Altamont : The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day

In this breathtaking cultural history filled with exclusive, never-before-revealed details, celebrated rock journalist Joel Selvin tells the definitive story of the Rolling Stones' infamous Altamont concert in San Francisco, the disastrous historic event that marked the end of the idealistic 1960s. In the annals of rock history, the Altamont Speedway Free Festival on December 6, 1969, has long been seen as the distorted twin of Woodstock-the day that shattered the Sixties' promise of peace and love when a concertgoer was killed by a member of the Hells Angels, the notorious biker club acting as security. While most people know of the events from the film Gimme Shelter, the whole story has remained buried in varied accounts, rumor, and myth-until now. Altamont explores rock's darkest day, a fiasco that began well before the climactic death of Meredith Hunter and continued beyond that infamous December night. Joel Selvin probes every aspect of the show-from the Stones' hastily planned tour preceding the concert to the bad acid that swept through the audience to other deaths that also occurred that evening-to capture the full scope of the tragedy and its aftermath. He also provides an in-depth look at the Grateful Dead's role in the events leading to Altamont, examining the band's behind-the-scenes presence in both arranging the show and hiring the Hells Angels as security. The product of twenty years of exhaustive research and dozens of interviews with many key players, including medical staff, Hells Angels members, the stage crew, and the musicians who were there, and featuring sixteen pages of color photos, Altamont is the ultimate account of the final event in rock's formative and most turbulent decade In This Breathtaking Cultural History Filled With Exclusive, Never-before-revealed Details, Celebrated Rock Journalist Joel Selvin Tells The Definitive Story Of The Rolling Stones' Infamous Altamont Concert In San Francisco, The Disastrous Historic Event That Marked The End Of The Idealistic 1960s. The Product Of 20 Years Of Research And Dozens Of Interviews With Many Key Players, Including Medical Staff, Hells Angels Members, The Stage Crew, And The Musicians Who Were There, This Is The Ultimate Account Of The Final Event In Rock's Formative And Most Turbulent Decade. Altamont Speedway Free Festival, December 6, 1969. A Concertgoer Was Killed By A Member Of The Hells Angels, The Notorious Biker Club Acting As Security. Selvin Tells The Definitive Story Of The Rolling Stones' Infamous Concert In San Francisco: Last Minute Venue Changes; Bad Acid; Open Displays Of Guns And Knives. His Research And Interviews With Many Key Players, Including Medical Staff, Hells Angels Members, The Stage Crew, And The Musicians Who Were There, Make This The Ultimate Account Of The Final Event In Rock's Formative And Most Turbulent Decade. Pipe Dreams -- Money Trouble -- Hippie Business Ethics -- Hollywood -- On The Road -- Back To Hollywood -- $500 For Beer -- Back On The Road -- On To San Francisco -- Friday -- The Day Dawns -- Alan And Patti -- Santana -- The Airplane -- The Flying Burrito Brothers -- Csny -- Sympathy For The Devil -- Under My Thumb -- Gimme Shelter -- The Day After -- The News Breaks -- Crime Story -- New Speedway Boogie -- Angel On Trial -- Love In Vain. Joel Selvin. Includes Bibliographical References (327-336) And An Index. In this breathtaking cultural history filled with exclusive, never-before-revealed details, celebrated rock journalist Joel Selvin tells the definitive story of the Rolling Stones' infamous Altamont concert in San Francisco, the disastrous historic event that marked the end of the idealistic 1960s. In the annals of rock history, the Altamont Speedway Free Festival on December 6, 1969, has long been seen as the distorted twin of Woodstock - the day that shattered the Sixties' promise of peace and love when a concertgoer was killed by a member of the Hells Angels, the notorious biker club acting as security. While most people know of the events from the film 'Gimme Shelter', the whole story has remained buried in varied accounts, rumour, and myth - until now This cultural history by celebrated rock journalist Joel Selvin tells the story of the Rolling Stones' infamous Altamont concert outside San Francisco -- the disastrous historic event that marked the end of the idealistic 1960s. Relates never-before-revealed information and details about the December 6, 1969 Rolling Stones concert that left a gun-toting attendee dead at the hands of the notorious biker club who were serving as the event's security