Ed Caraeff/Concord Music GroupCreedence Clearwater Revival was among the many famous acts that played the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Fair, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this August. CCR didn’t appear in the Oscar-winning 1970 film documenting the historic festival, but the band’s drummer, Doug “Cosmo” Clifford, reveals that the group’s full set likely will be released this year in conjunction with the anniversary.
“We fought for 50 years over [releasing the performance], and now it looks like it’s finally…gonna be out there,” Clifford tells ABC Radio. “So, I’m excited about that, and hopefully the fans will be excited about it as well.”
Doug didn’t specify whether both audio and video of CCR’s Woodstock set would be released.
In his 2015 autobiography Fortunate Son, Creedence frontman John Fogerty admits that he vetoed having the band included in the movie, maintaining that he wasn’t happy with the group’s overall performance.
Clifford says he felt differently. “I’m sorry that we weren’t in the movie,” he tells ABC Radio. “That wasn’t my decision. But we were there…and we had a big part of it being as grand as it was, just by virtue of saying ‘yes’ to the [organizers’] offer.”
CCR was near the height of its popularity at the time of Woodstock. The band hit the stage at 12:30 a.m. — much later than scheduled — during the festival’s second night, between The Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin.
Last year, Creedence Clearwater Revival marked its own 50th anniversary by releasing a vinyl box set called The Complete Studio Albums featuring remastered versions of their seven studio LPs.
While CCR broke up in 1972, Clifford and bassist Stu Cook still play together in the spinoff group Creedence Clearwater Revisited. The band has eight confirmed concerts on its 2019 schedule:
2/23 — Mesquite, TX, Mesquite Arena
3/7 — Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Arena
3/8 — Bensalem, PA, Parx Casino — Xcite Center
3/9 — Rama, ON, Canada, Casino Rama
3/22 — Indio, CA, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
3/23 — San Tan Valley, AZ, The Good Life Festival – Encanterra
3/29 — Sparks, NV, Nugget Casino Resort — Grand Ballroom
3/30 — Parker, AZ, BlueWater Resort & Casino
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