MovieChat Forums > Woodstock (1970) Discussion > Jefferson Airplane/Janis Joplin.

Jefferson Airplane/Janis Joplin.


How come their footage wasn't used in the film?



No reason is given for it.

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Probably copyright or similar .... the original release missed all of Jimi Hendrix and many other great tracks by other acts.

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It's a travesty, either way.

Both performances were outstanding... Far better than some of the tracks that base it into the original cinematic cut.

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I know CCR wouldn't give their consent to use their footage and The Grateful Dead might have not either.

I wonder what their reasons would of been for it?

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For most of the Airplane's performance, the camera crew was incredibly stoned and during many of their numbers, the cameras were all pointed at the sky.

I don't know why Janis was left out of the original film.

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Thought I'd revive this again how come various others artists that were there weren't in the film?

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On the 40th anniversary Grace Slick appeared on Jim Ladd's radio show here in Los Angeles. She said Woodstock was one of Airplane's worst performances. They were scheduled to be the last performer on Saturday night, but because of delays, didn't go on stage until 8am Sunday morning. She said the band had been waiting to go on for hours and spent the time partying with the other bands and getting stoned. When they finally did get on stage they were badly wasted and it showed in the performance. She didn't say whether that was the reason they weren't in the film, but that might have been a factor. I love Jefferson Airplane but that's my least favorite CD to listen to. I like it as a historical document, but not as something to rock out to.

In the book "On the Road with Janis Joplin", written by her longtime friend and road manager John Byrne Cooke, he notes that she seemed overwhelmed by the size of the crowd when they were helicoptered into the grounds. Like the Airplane, her performance was also delayed by many hours, time she spent drinking to try to calm her nerves. She also disappeared to get a heroin fix, an addiction which she had been keeping secret. Regardless, Albert Grossman managed Janis, and he had a reputation for having a heavy hand. Either he thought the performance wasn't good and releasing it would damage her long term potential, or he thought they weren't being offered enough money to be in the film.

CDs of both artist's performances at Woodstock were released for the 40th anniversary in 2009. They are also available on Spotify.
Jefferson Airplane - The Woodstock Experience
Janis Joplin - The Woodstock Experience

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Thanks.

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both on the Directors cut, airplane was for sure high for that performance and Janis kinda struggled too, her voice gave out & she just kept it goien.

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