The Stones strut their stuff at Hyde Park 1969 © John Leszczynski

    Ah ,yes indeed, those were the days , to go to lovely Hyde Park , find a spot in the shade with a few friends - where the view and sound were likely to be good - then lie on the grass and contemplate the universe until the bands were ready to play . Once in a suitably relaxed frame of mind , one could then listen to FREE MUSIC for up to six hours from some of the best bands in Britain ( and a few from overseas on occasions) and do it relatively hassle free. Nowadays this is such a rare event that its big news if it happens , but in those days, free concerts were a regular event .

    It is worth remembering though, that the events in the park had to be fought for and authorities were often obstructive when it came to allowing hippie related events in public places . The following incident that took place in Regents Park in 1967, shows how things stood just twelve months earlier.

From the International Times online archive

Of course events such as the 1967/8 "Smoke in's" might be considered to be a bit provocative as well. This was merely the first of a number of "legalise it " gatherings held right into the 70s . We still ain't got there 30 odd years on .......