The guitarists to play Woodstock in August 1969 is the subject today! For those who had the soundtrack album and/or saw the movie chronicling the music festival several electric guitarists stood out. Jimi Hendrix closing out the event in the DAYTIME of a Monday (due to the schedule running behind) is, likely, the most memorable guitar moment. Carlos Santana’s undeniable tone, Pete Townsend’s “windmill” strums on “Tommy” material, and Alvin Lee speeding along on his blues-rock jam-out were oft talked about through the years. But, there were some very interesting players to take the stage throughout the several days and nights. Some were not captured at their best moment, some were left out of the film /album altogether. So, in our revisionist atmosphere that we live, some significant champions of guitar are “forgotten” from having played Woodstock. I will mention that Henry McCullough was guitarist with Joe Cocker’s Grease Band. Cocker’s performance is documented, but, most are unaware of the guitarist onstage with him. Having been in Spooky Tooth, and soon to be in Wings, McCullough was a tasteful rock/blues guitarist. His work is on the Jesus Christ Superstar album, McCartney’s “My Love” and “Live and Let Die”, as well as Cocker’s first two albums. Johnny Winter played the gig, but, was not included in the movie and soundtrack album from 1970. It is a shame, as his blistering electric blues was a nice addition to the overall line-up. Leslie West, of Mountain, too, is absent from the initial “public record” of the event. Robbie Robertson of The Band, a legendary guitarist in rock ‘n roll, was stricken from the consciousness of later listeners. Most in the ‘70s, 80’s and ‘90s did not know those above-mentioned graced the stage. A real tragedy, I believe, is how John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival was “erased” from having performed at Woodstock. That band’s omission from the famous album and movie helped to downplay the importance of the act to THAT audience, in THAT historic moment. CCR were extraordinarily huge in the last half of 1969, and Fogerty’s guitar from that stage should have been heralded through the ages (though they played in the dead of night). Few will notice lead guitarist Henry Gross is in Sha Na Na, later to have solo pop success with “Shannon”. They go onstage just before Hendrix, on the Monday morning. Henry once told me that he was sitting on the edge of the stage while Hendrix played The Star Spangled Banner, having wrapped up the Sha Na Na set. Personally, I would have loved more of Alan Wilson. Canned Heat were at home on this event, but, little is seen of them in the movie. Wilson and his slide guitar playing would be an early “27 Club” member the following year. Stephen Stills is shown with his acoustic guitar, open tuned, on Suite:Judy Blue Eyes. His guitar playing is framed nicely at times, though the elements are messing with his tuning. Richie Havens, also, gets captured strumming for dear life, using an open tuned guitar. Joan Baez demonstrates rock-solid finger-style on Joe Hill, and, is wonderfully exposed as the iconic folk artist of the moment in history that is the Woodstock Festival. Neil Young is there, but, we get no guitar footage. John Sebastian, Arlo Guthrie, Melanie all play acoustic guitar. Hendrix, actually, has a SECOND electric guitarist on this performance! Can you name him? There is a great trivia question. By the way, most of the performances are now available to us all. That came decades after the initial release of the film and soundtrack album.