Meet the Ercolines, the Woodstock lovebirds whose hug made history
Nick and Bobbi Ercoline had only been dating three months when they joined flocks of their peers for the 1969 Woodstock blow-out that would become emblematic of their generation. Months later and still falling for each other, the lovers realized they too had become symbols: their heartstring-tugging image had gone down in history on the cover of the live album compiling highlights of the milestone music festival. “We were like, are you kidding us? It was total shock,” Nick said, recalling the moment the couple saw themselves embracing on the now iconic album art, wrapped in a blanket amid the sea of humanity flowing over the alfalfa fields of Max Yasgur’s farm in upstate New York.
Fifty years on they’re regulars-rock stars even-at the Bethel Woods Center of the Arts that today runs the grounds where greats like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin jammed in torrential rain. “We did not realize what we had really witnessed or had been part of until we got quite a distance from it,” Bobbi told AFP at the opening night of Woodstock’s 50th anniversary commemorations at Bethel. “Every year further from it you look back and you realizethat was really something pretty phenomenal,” she said, as a fellow aging hippie donning frayed denim shorts, a fringed midriff halter top and long blonde pigtails frolicked nearby.
The pair nuzzle and smooch like honeymooners despite being married 48 years this month, and accommodate the many gawkers-many of whom have copies of the album in tow-eager for selfies and autographs. Their place in pop culture lore “hasn’t changed our lives, but it certainly has enhanced it,” Bobbi said. “I’m very thankful to have been a little part of this whole Woodstock experience,” she said, before giving Nick a loving glance. “And that I get to share it with the man that I’ve known for 50 years.” —AFP