Background
Overview
On December 6, 1969, the soon to be infamous concert of Altamont was held in front of some 300,000 spectators. The event took place at the Altamont Motor Speedway, located in Northern California, and included the performances of several popular bands from the 50's and 60's. The musical aspect of the concert was undoubtedly professional, but the real fame (or infamy) of the event stemmed from the horrible lack of organization and the danger that came with it. The Rolling Stones, who suggested and carried out the event, did so very poorly. Four people were reported to have been killed, and several others injured, either by the reckless crowds or the brutality of the makeshift security force manned by the biker gang known as "Hell's Angels". Overall, the event was a catastrophic failure and a prime example of how not to organize a concert, and left a significant impact on the view and perspective of the Rock and Roll genre.
On December 6, 1969, the soon to be infamous concert of Altamont was held in front of some 300,000 spectators. The event took place at the Altamont Motor Speedway, located in Northern California, and included the performances of several popular bands from the 50's and 60's. The musical aspect of the concert was undoubtedly professional, but the real fame (or infamy) of the event stemmed from the horrible lack of organization and the danger that came with it. The Rolling Stones, who suggested and carried out the event, did so very poorly. Four people were reported to have been killed, and several others injured, either by the reckless crowds or the brutality of the makeshift security force manned by the biker gang known as "Hell's Angels". Overall, the event was a catastrophic failure and a prime example of how not to organize a concert, and left a significant impact on the view and perspective of the Rock and Roll genre.
Initial Plans
A generally unanimous opinion of the Rolling Stones American tour or 1969 was that the ticket prices were far too overpriced. In response to the feedback received from fans and critics alike, the Stones decided to throw a free concert at the end of the year. The overwhelming success of Woodstock was an incentive in itself, and was supposed to be reflected in Altamont, which was deemed the Woodstock of the West months before it was held. However, many of those fans who decided to go to the concert did not know where it was being held. The Rolling Stones assumed that they could get a stadium or large venue in California, but several other events came up and a place could not be found for this upcoming concert. Two days before the event, on December 4th, the location was finally set on the Altamont speedway. Whether or not the violence of the event was based entirely on the anger and inconveniences this caused is unknown, but it was definitely a poor way to organize and implement a rock concert.
A generally unanimous opinion of the Rolling Stones American tour or 1969 was that the ticket prices were far too overpriced. In response to the feedback received from fans and critics alike, the Stones decided to throw a free concert at the end of the year. The overwhelming success of Woodstock was an incentive in itself, and was supposed to be reflected in Altamont, which was deemed the Woodstock of the West months before it was held. However, many of those fans who decided to go to the concert did not know where it was being held. The Rolling Stones assumed that they could get a stadium or large venue in California, but several other events came up and a place could not be found for this upcoming concert. Two days before the event, on December 4th, the location was finally set on the Altamont speedway. Whether or not the violence of the event was based entirely on the anger and inconveniences this caused is unknown, but it was definitely a poor way to organize and implement a rock concert.
Entire Event
December 6
Rolling Stones final set list
Note: Several of the Rolling Stones performances had to be stopped and restarted due to fighting in the crowds and general uneasiness
December 6
- Santana
- The Flying Burrito Brothers
- Jefferson Airplane
- Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
- Rolling Stones
Rolling Stones final set list
- Jumpin' Jack Flash
- Carol
- Sympathy for the Devil
- The Sun Is Shining
- Stray Cat Blues
- Love in Vain
- Under My Thumb
- Brown Sugar
- Midnight Rambler
- Live with Me
- Gimme Shelter
- Little Queenie
- (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
- Honky Tonk Women
- Street Fighting Man
Note: Several of the Rolling Stones performances had to be stopped and restarted due to fighting in the crowds and general uneasiness