On December 6th in music history, one significant event occurred in 1969 when the Rolling Stones held a free concert at the Altamont Speedway in California. The event was intended to be a West Coast version of Woodstock, but it turned out to be a disastrous and tragic day in rock history.
The concert was plagued with problems from the start. The venue was changed at the last minute, and the Hells Angels motorcycle gang was hired as security. As the crowd of over 300,000 people grew restless, violence began to break out. The Hells Angels, who were drunk and armed with pool cues, began to clash with the concertgoers.
During the Rolling Stones' performance, a 18-year-old African American man named Meredith Hunter approached the stage, and was violently pushed back by the Hells Angels. Hunter then pulled out a gun, and was immediately stabbed and beaten to death by a group of Hells Angels in front of the stage. The incident was captured on film and became a symbol of the dark side of the counterculture movement.
The Altamont concert also featured performances by other notable acts such as Santana, Jefferson Airplane, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. However, the event will always be remembered for the violence and tragedy that occurred.
The Rolling Stones were deeply affected by the incident and it marked a turning point in their career. In the aftermath of Altamont, the band retreated from the public eye and began to focus on studio work. They would not tour again for several years.
The Altamont concert remains one of the most infamous events in rock history, and serves as a reminder of the dangers of uncontrolled crowds and inadequate security measures at large-scale music events. It also marked the end of the idealism of the 1960s and the beginning of a more jaded and cynical era in rock music.
