What do you know today that you didn't know yesterday?

[Rev. Rye]

Some of the artists who actually turned down Woodstock, sorted by reason:

Ultimatum:

• The Beatles were apparently in talks to play the festival, but only if the Plastic Ono Band also played. Naturally, they weren't in the mood to put up with some EeEeEeEeEeE OoOoOoOoOoO from Yoko, so they turned it down.
  
• Iron Butterfly: Apparently demanded to arrive by helicopter and be choppered out as soon as their set was finished. One of the coordinators sent back a telegram telling them "Fuck You."
  

It Will Never Catch On:

• The Byrds
  
• The Doors: Believed it would be a second-rate replay of Monterey
  
• Tommy James and the Shondells: Was apparently told it would be playing a pig farm in Upstate New York
  
• Led Zeppelin: Believed they'd just be another band on the bill.
  
• Mind Garage
  
• Strawberry Alarm Clock
  

Double-Booked:

• Blues Image, whose manager insisted that due to its remoteness and the shitty weather, they perform in Binghamton instead.
  
• Chicago: Bill Graham purposely moved some of their concerts to the Fillmore West during the festival so Santana would take their Place.
  
• Joni Mitchell: Her manager insisted on her playing the Dick Cavett Show.
  
• Moody Blues: Had another gig in Paris the same weekend
  
• Poco: Played a school gym in LA
  
• Spirit
  

Members were becoming parents:

• Procol Harum, specifically Robin Trower's girlfriend
  
• Rolling Stones, specifically Keith Richards. Mick being in Australia to film Ned Kelly didn't help matters.
  

Breakups:

• The Jeff Beck Group: deliberately disbanded the band prior to Woodstock for some reason.
  
• Arthur Lee and Love: Not exactly broken up, but they were going through some turmoil.
  

Performed at the Isle of Wight Festival instead:

• Bob Dylan
  
• Free
  

One of the band members was injured:

• Zager and Evans: Evans was injured by a drunk driver and could not perform.
  

Busy recording their new album:

• The Rascals
  
• Simon and Garfunkel
  

Tried one of the original test festivals, did not like it:

• Raven
  

Being a bit too buttoned-down:

• Jethro Tull: Ian Anderson was not a fan of hippies, let alone the random nudity, and heavy substance abuse.
  

Fuck if I know why:

• The Guess Who
  
• Lighthouse
  
• Roy Rogers, who was originally set to close the festival with "Happy Trails."
  
• Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention