Altamont Free Concert

Altamont Free Concert. The event was a counterculture gathering that took place on December 6, 1969, at the Altamont Speedway in Tracy, California, featuring performances by The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The concert was intended to be a Woodstock Music & Art Fair-style event, with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin also invited to perform, but it ultimately ended in tragedy. The Altamont Free Concert was organized by The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, and other prominent San Francisco-based rock music bands, including Big Brother and the Holding Company and Santana.

Introduction

The Altamont Free Concert was a highly anticipated event, with thousands of people attending from all over the United States, including New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The concert was seen as an opportunity for the counterculture movement to come together and celebrate rock music, with performances by some of the most popular bands of the time, including The Who, The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix Experience. However, the event was also marred by violence and tragedy, with the Hells Angels motorcycle club providing security, which included members such as Sonny Barger and Terry the Tramp. The Altamont Free Concert was also attended by other notable figures, including Ken Kesey, Allen Ginsberg, and Timothy Leary.

Background

The idea for the Altamont Free Concert was conceived by The Rolling Stones and other rock music bands, who wanted to create a Woodstock Music & Art Fair-style event on the West Coast. The concert was originally planned to take place at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, but the location was changed to the Altamont Speedway due to logistical issues, with the help of Bill Graham and Chet Helms. The Altamont Speedway was a remote location, with limited access to amenities and services, which contributed to the chaos and violence that erupted during the concert. The event was also supported by other notable figures, including John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Joni Mitchell.

The Concert

The Altamont Free Concert began with performances by Santana, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and The Grateful Dead, with Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir taking the stage. However, the atmosphere at the concert was tense, with the Hells Angels providing security and the crowd becoming increasingly agitated. The concert was also attended by other notable bands, including The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Neil Young. As the day wore on, the situation continued to deteriorate, with fights breaking out and the Hells Angels using violence to maintain order, including incidents involving Meredith Hunter and Alan Passaro.

Incidents and Violence

The most notable incident at the Altamont Free Concert occurred during The Rolling Stones' performance, when a young man named Meredith Hunter was stabbed to death by a member of the Hells Angels, Alan Passaro. The incident was captured on film by a documentary crew, which was recording the concert for a film about The Rolling Stones, Gimme Shelter. The violence and chaos at the concert were widely reported in the media, with outlets such as The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The San Francisco Chronicle covering the event. Other notable figures, including Hunter S. Thompson and Tom Wolfe, also wrote about the concert and its aftermath.

Aftermath

The Altamont Free Concert was widely condemned as a disaster, with many blaming the Hells Angels and the organizers of the event for the violence and tragedy that occurred. The incident marked a turning point in the counterculture movement, with many people becoming disillusioned with the idea of large-scale gatherings and the potential for violence and chaos. The Altamont Free Concert also had a significant impact on the rock music scene, with many bands and artists re-evaluating their approach to live performances and security, including The Who, The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix Experience. The event was also investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, with Alan Passaro eventually being charged with Meredith Hunter's murder.

Legacy

The Altamont Free Concert has become a notorious event in the history of rock music, with many regarding it as a symbol of the darker side of the counterculture movement. The concert has been the subject of numerous documentaries and books, including Gimme Shelter and The Road to Altamont, with contributions from The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, and other notable figures. The Altamont Free Concert has also been referenced in popular culture, with songs such as The Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil and The Grateful Dead's Truckin' referencing the event. The concert's legacy continues to be felt today, with many regarding it as a cautionary tale about the dangers of large-scale gatherings and the importance of security and planning, including Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Category:Rock music festivals