'99
ROME, N.Y. — What was supposed to be a celebration of peace and music descended into anarchy Sunday night as thousands of attendees at Woodstock '99 set fires, looted vendor booths, and clashed with security in scenes reminiscent of a war zone. The three-day festival, held at the former Griffiss Air Force Base, drew an estimated 250,000 fans but ended with fires visible from miles away.
Limp Bizkit's incendiary set on Saturday has been blamed for setting an aggressive tone, with Fred Durst reportedly encouraging the crowd to "break stuff." By Sunday's closing performance by Red Hot Chili Peppers, the situation had spiraled completely out of control. Performers including Metallica, Korn, and DMX had thrilled crowds earlier in the weekend with no major incidents.
"It was like nothing I've ever seen," said one concertgoer reached by phone. "People were just tearing everything apart." Organizers defended the event, blaming a small minority of troublemakers.
At least a dozen injuries have been reported and New York State Police made several arrests overnight. The festival also faced criticism throughout the weekend for $4 water bottles and sweltering heat that left many attendees dehydrated and miserable. A full investigation is reportedly underway.