For those who attended the original Woodstock in August 1969, there is simply no comparison. In a time of free love and open recreational drug use, including marijuana and LSD, Woodstock was the epicenter. In a promotion of peace and love, concertgoers shared everything they had with one another over the weekend, including their bodies---all to the rhythm of any one of 32 bands that played onstage in the town of Bethel, New York, that weekend.
Throughout the history of rock music there have always been those musicians who go out of their way to shock, disturb and anger as many people as possible. Performers like Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Ozzy Osbourne and Marilyn Manson all come to mind as some of the most infamous shock rockers. They've all been blamed and boycotted for teen suicides and violence over the years, but no matter how shocking their lyrics and behavior are onstage, it is important to remember that shock rock is only an act.
Sometimes musicians and fans really do take their music a little too seriously, and the psychophysical effects can be downright frightening. Nowhere is this more evident than in the underground death metal scene of Norway. With troubled youths wreaking havoc and even setting fire to churches in the name of their favorite death metal acts, this is a prime example of music that has simply gone way too far.
Sometimes the psychophysical effects of a particular type of music can have both positive and negative effects on a society---take, for example, the country of Jamaica and reggae music. This popular style of music is enjoyed and loved by many who like to hang out with friends and family and have a good time. But at the same time, the country's capital city of Kingston is one of the most violent cities in the world.
When examining the psychophysical effects of music, it's hard to ignore the Manson family. Infamous for the brutal murders of Sharon Tate and several others in the summer of 1969, Charles Manson led his cult, in part, by using the music of The Beatles. With a particular focus on "The White Album" and the song "Helter Skelter," Manson was able to convince his followers that he was the only savior from an impending race war.