Weird History

Inside Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock Controversial and Iconic National Anthem Performance (2020x63)

: 19, 2020

Woodstock 1969 can be seen as the crowning event of the decade's free love movement, and its cultural impact spans generations. The shining star of the event turned out to be Jimi Hendrix's national anthem performance. His electric guitar rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" shocked and awed both those who saw it and those who heard about it. Placed within the larger context of the festival, Hendrix's set was seen as an act of protest against the ongoing conflict in Vietnam.