The band that refused to play Woodstock in the rain
In short: In 1969, The Incredible String Band was offered a slot at Woodstock for $4,500. They turned it down because of the pouring rain. This decision cost them a place in the festival's film history, but it defined their identity as a group that prioritized artistic integrity over commercial spectacle.
Formed in Edinburgh in 1966 by Clive Palmer, Robin Williamson, and Mike Heron, The Incredible String Band became pioneers of psychedelic folk. They were known for a 'theatrical' performance style that blended traditional music with surreal sketches, dancers, and exotic instruments. Their sound was a complex tapestry of world music influences, ranging from Moroccan instruments—like the gimbri—to Bahamian spirituals. This unique fusion allowed them to reach the top of the UK folk charts and earn praise from icons like Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney. The band's internal dynamics were famously fractious. While they were successful, manager Joe Boyd noted that Williamson and Heron developed a 'robust dislike' for one another once their original buffer, Clive Palmer, departed. They maintained separate identities as writers, often refusing to include each other's work unless the other could impose their own arrangements and harmonies. This tension existed alongside a shared commitment to avant-garde exploration, leading to ambitious projects like the multimedia spectacle 'U' in 1970, which attempted to fuse music with a 'surreal parable' of spiritual awareness. Their legacy is also tied to the counterculture's spiritual and communal movements. The group lived communally in Wales and was eventually introduced to Scientology by David Simons in 1968. While their involvement with the religion was controversial and some critics linked it to a decline in their musical quality, it remained a defining chapter of their journey. By choosing to skip Woodstock due to the weather, they opted out of the era's most famous commercial moment, choosing instead to remain a cult favorite of the underground.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Incredible String Band
- Also: Wikidata — The Incredible String Band · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — The Incredible String Band · CC0
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