Michael Lang plans Woodstock revival

Michael Lang, co-founder of the iconic 1969 Woodstock festival, is planning to resurrect the event for a 40th anniversary shindig in New York, and has set himself the target of raising $10m in three weeks to make it happen.
 
After reprisals in 1994 and 1999, which cannot be classified as successes, Lang - once described as a "cosmic pixie" - wants to return to the spirit of the original festival and hold a green-themed free event, possibly in the Big Apple itself rather than upsate. Times have changed since the 1960s however, and in order to fulfill his dream, Lang will have to lean on some serious bread-heads.
 
He is confident that he can pull it off, if a little vague about what exactly the result will be. "The chances that something will happen are probable," he told the Times. "But I don't really have the answer yet as to what that will be."
 
It is reported that Lang has earmarked a number of sites including Central Park and that several bands who graced the stage in 1969, including The Who, Santana, Crosby, Stills and Nash and Joe Cocker, have been approached.
 
The last time Lang tried to reprise the legendary free concert - 10 years ago to mark its 30th birthday - things did not go smoothly. Tickets cost almost $200, bottles of water were selling for $5 each, the headliners were not-very-peace-and-love rock acts like Limp Bizkit and the whole thing ended in looting, riots and even rape allegations. He describes that experience as "heavier than I would have liked".
 
The original 1969 event was held under the slogan "Three Days of Peace and Music", and Lang is adamant that his latest incarnation will be closer to that ethos, although it seems likely that this time round the "peace and music" will be accompanied by "a word from our sponsors", provided they can be found. ·