As the rock, jazz and pop festival business picked up dramatically in the late 1960s, Europe took notice. America's counterculture flocked to large, free outdoor events and even George Wein got into the rock concert business in 1969. Abroad, the Montreux Jazz Festival started in 1967, followed by the Isle of Wight in '68 and dozens of others emerged throughout the U.K., the Continent and Scandinavia.
From 1970 to 1972, Palermo, Sicily, hosted the Palermo Pop Festival. It was founded by Joe Napoli, a Sicilian-American impresario, who was inspired by the unity and passion at Woodstock. Napoli was able to get commitments from the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. But at the last minute, the Stones and Led Zeppelin cancelled, likely a result of unanticipated recording obligations and post-Altamont fears. The Stones certainly didn't need to be part of another festival with lax security. Pink Floyd bailed when the upfront sum they wanted couldn't be guaranteed.
The lineup for Palermo Festival '70 (July 16 to 19) included Duke Ellington with Fred Stone on flugelhorn, clarinetist Tony Scott, the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band and Aretha Franklin, as well as Italian artists and dancers. More than 80,000 fans attended the four days held at a stadium, and the event was filmed for Italian television. There was even a psychedelic light show projected behind artists on stage.
Yesterday, Nic Garnett sent along a link to the video that aired originally on Italian television. My guess it was shortened considerably, since most of the clips are snippets of performances. The video opens with Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland, followed by Tony Scott, Ellington with Stone, French rocker Johnny Hallyday, Brian Auger, Aretha Franklin and others. A shame we don't have footage of Arthur Brown, who apparently stripped naked on stage and was arrested, detained for a week and then banned from Sicily. One can assume his move was competitive, to outdo Hallyday, who had stripped to the waist. [Photo above of Arthur Brown at Palermo Pop '70, halfway into undressing]
Here's the clip...
Here's the Dutch rock band Ekseption during a soundcheck and in concert filmed by what appears to be one of the band members or management...
And here's better sound with Aretha on Think...
