On This Day in 1970: Steppenwolf, Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Poco, and Johnny Winter Performed at the Concert for Peace at New York’s Shea Stadium
Bog Muza 4K Hi-Res / YouTube
On August 6, 1970, a massive Concert for Peace was held at Shea Stadium in Queens. It marked exactly 25 years since the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. This event brought together artists from rock, folk, blues, and jazz. It aimed to raise money for anti-war political figures, and many of the performers donated their time and did not get paid.
The lineup featured Janis Joplin, Paul Simon, Steppenwolf, Poco, Johnny Winter, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Dionne Warwick, John Sebastian, The Rascals, Herbie Hancock, and The James Gang, among others. Janis Joplin joined Big Brother & the Holding Company unexpectedly, reuniting with her former band in one of her final performances.
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Early Event Context and Artist Reactions
The concert began early in the morning and was planned to last from 10 AM until 10 PM but went on for nearly twelve hours due to last-minute additions to the bill. It was the first time such a major festival at Shea Stadium was organized specifically to raise funds for a political cause.
Janis Joplin shared some feelings in her last interview before the concert, saying, “In my insides, it really hurts if someone doesn’t like me. It’s silly.” This reflection shows how even a strong performer could feel vulnerable before such an event.
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Janis Joplin’s Performance
Despite not originally being on the bill, Janis decided to sing with her old band. During the event, she performed a duet with Dionne Warwick, singing “What the World Needs Now” together live on stage. Pete Townshend, who saw her perform later that evening, noted in his memoir that “even Janis on an off‑night was incredible,” although he thought she might not have been at her best due to delays and substances taken before she went on stage.
Paul Simon and Other Highlights
Paul Simon performed acoustic numbers, but faced boos from some in the crowd, who were there mostly for amplified rock music. Frustrated, he left the stage mid‑set and did not come back immediately, before eventually returning after being identified to the crowd.
Steppenwolf performed toward the end of the lineup. Poco and Johnny Winter also appeared, adding their blues-rock and country-rock styles to the mix. The presence of diverse genres made the festival unique among other contemporary events
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