Woodstock Day 11: Quill - Not Just for Hedgehogs

As the first band on the 2nd day of Woodstock, Quill played from 12:15 to 12:45, though drummer Roger North maintained that they played 40 minutes - an extreme exaggeration given that Quill only played 4 songs with a total running time of 18 minutes. In their song "Waitin' for You," Quill handed out some percussive instruments to the crowd so they could participate. This kind of idea works well in clubs, not so much in a crowd of 500,000 people.

Quill at Woodstock

Ever heard of Quill? If you have, you probably went to Woodstock or you've got extensive musical knowledge. They were a Boston, MA psychedelic rock band that was active from 1967 to 1970. They produced one album entitled The Quill in 1970. Quill was hardly known before and after Woodstock. Due to technical recording issues, Quill's performance was excluded from the 1970 Woodstock film and their label, Cotillion Records (Atlantic), refused to promote the band.

Quill's line-up consisted of Jon Cole on vocals and bass, Dan Cole on vocals and percussion, Roger North on drums and percussion, Norman Rogers on vocals and guitar, and Phil Thayer on keyboard, sax, and flute. The week before Woodstock, Quill spent time entertaining stage crew, hog farmers, and festival workers at the local motel. They also played some local goodwill concerts at prisons, mental institutions, and halfway houses to help promote the festival and soothe community members.

Quill's audio performance of "Driftin'" at Woodstock.

It's not to say that Quill wasn't successful, though they did have one of the strangest tours in music history. Quill opened for The Who, The Jeff Beck Group, The Grateful Dead, The Kinks, Deep Purple, and Janis Joplin. They even got to jam with Jimi Hendrix backstage one night at Woodstock. If their performance had been included in Woodstock, it would have sealed Quill's success in the same way the movie had for other bands that performed, especially since Quill was so well received by the mad-clad teens. So go listen to The Quill and listen to their sweet sound.