Rousing End to the 1960s

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The 1960s came to a slam bang finish in 1969 during the disastrous Altamont Speedway Free Festival. It was totally unexpected because in August 1969 the three-day Woodstock Music Festival had everyone convinced that thousands of young people could come together and have a lot of fun, enjoying great music. This was not the case at the next festival held in the northern California hills about 60 miles east of San Francisco. The Altamont Festival was the idea of the Rolling Stones who wanted to finish up their U.S. tour with a concert that could be the equivalent of Woodstock. It became an event that was sort of put together but not very well organized. After searching for a location the organizers chose Altamont Speedway on December 4, 1969. The free concert was scheduled to present the talents of Santana; the Jefferson Airplane; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; and the Grateful Dead along with the headlining Rolling Stones. The informal security staff consisted of members of the Hell Angels motorcycle gang. While the Rolling Stones were performing, one of the Hells Angels stabbed an 18 year-old who had a gun. At the moment Mick Jagger was performing “Under My Thumb” and since the band was unaware of the incident they finished their set. Toward the end of the festival The Grateful Dead were up next and it had gotten dark outside. It was at that time the band found out that Jefferson Airplane singer Marty Balin had been knocked unconscious by one of the members of the Hells Angels during a brawl that had started during the band’s performance. The festival ended with three accidental deaths and four live births. The killing of the 18-year-old Meredith Hunter was captured on film in “Gimme Shelter” the documentary of the Rolling Stones. Jagger has never spoken publicly about this killing but Hells Angels Passaro was tried and acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. Does anyone remember the Altamont Festival?