Scattered Brightness: A Performer’s View of Woodstock 1969

ABSTRACT

The Incredible String Band’s Rose Simpson recounts her memories of performing at Woodstock from the perspective of an iconic band. Organisational chaos, and divided loyalties contributed to performance decisions which preventedmeaningful connectionsy with their audience on that most significant concert of their career. But breaching the divide between the performers’ area and the audience in a morning walk with Mike Heron she gained a sense of the utopian potential that was Woodstock. Her later studies drew parallels between the hippie enthusiasms of that time and the German author Ina Seidel's elevations of irrationality in pursuit of ideal worlds, which had proved so vulnerable to political manipulation. .

KEYWORDS:

• Heron
• scattered brightness
• Scientology
• Williamson
• Woodstock

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rose Simpson

Rose Simpson was a member of the Incredible String Band between 1967 and 1971. After a “very patchwork working life” following her departure, she completed graduate work in German, following from her undergraduate study at York University. She became a lecturer in Germanic Studies at Aberystwyth University in Wales, and worked on German author Ina Seidel, gaining insight into a misinterpretation of Seidel’s popular writing by the National Socialists which would inform her understanding of her experience as a member of the ISB.