.com i am going to organize an interactive web site for this show in 2012 - have too many other projects this year - all those interested please get in touch - work hard, tend to family, and keep the peace, gary schmidt

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  26. Have the full program. I went to the Sat. show as an 11 year old with my 13 yo brother. See my postings on Facebook! Stu Egli

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  27. I was in junior high when I was invited by a friend to the Newport Pop Festival at Devonshire Downs. I remember an amazing day. I was so excited to see Jimi Hendrix. I actually went up as close to the stage as I possibly could when he started to play. But I really loved the Chambers Brothers best. All in all a great day. Riots? Didn't see them. Everyone was relaxed and calm. Loved it!

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  28. I remember this concert very well I was just entering high school and my older brother and his buddies were just home from the Airforce and they actually all attended. Because I was only 14 they would not let me in. We just in the housing track directly behind the fairgrounds which was about 3/4 of a mile from the concert. We had people parked in camper vans down the street from our house on the night before the first day of the event. The next day I remember sitting on the hill at Tewinkle park which was less than an 1/8th of mile from the stage and I heard about 4 of the bands play their entire sets, including the Chambers Brothers. The Police in Costa Mesa were very crafty back then. they entered the festival dressed as ambulance drivers and put people who were really too stoned to stand up in the the back of an ambulance and then shuttled them to the Police station, which was directly across the street from the OC Fairgrounds. This was all an effort to keep control over the crowd and not to cause any riots. I recall those two days were very hot and my brother said there was nothing to drink, no water, no cokes and no beer. The music was great good but poor planning on the part of the promoters. But then again this was pre-woodstock by one year and the summer of 1968.

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  29. I have an original program from the Newport Pop Festival for sale right now. It's white with a "Coca-Cola" type of logo on it. If anyone is interested, contact me at mooch @ moochweb . com.

    I also have "the Hippies" book, "The Great Poster Trip - Eureka", and an original Grateful Dead Guitar book with American Beauty and Workingman's Dead

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  30. Jimmy Hendrix Was there!

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  31. On Sunday, August 4, 1968, my boyfriend, Corky Craig, and I, from Lake Elsinore, attended the Newport Pop Festival. Yes, I do remember how hot it was but I was 15 and with my boyfriend so life was good - ha! I do remember seeing the fence falling down and so many entering the area. We were sitting on the ground near the back rows. I must admit it was frightening and I didn't know what to expect next. The apple-cider was different! I was hoping to see some photos on here. I must say it was one of the best days of my life!!!

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  32. I love this site! I went with my b/f-the first time I was let out of the house! 2 days of unreal fun, what I remember of it....just fun. I remember the Chambers Brothers, Hendrix, ah...Sonny and Cher? Kinda. But Tiny Tim? What was up with that and why was everybody crazy about him? I wish my ex would give me some of the photos-I'm going to ask! Lydia

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lydia,
      Did you ever get hold of the photos? Please email me at slipnut01@gmail.com

      Delete
    2. Hi Lydia,
      Did you ever get hold of the photos? Please email me at slipnut01@gmail.com

      Delete
    3. Perhaps if you knew about Tiny Tim then you you'd know that the crowd loved him because he was a kind and gentle man, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of the American songbook and he had a great vocal range too (ranging from a controled falsetto to a wonderful baritone). He was very camp and loved it, he was the first flower child back in the 50s.

      Delete
  33. I was there Sunday afternoon. I don’t remember all the bands I saw but I do remember the Chamber Brothers play ‘Time Is Here Today’ I had to leave early to get back to El Toro Marine Base where I was stationed as a Corpsman. As we left, there were about a hundred or more police officers marching toward to main gate. To this day I have no idea why the police were marching with their batons in a combat position b/c nothing but people listening to music was on the other side of the main gate! Bye the way, the Chamber Brothers were great and their playing of ‘Time’ is forever burned into my memories!

    Charles

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  34. I was there the second day of the festival. Saw the Grateful Dead (ho-hum), Blue Cheer (great, they smashed their instruments ala the Who), Country Joe & The Fish (great showmanship), Quicksilver Messenger Service (the classic line-up, no Dino Valente), Illinois Speed Press, Things To Come, Iron Butterfly (awesome!), the Byrds (down to a trio then, only Hillman and McGuinn left from the classic line-up) and Eric Burdon and the Animals (probably the highlight, Burdon was swilling wine on stage, grabbing women to hug, and smoke-bombs went off during "Sky Pilot"). The Airplane was the last on the bill to play but I had to leave because my parents were picking me up as I couldn't drive yet (drag). Great acts, but hot, dusty, and few concessions.

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  35. I was 18 at the time, and called in sick at the boys market to attend the saturday show.As usual for me I arrived at the show with no food, water, or hat and suffered in the heat until a older woman of about 20 sat down beside me and kept me alive with her water and fruit.I am 63 now but still regret not thanking her for her kindness that day. So kind lady, if by chance you read this, I have never forgotten your kindness, and my immaturity.

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  36. Went Sunday remember blue cheer Alice cooper canned heat greatful dead country joe quick silver Jefferson airplane Eric burdon so awesome I was 15 people rolling in the mud on acid! Hard to find anyone who was there or even heard of it!

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