Michael Lang at Woodstock screening
Michael Lang had battled a uncommon type of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (Image: Getty Photos for Focus Options)

The live performance promoter died on Saturday evening at Sloan Kettering hospital in New York Metropolis. Based on household spokesperson Michael Pagnotta, Lang had battled a uncommon type of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

Lang made his closing public look a number of months earlier than the Covid pandemic unfolded, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the music and humanities pageant. 

The occasions organiser was simply 24 when he grew to become concerned with creating Woodstock in 1969, which was extensively thought to be a pivotal second in music historical past and the fruits of Sixties counterculture motion. Lang additionally organised Woodstock ‘94 and the ill-fated 1999 occasion. 

The inaugural Woodstock featured a star-studded line-up with performances from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who and Joan Baez.

Woodstock ’99 has grow to be one of many pageant’s most iconic years, attracting round 400,000 throughout each areas in New York and Rome, Italy, and boasting a various line-up with acts similar to DMX, Metallica, Rage In opposition to The Machine and Child Rock.

In 2019, Lang was concerned in orchestrating the pageant’s fiftieth anniversary celebration, which was set to characteristic headline performances from the likes of Jay Z and Miley Cyrus. 

Michael Lang And John Scher At Woodstock 99
Lang (centre) seen on-stage on the ill-fated Woodstock ’99 (Image: Getty Photos/John Atashian)

Nevertheless, financiers pulled out over issues with questions of safety. 

In an e mail, Lang wrote: ‘It appears in a approach that historical past is repeating itself.

‘In July of 1969 we misplaced our website in Walkill and with solely a month to go, we managed to maneuver to Bethel. Woodstock was going to occur it doesn't matter what! 

‘Yesterday, our monetary associate, Dentsu-Aegis, made the choice to drag out and knowledgeable us that they had been cancelling the pageant on the similar time they let the press launch go public. 

‘We have now but to know why they might attempt to forestall the pageant from occurring by seemingly undermining us on this approach. It's one factor to determine for oneself that it's best to maneuver on, however it's solely one other factor to try to shut the door on us.’

Michael Lang
Lang was 24 when he helped conceive the long-lasting music and humanities pageant (Image: Getty Photos)

Lang concluded: ‘Woodstock by no means belonged to Dentsu, in order that they don’t have a proper to cancel it. 

‘Woodstock belongs to the folks and it at all times will. We don’t quit and Woodstock 50 will happen and will probably be a blast!’ 

The occasion, which was scheduled to happen in July that 12 months, was ultimately cancelled.