June 20 Music et al
The Beatles & Vietnam
June 20, 1966: Capitol Records released the “Yesterday…and Today” album, but refused to keep the original cover of the Beatles sitting in butcher smocks and holding baby doll parts. John Lennon’s response was that the cover “was a relevant as Vietnam.” [millheiser dot com article] [see Yesterday for expanded story; next Beatles, see June 25; Vietnam, see June 29)
Bumpy road to Bethel
June 20 – 22, 1969: Newport ‘69 Pop Festival held Northridge, CA. On Sunday (attracted approximately 60,000 paid admissions) police attempted to break up a small group who had tried to rush the gates. Thousands of sympathizers started throwing bottles and rocks at the police. 165 arrested. 45 charged with assaulting an officer. 90 arrested for drug-related offenses. 402 injuries. The Times Herald Record reported the incident as a “battle” and referred to alleged charges of “attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.” (see Chronology for expanded Woodstock story)
June 20 Music et al
Jimi Hendrix
June 20, 1969: Hendrix earned the largest paycheck (to that time) for a single show when he earned $125,000 for a single set at the Newport ‘69 Festival. [Hendrix site article] (see January 28, 1970)
see Newport ‘69 Festival for more
June 20 – 22, 1969: the Newport ‘69 Festival was the 2nd year for the festival, with the first, the Newport Pop Festival being held in Costa Mesa, CA. The 1969 festival was held at Devonshire Downs in Northridge, CA. Attended by an estimated 200,000 fans, the festival was the largest pop concert up to that time and is considered the more famous of the two Newport Pop Festivals, possibly because of the appearance of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, which got top billing at the venue. Hendrix was the headline act for the Friday night opening, but he played so poorly – supposedly from an LSD-laced drink – that he returned to the stage on Sunday. His Sunday performance with Buddy Miles, Eric Burdon, and several others lasted more than two hours. [LA Observed article] (see June 21)