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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage

Streaming on HBO

The phrase “the day the nineties died” can be traced back to one event: Woodstock ‘99. The Fyre Festival-style recreation of the original Woodstock resulted in riots, looting, and sexual assault. The nightmare unfolded at the former Griffiss Air Force Base, in New York State, when the temperature soared to over 100 degrees. Water supply problems, high prices, topless attendees, and xenophobia fouled the mood, and onstage, performances laced with aggression made things worse. Rose-tinted nostalgia gave way to fully-fledged chaos. This new documentary, directed by Bill Simmons (André The Giant, Showbiz Kids), tells the story of how peace and love quickly devolved into the exact opposite. The film is the debut of Music Box, a series that is exploring similar pivotal moments in the music industry. —E.C.

Photo: Catherine Lash. Courtesy of HBO.