A HUGE thanks for starting this thread.
Just spent a wonderfully nostalgic hour and a half on Google looking back at pics and reviews of my only 2 festivals .... going back to 1975.
My 1st was Pink Floyd at Knebworth Park. Quite an eclectic line up included Linda Lewis, Various members of Monty Pythons Flying Circus (sketches included Albatross, Dead Parrot). Roy Harper did an awesome set, half acoustic including the iconic "When an old cricketer leaves the crease" backed by The Brighouse and Rastrick (?) Orchestra and and then an electric set with Chris Spedding on guitar. The set revolved mainly around his HQ album. If you haven't heard it give it a whirl, one of my all time favs. He was smoking what has to be said the BIGGEST spliff ever and nearly caused a riot when he lobbed it half finished into the crowd!! Captain Beefheart was .... well Capt Beefheart. You either love him ofr hate him, luckily I'm in the former gang. To say he is wacky is an understatement though!!
Steve Miller band came and went, okay nothing special but as the summer evening sun was setting Floyd took the stage. We had arrived early doors in the morning an they opened the gates ahead of schedule due to the crowds already assembled so we got absolute prime spot about 30 metres back from the stage plum in the middle. Funny the fred about the Battle of Britain flight today as the start their show was heralded by 2 Spitfires doing a very low flypast over the crowd, awesome. Floyd were simply incredible. Sleeping in a field after being up for 36 hours of travelling, drinking, getting a numb bum, sun burnt, more drinking and partying came very easy. Waking up at 5am cold damp and very hungover was another story!! But was it worth it ... you bet your ass it was. I've seen Roger Waters since twice in Dubai doing the Floyd back catalog and Dark side of the moon and Echoes always takes me back to 75.
Next up a few months later was Reading 75 including acts such as Supertramp, Mahavisnu Orchestra, Caravan, Robin Trower Band, Thin Lizzy, Climax Blues Band, Hawkwind and Yes .... HippyTastic. Loved just looking thru the pics on Google. The flared jeans, cheesecloth shirts, desert boots, faded jean jackets, afghans and the hair!!! Highlights were YES with one of the first laser shows which was really enhanced by p!ssing down with rain and very low stratus cloud rebounding the lasers all over the show as if choreographed!! Strip washing in the sinks in Marks and Sparks toilets LOL and 'borrowing 'a load of small plates and saucers fom the cafe on reading staion .. we forgot to pack any between us!! Lowlight tent collapsing in the pouring rain whilst we were asleep (comatosed!!) after the YES set and waking up with our feet hanging out of the end of the tent and feeling freezing cold and er well wet!! The can/bottle throwing near the front of the stage. One of the main reasons I didn't get around to going to any more .. oh that and the usual toulet / washing facilities and rip off catering prices.
Sorry its such a long reply but those 2 occassions are amongst my happiest memories ever. Something that everybody should do at least once.
