"1968: THE FIRST ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL"

August 31st, 1968 : Jefferson Airplane headlined the first Isle of Wight Festival, which was a one day event at the time. The festival started rather quietly, Jefferson Airplane being the only overseas act, although it was their British debut. It was however the first great UK rock festival.

Tickets could be purchased in advance for £1.25.. Around 10,000 attended the first IOW festival in 1968. It wasn't much fun for them on Hell field, for the promised transport from all ferry services turned out to be merely a special bus service from Shanklin, nine miles from the principal arrival point at Hyde, 17 miles from Cowes and 20 miles from the Yarmouth ferry. A trench was dug to act as latrines. Moreover, technical difficulties meant often as much as half-hour breaks between groups, who played on a stage constructed from 2 trailers.

Jefferson's Spencer Dryden was, along with the rest of the band, not too happy with the festival. During their 90 minute performance none of the group could hear each other and were constantly forced to stop and re-tune in an attempt to get a uniform sound. Despite this, the Jeffersons got easily the best reception of any of the 14 groups.

This was just the start-up of one of the best festivals in the UK. The rest is history!