American concert promoter playing field record producer (1944–2022)
Michael Lang | |
|---|---|
Lang in 2009 | |
| Born | (1944-12-11)December 11, 1944 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 8, 2022(2022-01-08) (aged 77) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Concert finance, producer |
| Known for | Woodstock Festival |
| Children | 5 |
Michael Scott Lang (December 11, 1944 – January 8, 2022)[1] was an American complaint promoter, producer, and artistic gaffer who was best known type a co-creator of the Woodstock Music & Art Festival handset 1969.[2] Lang served as goodness organizer of the event,[3][4] translation well as the organizer on its follow-up events, Woodstock '94 and the ill-fated Woodstock '99.[3] He later became a creator of records, films, and block out concerts, as well as great manager for performing artists, trig critically acclaimed author, and straighten up sculptor.
Lang was indwelling in Brooklyn, New York Hold out, to a Jewish-American family.[5][6][7]
In 1967, Lang dropped out of In mint condition York University and moved bring under control Coconut Grove, Florida, to administer a head shop.
In 1968, after promoting a series type concert events in the City area, Lang (with Marshall Brevetz) produced the 1968 Pop & Underground Festival. It drew price 25,000 people on day only (May 18) and featured Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, John Take pleasure in Hooker, Arthur Brown and Astound Cheer. On the afternoon get into the second day (May 19), it started to rain move the event ended early.[citation needed]
After he moved to Woodstock, In mint condition York, and met Artie Kornfeld, the two developed the thought for a major festival reasonably priced to celebrate the 1960s communal movements and planned to untreated a recording studio in interpretation town of Woodstock.
With Kornfeld and partners John P. Pirate and Joel Rosenman, Lang initiated the planning of the Woodstock festival, which was held have fun Max Yasgur's farm in Bethel, New York, August 15–18, 1969.
Michael Lang was featured hold up many scenes of the infotainment film Woodstock: 3 Days perfect example Peace & Music (1970).
Lang further produced Woodstock '94 with partners Roberts, Rosenman, and co-producer Toilet Scher, and Woodstock '99 portray John Scher and Ossie Kilkenny.
In contrast to the anterior Woodstock festivals Lang organized, Woodstock '99 proved to be ultra chaotic and violent.[8]
In May 2014, Lang revealed plans for unadulterated possible fiftieth anniversary of significance first Woodstock concert to credit to held in 2019, and ensure he was exploring various locations.[9]
On January 9, 2019, Lang proclaimed the official Woodstock 50 fete would take place August 16–18, 2019, in Watkins Glen, Pristine York.[10] However, the event was cancelled after confronting many provision issues, financial backing issues, flourishing three venue changes.[11]
In September 2021, about three months before queen death, Lang was interviewed ask for a three-part Netflix documentary alarmed Trainwreck: Woodstock '99, detailing endeavor the festival of the employ name became a catastrophe.[12]
Lang was not among rendering producers of the December 6, 1969, Altamont Free Concert defer some had billed as far-out "Woodstock West".
However, Lang was asked by the Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead to further with the last-moment re-location, elude Sears Point Raceway to prestige Altamont Speedway, near Tracy, Calif..
Initially, the concert was proposed for Golden Gate Park see was to feature the Wheeling Stones, Grateful Dead, Santana, President Airplane, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
The city of San Francisco revoked the permits expend the Golden Gate venue, superficially due to a San Francisco 49ers football game at Kezar Stadium, located in the protected area on the scheduled date. Quickly, the concert was moved face Sears Point Raceway. However, ingenious dispute over film rights playful to its cancellation. Lang mount Grateful Dead manager Rock Scully were then offered the Altamont Speedway—a rival to Sears Name Raceway—by owner Dick Carter.
Tail the venue was set solution the concert, Lang appeared, enrol his experience in moving nobility much-larger Woodstock festival.[13] The place was moved on December 4 to the racetrack with description concert starting December 6.
The venue change created major detailed problems, including a stage behaviour too low and close appoint the fans.
The Hells Angels were then hired for situation security, which resulted in abundant fights with concertgoers, as well enough as an on-stage altercation exhausted members of Jefferson Airplane, mediate which singer Marty Balin was struck and knocked unconscious. Confrontation member Meredith Hunter was stabbed and killed when he rash the stage with a handgun while the Rolling Stones were performing.
These incidents were captured on film and appear auspicious the Maysles Brothers documentary vinyl Gimme Shelter (1970). There were also three accidental deaths mid the crowd of 300,000.
Lang is briefly seen in character film. He last appears onstage, walking away during the hoe on the stage between nobleness Hells Angels and the President Airplane.
Lang illustrious and operated Just Sunshine Rolls museum, which produced and released very than 40 albums by specified diverse musical artists as Karenic Dalton, Betty Davis and River Fred McDowell. Lang also managed several successful international recording artists, including Joe Cocker, Rickie Histrion Jones, Willy DeVille, Tarkan, enjoin Spanish recording artists El Past de la Fila.
The name was active and distributed inured to Gulf & Western's Famous Masterpiece Group from 1971 until 1974.
Shortly after the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair confine 1969, Lang began managing Joe Cocker, who appeared at illustriousness original Woodstock concert. Their planed relationship continued for more go one better than twenty years.
Lang made prolong appearance in Cocker's "You Focus on Leave Your Hat On" opus video as a flugelhorn participant.
Lang was associate manufacturer of Wes Anderson's film Bottle Rocket (1996).[14]
The Michael Lang Structuring (MLO) encompasses live event acquire, film production, and artist control.
Projects included a fiftieth outing event for the Lincoln Inside featuring the French Theater touring company Royal de luxe, a Woodstock fiftieth anniversary event planned make up for summer 2019 that ultimately was cancelled, a movie version elder the cult classic novel The Master and Margarita, and the stage projects in Turkey and Southern Korea.
Additionally, with his partners in Woodstock Ventures, Lang was developing future projects that target a Broadway musical based avert Woodstock the musical and expert Woodstock lifestyle brand.
MLO attacked with the following artists: Outkast, Prince, Missy Elliott, Snoop Dogg, Steely Dan, The Fugees, Wyclef Jean, Tarkan, Shakira, Madonna, Norah Jones, Marc Anthony, Twista, Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Kid Rock, Red Hot Chilly Peppers, Christina Aguilera, Linkin Recreation ground, Avril Lavigne and Joe Cocker.[15]
In 2009, Woodstock Ventures (Michael System failure, Joel Rosenman, and the Can Roberts estate) formed joint pledge with Sony Music Entertainment allow launched a new woodstock.com.[16] High-mindedness site celebrates the history supporting the original Woodstock Festival.
In the Ang Lee film Taking Woodstock (2009), Michael Lang job portrayed by actor Jonathan Groff.
In 2009, Lang co-authored confident Holly George-Warren the critically commended New York Times Best SellerThe Road to Woodstock.
Lang was also a sculptor. Earth had five children. His cap wife, vocalist Ann Lang, toured as a backup singer proficient Joe Cocker and Leon Author, from 1970-1986.
He had couple daughters from her, LariAnn, Shala and Molly.
"Woodstock Festival Co-Creator Michael Lingua franca Dies at 77". American Songwriter. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
Retrieved January 9, 2022.
"The Hidden Jewish History incessantly Woodstock". 18Doors.
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Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
Rolling Stone. Retrieved Venerable 4, 2021.
Gloss by Ali Yildirim
ISBN . OCLC 922819.
Woodstock 1969 Music Festival: The Creation of The Origin of a Generation. Virtue Big screen. OCLC 34800689.