Trainwreck: Woodstock ‘99
In the summer of 1999, the Central New York region was set to become the very heart of rock n’ roll. After the success of Woodstock ’94, it was a no-brainer to green light Woodstock ’99, which would celebrate the 30th anniversary of the cultural-defining festival that revolutionized music. 
Some of the biggest acts of the era were set to perform; an eclectic and wide-ranging roster that included names like The Dave Matthews Band, Sheryl Crow, The Cranberries, Alanis Morrisette, DMX, Limp Bizkit, Korn, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, just to name a few.
As explored in the Netflix documentaries TRAINWRECK: WOODSTOCK ’99, what was meant to be a joyous celebration dissolved into a horrifying and shocking display of disillusionment and anarchy. The three-part series spends roughly one hour on each day of the festival, culminating in the raging inferno that served as the inevitable conclusion to a hellish weekend that continues to live in infamy.
I’d say that the intentions for Woodstock ’99 were good, but if we’re being honest, it was always about the money. Organizers John Scher and Michael Long (particularly Long who was the co-founder of the original festival) wanted to recreate the “peace, love, and music” atmosphere of ’69, but at the end of the day, they also wanted to make money. Lots and lots and lots of money. As soon as attendees began entering the asphalt covered Griffiss Air Force base in Rome, their water was confiscated. Sure, it was nearly 100 degrees, but there was water for sale inside, so no outside beverages were allowed. Nitrous oxide was fine, Poland Spring was not. Water prices would gradually increase as the hours and days wore on, setting the mood for the everything that was to come.
The ensuing disaster has been chronicled before, most recently in an HBO Max documentary WOODSTOCK: PEACE, LOVE, and RAGE. That doc was enthralling as well, but TRAINWRECK gives an even more expansive and shocking look at what happened. What is even more incredible to think about, was that the debacle played out live on pay-per-view for all to see. In 1998, THE TRUMAN SHOW (still one of the most underrated and prophetic movies of all time) was meant to be a warning, yet within a year we were well on our way to truly becoming a reality TV nation. PPV footage from Woodstock ’99 is a perfect example of this, as we see in TRAINWRECK, with people doing anything to get on television. 
I’m enthralled by quite literally every aspect of the failed fest. I was glued to my television watching TRAINWRECK, as I was the HBO doc that came before. There is always talk of hindsight in travesties such as these, but when it comes to Woodstock, this notion is absurd. The violence, price gouging, sexual assaults, and raw sewage spills were happening in front of a live television audience. Property was being destroyed, women were being raped, and concert-goers were literally baking in the sun for three straight days. This wasn’t everyone’s experience, of course, and I have a number of friends who went and had a great time. The problem is, it was the experience of many. There are a shocking number of jaw-dropping tales told through the three installments but hearing about someone getting a face full of open sores just because they took a drink of water is one that sticks out to me the most.
The footage shown in TRAINWRECK is incredible. I would have loved to have seen more of the music acts, but obviously, that’s not what this documentary was about. The moments of the entire crowd jumping and moving together for Korn and Limp Bizkit is jaw-dropping and is as beautiful as it is terrifying. The behind-the-scenes glimpses of promoters kicking back and patting each other on the back while teenagers roll around in what they think is mud (spoiler alert, it wasn’t…) and spend all of their money on water while they trudge through ankle-deep trash is stomach-churning. It was also a far-cry from the festival that inspired it. 
TRAINWRECK: WOODSTOCK ’99: A-
(Now streaming on Netflix)
