55 years ago (12/6/69), The Rolling Stones played a free festival at Altamont in California, along with Jefferson Airplane, Santana, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Crosby Stills, Nash & Young. The tragic events at the Altamont Free Concert marked one of the most infamous moments in rock history. It was organized by The Rolling Stones as a free festival, intended to be a “West Coast Woodstock.” However, the event spiraled into chaos due to poor planning, a volatile crowd, and a misguided decision to hire the Hell’s Angels as security, reportedly paid with $500 worth of beer. The stabbing of Meredith Hunter, an 18-year-old fan, during The Rolling Stones’ performance became the most notorious incident. The moment was caught on film and included in the documentary Gimme Shelter (1970), providing a haunting event record. Check out “Under My Thumb” from the film…
