As a three-day-long festival, Woodstock allows for a plethora of bands spanning multiple musical genres the chance to play in front of hundreds of thousands weary, chemically altered souls. But until the event kicks off the weekend of July 23-25 in Rome, N.Y., the talent line-up should be written in pencil. For one, despite reports elsewhere, Marilyn Manson and Guns n' Roses will not be performing. "Marilyn Manson needs to be in the dark," according to a source close to the band. "It's pointless to see Marilyn Manson in the daytime. Without a guarantee that they can play in the dark, there's no point in playing the show." G n' R, according to the same source, simply won't have an album ready for release in time for the festival. Counting Crows, also reported to be on the bill, are not scheduled to play.

Artists expected to participate in Woodstock '99, in alphabetical order, include: Aerosmith, Bush, Chemical Brothers, Creed, Sheryl Crow, DMX, Everlast, Fatboy Slim, John Fogerty, Hole, Ice Cube, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Live, Los Lobos, Metallica, Alanis Morissette, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rusted Root, Sugar Ray and the Tragically Hip. Artists still on the fence include Brian Setzer Orchestra, Collective Soul, Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters, Jewel and the Offspring.

Last minute additions will undoubtedly alter the line-up, with electronica artists Underworld, for one, still mulling an offer to play the festival. A press conference scheduled for next Thursday (April 8) should bring much of the morphing line-up into final focus. Stay tuned for details.

BLAIR FISCHER