The first weekend in December 1969, rock n’ roll heavyweights – the Rolling Stones, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, the Flying Burrito Brother and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – arrived at a Altamont Raceway in Livermore, California to perform at free festival that was billed as “Woodstock West.”
Besides the music, the event is remembered today for the violence that took place during the festival.
During the Rolling Stones set, a 18 year old man named Meredith Hunter was stabbed by a member of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang when he came towards the stage with a gun in his hand. In addition to Hunter, two people, Richard Salov and Mark Feiger, were run over by a car while they were lying on the ground, and another man fell into canal and drowned.
Article detailing the happenings at the Altamont Free Festival in California. The article appeared on page 1 of the Dec. 8, 1969 edition of the Scranton Times. Times-Tribune Archives
Images from the concert –
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- Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones signs autographs backstage at Altamont Motor Speedway in northern California, Dec. 8, 1969. (AP Photo)
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- Fans sit and wait for the start of the infamous “Gimme Shelter” rock concert featuring the Rolling Stones at the Altamont Race Track in Livermore, California on December 8, 1969. (AP Photo)
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- Fans sit and wait for the start of the infamous “Gimme Shelter” rock concert featuring the Rolling Stones at the Altamont Race Track in Livermore, California on December 8, 1969. (AP Photo)
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- FILE – In this Dec. 8, 1969 file photo, the Rolling Stones perform at the “Gimme Shelter” rock concert at the Altamont Race Track in California (AP Photo, file)
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- Music fans gather for the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” concert at Atlamont Speedway in Altamont, Calif., Dec. 8, 1969. the Hells Angels motorcycle gang was hired as bouncers at the show where a fan was fatally stabbed by one of their members. (AP Photo)
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- Mick Jagger sings at the Altamont Rock Festival at Livermore, Calif. on Saturday, December 6, 1969 while Hells Angels cross stage during melee to help fellow motorcyclists. The Rolling Stone hired the Hells Angels to police the concert for $500 worth of beer. (AP Photo))
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- The Rolling Stones perform at the infamous “Gimme Shelter” rock concert at the Altamont Race Track in California on December 8, 1969. A fan was stabbed to death by a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club, who were hired as bouncers to control the crowd. Hells Angels are on stage with the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, wearing red, and guitarist Mick Taylor, with back to camera. (AP Photo)
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- Fans frolic at the infamous “Gimme Shelter” rock concert featuring the Rolling Stones at the Altamont Race Track in Livermore, California on December 8, 1969. (AP Photo)
Rolling Stones interviewed on Nov. 26, 1969. Press conferences touches on several topics – Associated Press –
Video (no audio) of Altamont Free Concert (includes scene of when Meredith Hunter is attacked) – Associated Press –
Related –
50 Years Ago, Woodstock unfolded just 60 miles from Scranton – Aug. 11, 2019
Concert 10 at Pocono Raceway draws thousands – April 14, 2019
Peace & Music – 45th Anniversary of Woodstock – Aug. 15, 2014
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
