Jimi Hendrix is the one that recently died inside the…

500,000 halos outshined the mud and history. We washed and drank in God’s tears of joy, and for once and for everyone, the truth was not a mystery. Love called to all; music is magic,” Jimi Hendrix reflected on Woodstock 1969 in a rather poetic manner, attempting to capture the star-studded showcase that brought together people from all over.

To call Woodstock 1969 a concert to remember would be one of history’s biggest understatements—with names like Hendrix on the bill, alongside folk and rock innovators like Joan Baez, George Harrison, Janis Joplin, The Who, and many, many more, the event symbolised one perfect moment of harmony, underscored by a copious amount of LSD.

Given that the band had formed only a year prior and had yet to release their debut album, Sha Na Na’s inclusion in such a high-profile, legacy-act lineup didn’t seem like the most likely turn of events. Yet they ended up being the second-to-last act performing before Hendrick’s unforgettable delivery. So, how did a lesser-known covers band end up singing among stars at one of the biggest music events of all time?

According to Sha Na Na founder and drummer Jocko Marcellino, Hendrix frequented a New York City club they often played at, captivated by the excitement they had stirred among other musicians who found themselves drawn to their fun and high-energy anachronistic take on 1950s classics. According to Marcellino, Hendrix labelled them “far out, man” and couldn’t wait to get them in front of Woodstock promoters Michael Lang and Artie Kornfeld.