As tens of thousands of people sweltered in the nearly 90-degree heat, a lucky few were able to gather in the cooler backstage of The Summer of Love Concert in Golden Gate Park.

The 40th anniversary of the world famous San Francisco hippie scene took place in Golden Gate Park’s Speedway Meadows. The event featured acts ranging from remaining members of The Doors to Taj Mahal.

Behind the scenes, journalists, concert goers, staff, musicians, and even some Hell’s Angels hung around drinking free beer and refreshments. The smoky aroma also belied the presence of drugs among the backstage crowd.

A man who only goes by the moniker of “Dirty Dave," has worked security in the industry for nearly 30 years and was thrilled to be backstage, out of the crowds.

“I’m having the greatest…time that I’ve had in at least 7 months,” said Dave. “It’s too…packed out there. It’s like salmon going up stream.”

Another backstage attendee, wearing a short turquoise swimsuit, Hawaiian shirt, and straw hat, was Bruce Foster. Foster, a sound arts student at Expressions College for the Digital Arts in Emeryville, felt conflicted about the event's live sound.

“The front house mixing engineer handled himself well, considering the situation,” said Foster, 23. “But they’re sound system wasn’t fit for as many people as were there.”

Production employee, Joshua Porter, 34, said everything went perfectly.

“It was very smooth and everybody seemed to be positive,” said Porter of the backstage staff and crowd. "It was a very positive vibe; a lot of good vibration.”

Good vibration indeed. With a backstage full of hippies, free booze, the Hell’s Angels and not a single fight, what else could be said? The day was, at least backstage, a celebration of long lost drug culture, peace, and music. And kickin' it on golf carts.