Michael Lang was one of the masterminds behind the concept of the Woodstock Music Festival. The music producer, promoter, and artist manager passed away on Friday, January 8th at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Lang died of complications from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma a representative said.
In 1968, Lang and Miami club owner Marshall Brevitz, produced the 1968 Miami Pop Festival featuring Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, John Lee Hooker, Arthur Brown and Blue Cheer. The event drew 25,000. Relocating to Woodstock, New York, Lang met Artie Kornfeld, a respected recording artist and composer, and in 1969 the two created the massive Woodstock Music Festival on Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, New York. The festival ran from August 15 to August 18. Lang also produced the Woodstock ’94 and Woodstock ’99 festivals.
Lang told Pollstar in 2019:
“Woodstock offered an environment for people to express their better selves, if you will. It was probably the most peaceful event of its kind in history. That was because of expectations and what people wanted to create there.”
Lang is survived by wife Tamara and his five children, Shala, Lariann, Molly, Harry and Laszlo.
If the name Michael Lang doesn’t ring a bell:
There was this 3 day music festival on a dairy farm in Bethel NY, mid-August 1969.
Over 400K showed up.
Michael Lang was the co-founder & organizer of that historic event.
Michael Lang Dec 11 1944-Jan 8 2021. pic.twitter.com/6dC332xLdN
— Sean Mcdowell (@dvesean) January 9, 2022
This one hurts.
RIP Michael Lang. pic.twitter.com/g2tQ9MB7mM— Little Sun (@ThreeItalians) January 9, 2022
Peace, Love, and Music. ☮️ RIP to Michael Lang, the visionary creator of Woodstock 1969, one of the most important events in music history. Thank you, Michael Lang, for everything. It would never have happened without you! pic.twitter.com/ZjWHl3QzQW
— The Capitol Theatre 🐿 (@capitoltheatre) January 9, 2022
We are deeply saddened by the death of our partner Michael Lang. He was a producer, father, environmentalist, friend, husband and most of all, one-of-a-kind dreamer whose mark on the world is undeniable. He will be missed pic.twitter.com/ZvNJkEOzxl
— WOODSTOCK (@woodstockfest) January 9, 2022
RIP Michael Lang. As a kid my dad brought me to every anniversary @BethelWoods as he played most of them For 25th anniversary he made me go to the original site while the huge one went on. Thousands of people still showed up. I joined him on stage and played @MoodyBluesToday song pic.twitter.com/n7LmQptfT9
— Travis Stever (@TravStever) January 9, 2022
Woke up to the sad news of Michael Lang’s passing. The visionary and co-creator of Woodstock ☮️ I’ll be rewatching the beautiful documentary in his honor. #backtothegarden pic.twitter.com/lIGUYV5NJb
— Alyssa Page (@AlyssaOnTheEnd) January 9, 2022
RIP to Woodstock’s legendary co-creator, Michael Lang. He was a true visionary who helped drive the cultural “peace and love” movement in the ’60s by giving us one of the most-loved music festival to date. Wishing his friends and family peace and condolences.
Photo: Henry Diltz pic.twitter.com/W6JyOSnFYv
— Janis Joplin (@JanisJoplin) January 10, 2022
MICHAEL LANG
Forever In Our Hearts
December 11, 1944 – January 8, 2022Michael Lang, the creative mastermind behind the Miami Pop Festival and Woodstock left an indelible mark on live music festival experiences for generations. Fly on! pic.twitter.com/rDi19mrxyc
— Jimi Hendrix (@JimiHendrix) January 9, 2022
Michael Lang was one of the nicest people. All my encounters with him were always upbeat and positive, he was great.
📸 Henry Diltz pic.twitter.com/DqKfPkxB5L— Cʜʀɪs Sᴛᴇɪɴ (@chrissteinplays) January 9, 2022
Michael Lang, the organizer behind the Woodstock music festivals, has died at age 77.
He also owned Just Sunshine Records, which released Karen Dalton and Betty Davis, and also managed Joe Cocker and Rickie Lee Jones. pic.twitter.com/LtinSGYvKk— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) January 9, 2022
