Music World And Beyond Reacts To Passing Of Woodstock Co-Founder Michael Lang

(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Woodstock 50) – Michael Lang
Michael Lang speaks on stage at the announcement of the Woodstock 50 Festival Line-Up at Electric Lady Studio on March 19, 2019 in New York City.

The death of Woodstock partner and co-founder Michael Lang, at 77 of a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma at New York’s Sloan Kettering hospital Jan. 8, triggered an outpouring of tributes from friends, associates, musicians and fans who honored the late promoter, artist manager and dreamer.

Woodstock partner, co-founder and former Columbia Records VP Artie Kornfeld posted a photo to Facebook of the two of them, with the message: “Only love can break a heart; only love can mend it again.”

Lang, the only original partner in Woodstock Ventures who remained deeply involved in later incarnations of the historic 1969 festival that drew some 400,000 to Bethel, N.Y., for “3 days of peace & music” – which was legendarily chaotic but largely lived up to that billing – is widely credited, along with Kornfeld, as the hippie heart of the Woodstock Nation.

“There’s a moment when Michael Lang changed the world,” the Lovin’ Spoonful frontman John Sebastian told Rolling Stone. “At Woodstock I was standing next to him when one of his minions way in the distance came running toward the stage and we thought, “This can’t be good.’ He gets to Michael and says, ‘The fence is down. Folks are coming over the top.’ And Mike takes this long look over the whole scenario and almost to himself he says, ‘Well, I guess we now have a free festival.’ It was the original, ‘What could possibly go wrong,’ but he could pivot and see the light.”

Graham Nash who, along with David Crosby and Stephen Stills, famously debuted their supergroup with a show stopping performance of “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” at Woodstock, said, “This man played an important role in the development of the ‘Musical Festival’. His part in bringing the Woodstock nation to the forefront of American music is well known and he will be missed by his family and friends.”

Carlos Santana, also through spokesman Michael Jensen, added, “Michael Lang was a divine architect of unity & harmony. He gave birth to Woodstock, the festival that manifested 3 glorious days of peace & freedom. He will no doubt be orchestrating another celestial event in Heaven. Thank you Maestro. You and Bill Graham are now united in the light of our divinity and supreme love.”

Woodstock Venture’s official Twitter account posted, “We are deeply saddened by the death of our partner Michael Lang. He was a producer, father, environmentalist, friend, husband and most of all, one-of-a-kind dreamer whose mark on the world is undeniable. He will be missed.”

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>We are deeply saddened by the death of our partner Michael Lang. He was a producer, father, environmentalist, friend, husband and most of all, one-of-a-kind dreamer whose mark on the world is undeniable. He will be missed <a href=”https://t.co/ZvNJkEOzxl”>pic.twitter.com/ZvNJkEOzxl</a></p>— WOODSTOCK (@woodstockfest) <a href=”https://twitter.com/woodstockfest/status/1480302624461053952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

Arlo Guthrie, who also performed at the first Woodstock, wrote, “The sun rose this morning without my old friend, Michael Lang in this world. Michael passed away Saturday night having fought cancer for a while. He was 77.

“Michael will probably be remembered as one of the co-producers of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. But he was the one that nurtured the continuing legacy. Michael & I had talked often regarding the anniversaries as they came and went. He was generous, kind, and honest in all his dealings with me. We weren’t close friends but I think we had a mutual respect for each other that didn’t demand closeness.”

Creedence Clearwater Revival appeared at the original Woodstock festival, and former frontman John Fogerty – who was also billed on the ill-fated 50th anniversary festival – tweeted: “Michael Lange has passed today, one of the co-creators of @woodstockfest. Performing at the festival is a memory I will never forget. Sending love to his family. Rest In Peace Michael.”

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Michael Lang has passed today, one of the co-creators of <a href=”https://twitter.com/woodstockfest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@woodstockfest</a>. Performing at the festival is a memory I will never forget. Sending love to his family. Rest In Peace Michael. <a href=”https://t.co/YAFThfiRtP”>pic.twitter.com/YAFThfiRtP</a></p>— John Fogerty (@John_Fogerty) <a href=”https://twitter.com/John_Fogerty/status/1480235158317846530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

Sheryl Crow, who performed at the 1994 edition of Woodstock, its 25th anniversary, posted: “So long to Michael Lang… Woodstock 1969 made me want to make music, and Woodstock 1994 put me on the map. Eternally grateful to you for giving a newbie a shot on that historical stage..”

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>So long to Michael Lang… Woodstock 1969 made me want to make music, and Woodstock 1994 put me on the map. Eternally grateful to you for giving a newbie a shot on that historical stage. <br>RIP <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/MichaelLang?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#MichaelLang</a> <a href=”https://t.co/dExeZLVWVj”>https://t.co/dExeZLVWVj</a></p>— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) <a href=”https://twitter.com/SherylCrow/status/1480249734497456129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

Jefferson Airplane also appeared at Woodstock, and called Lang a “mastermind who co-created one of the most-loved music festivals in history, giving us a glimmer of hope in the ‘60s.”

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Rest in peace, Michael Lang – the legend who brought us Woodstock's "Three Days of Peace & Music." Michael was a mastermind who co-created one of the most-loved music festivals in history, giving us a glimmer of hope in the '60s. Condolences to his loved ones.<br><br>Photo: Henry Diltz <a href=”https://t.co/HJCgrwWE36″>pic.twitter.com/HJCgrwWE36</a></p>— jeffersonairp (@JeffersonAirp) <a href=”https://twitter.com/JeffersonAirp/status/1480331973046386689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 10, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

Courtesy of FestForums – Michael Lang
L-R: Rita Coolidge, Michael Lang and Mary Wilson

Lang’s loss, of course, is also felt through the concert industry. FestForums co-founder Laurie Kirby writes: “FestForums was so lucky to have him as an Advisory Board member, speaker, presenter, keynote and most importantly, friend. And the world was so lucky to have him as a visionary, eternal optimist and leader of a generational movement.

“Our condolences go out to his family. We will all miss his kind and gentle heart as well as his Chesire cat smile. (And Mary, we miss you too! Your beautiful spirit, great humor and beautiful voice was unparalleled.)”

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the non-profic cultural center built on the original Woodstock festival site on what was Max Yasgur’s famous farm, wrote, “We are greatly saddened at the news of the passing of Michael Lang, one of the original organizers of Woodstock. Michael’s role as a visionary behind the festival has left an indelible mark on history.”

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>We are greatly saddened at the news of the passing of Michael Lang, one of the original organizers of Woodstock. Michael’s role as a visionary behind the festival has left an indelible mark on history. <a href=”https://t.co/gQGcsRydRU”>pic.twitter.com/gQGcsRydRU</a></p>— Bethel Woods (@BethelWoods) <a href=”https://twitter.com/BethelWoods/status/1480277788661850119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

Artists who weren’t part of the original festival hailed Lang’s influence as well. Blondie’s Chris Stein wrote, “Michael Lang was one of the nicest people. All my encounters with him were always and positive, he was great.”

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Michael Lang was one of the nicest people. All my encounters with him were always upbeat and positive, he was great. <br>?? Henry Diltz <a href=”https://t.co/DqKfPkxB5L”>pic.twitter.com/DqKfPkxB5L</a></p>— C???s S???? (@chrissteinplays) <a href=”https://twitter.com/chrissteinplays/status/1480210394681683974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>