Woodstock 40 years on
I looked at all the souvenir albums, but I've got all the tracks anyway! I was only 14 when it happened, but the whole spirit of Woodstock impacted me like so many others. I've vivid memories of watching the movie at a University film club (back when I had hair, flares and a 28in waist).

Thinking through the big themes of woodstock is a startling reminder of how our teenage aspirations have turned out. The music is as good as ever, though it's fascinating how much folk and country there is in a 'rock' festival - it took a few years befoere rock really developed into the stuff I listen to most today.

The anti-vietnam thread running through it gives a real feeling of deja-vu - replace Vietnam with Iraq/Afghanistan and you wonder if anything has changed. Peace seems as far away as ever.

The whole free -love thing (more Haight-Ashbury than Woodstock, but still very much in the air!) leaves me feeling slightly sad - if I can put it in a cliched way -how did free love degenerate into cheap sex and expensive divorce? Is the freedom of the sexual revolution too high a price to pay for our children? What's the balance between free & love? At it's best, love demonstrates amazing commitment and is willing to pay a high price to win a high reward.

I think our generation is more honest about relationships than previous ones - that must be good. Are we as willing to put in the effort to build something good - I'm not so sure!

40 years! dig out the flares, find a wig, suck in the beer gut, dust off the air guitar and celebrate. Who's for a mudbath?