Woodstock '99 returns to the spotlight in a new documentary. This Windsor musician was at the fest

It was the event of the year for any alternative music fan.

Woodstock '99 lined up some of the biggest bands at the time, including Slipknot, Red Hot Chili Peppersand Bush, to play at the summer music festival in Rome, N.Y.But it didn't play out like the August 1969 original.

Trainwreck: Woodstock '99,which recently debuted on Netflix, along with last year'sMusic Box: Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage, streaming on Crave, have brought the summer music festival back to the modern zeitgeist.

Kelly Hoppe, part of the band Big Sugar, played the music festival onSunday night, July 25, 1999.

• WATCH | Kelly Hoppe checks out Woodstock '99:

Playing Woodstock '99

2 years ago

Duration 1:54

Kelly Hoppe, from the band Big Sugar, says he walked out into the festival to see what was going on. It was just filth everywhere.

Woodstock '99 had a few Canadianbands in thelineup, including the Tragically Hip, Alanis Morissette, Our Lady Peace, Serial Joeand Hoppe's band Big Sugar. But Hoppe wasn't sure what to expect when they took the stage.

• WATCH |How the Big Sugar concert went over at Woodstock '99:

On stage at Woodstock '99

2 years ago

Duration 1:51

The band Big Sugar wasn't sure what to expect when they hit the Emerging Artist stage at Woodstock '99

In 1999, CBC News reportedabout people at the music festival going berserk overnight, setting fire to tents, booths, trailers, and sound equipment. The reasoning at the timewas the riotstarted because of anger over long lineups and high food prices. Seven people were hurtand seven were arrested, including a 22-year-old man from Toronto. Hoppe saidhe learned about what was reallyhappening at the festival when they turned on the TV at home.

• WATCH |Hoppe talks about the dichotomybetween festivals weeks apart:

Finding out what happened

2 years ago

Duration 1:38

Kelly Hoppe, from the band Big Sugar, says he found out about what happened during the festival when he returned home and switched on the tv.