On December 6 in History: Bikers causing chaos and violence while being paid in beer at large event.
The peaceful and free concert that was supposed to emanate love and unity transformed into a violent nightmare on December 6, 1969. This devastating event unfolded at Altamont, where chaos and violence broke loose in stark contrast to the original intentions of peace and harmony.
Following the triumph of Woodstock several months prior, a group of musicians in San Francisco sought to replicate the success of a similar festival. The concept was to hold a free concert at Golden Gate Park and have the Rolling Stones make a surprise appearance as the headlining act. With an estimated 300,000 attendees, the Altamont Speedway became the venue for this significant concert.
In a bid to offset the high ticket prices of their American tour, the Rolling Stones embarked on the notion of a free concert. The exorbitant costs, equivalent to $105 in today’s currency, prompted widespread discontent. Mick Jagger’s announcement of a free performance was met with immediate backlash from the city, forcing organizers to pivot and find an alternate venue rapidly.
The last-minute decision led them to the Altamont Speedway, an hour away from the city, where the lack of adequate facilities and services posed a significant challenge. Security concerns prompted the organizers to enlist the services of the Hells Angels, a bikie gang, offering them $500 worth of beer as compensation.
The festival progressively unraveled into mayhem and violence. Approximately 800 individuals required treatment for adverse reactions after unknowingly consuming LSD-laced wine. Intoxicated bikies began assaulting attendees, resulting in Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin being knocked unconscious when he attempted to intervene. Crosby, Stills, and Nash’s Stephen Stills was also attacked by a Hells Angel using a sharpened bicycle spoke.
The escalating violence led to the Grateful Dead refusing to perform, but the Rolling Stones, undeterred, took the stage despite numerous incidents. The chaos during their performance culminated in the tragic death of 18-year-old Meredith Hunter, stabbed multiple times by a Hells Angel within close proximity of the band.
Subsequently, the Hells Angel responsible for the stabbing, Alan Passaro, was deemed not guilty due to Hunter reportedly being armed. Altamont’s catastrophic events were immortalized as “rock and roll’s all-time worst day” by Rolling Stone magazine, signifying the demise of an era in youth culture. As the dust settled, Altamont came to epitomize the conclusion of the once-vibrant hippie era.
In retrospect, the monumental significance of Altamont reverberates through history as a cautionary tale of peace turning into unexpected violence, forever etched in the annals of music festival folklore.