Altamont 1969. The Death of Meredith Hunter and a lot of bullshit-comment on from the L.A.-Hellsangel-chief. Seems Barger has quite a little screw loose...
When you read Stanley Booth's book about the '69 tour, you get a good portrait of Charlie, and his role in the band. Such a vital part of the Stones, but Altamont happened for a lot of bad reasons, none having to do with Charlie. Anyway, a giant among drummers is dead today. We love you, Chollie.
Aweful concert. More bummer acid trips in one spot than anywhere on earth. I drove thru Altamont about 10 years ago and stopped to take a piss. Then the car wouldn't start. The ground is cursed.
Really? You drove thru it 13 years ago. You must be a magical person. To think of all that land just stopping to tell you something. Wow, what a feeling. Thanks for sharing!
+Dee Donner Ramone read imdb about the movie in the trivia sectionGrateful Dead also used the Hell's Angels as security for several of their concerts. However, the Angels that were at Altamont were later revealed to be neophytes and hardly any of the leaders were present at the show.
Actually this is a matter of what Ha chapter was used. Frisco chapter was much much nicer and more lax back then and handlers all of the Dead’s security for BG presents. Altamont used the San Jose chapter for security (my dads babysitters growing up) and so those guys were a lot rougher and tougher most were Vietnam Vets and highly experience fighters compared to the Frisco chapter in those days.remember San Jose was still a bunch of orchard fields back then
They put on an *outdoor concert* in *Northern California* in the *dead of winter* with 300,000 people and *no toilets,* an *insane individual* waving a gun gets stabbed to death by an even *more insane* person working security- and they say _Altamont_ killed the '60's. Well, after all, it _was_ *December 1969.*
No doubt it almost went to the last day, but even though I was just entering my teens in 69 still 12 till December, something seemed to change with music in a big way, groups that were a little before my time died and the biggies all seemed to come at once, Sabbath, Grand Funk, Zeppelin, Black Oak Arkansas, it was the year maybe that AM radio was killed by FM. 68 and 69 oh the music that was made just in those 2 years.
Actually he wasn't insane. That's not what happened. Here is one of the original interviews from a witness that was there. www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-rolling-stones-disaster-at-altamont-let-it-bleed-71299/
+james madison Everybody is in to something Man. My Bike never would come before my family but I would be happy to fight someone who was f'n with it. I am sure if someone smashed your IPhone, IPad or whatever people are into, they would give them a shot in the head and that's only a few hundred bucks. Some people are passionless but most of us have passion about something?!
james madison not trying to defend the Hells Angels but I'm in LA and from what I see to be a Hells Angel you need to ride anywhere and everywhere on your bike in any weather so these guys grow a bond with their motorcycles it's like when a guy drives a restored 65 mustang and someone scratches it.
Charlie, as other posters have said, is unflappable, totally cool and level-headed. Sonny Barger sounds like a vengeful Californian Satan wired on devil dust. Jagger's expression sums up the end of the 60's and the death of the hippie dream. Such a powerful piece of footage from a brilliant documentary, well worth checking out in full.
Sonny B was a working class fella brought up with the school of hard knocks, Jagger and Watts were a couple of middle class university ponces, bad boy wannabies. That is the differences.
@@TheBlueCream Definitely no disrespect. This is my favorite band of all time. Sadly their younger days were drug fueled but whose wasn't. R.I.P Charlie
Yep.When I see the movie,it comes off as real cowardly how they hid in their trailers.But the Greatful Dead knew first hand what the Hells Angels were capable if prevoked so in a way I dont blame them.
Charlie is my favorite Stone. He reminds me of myself...quiet, shy, sarcastic, content to stand in the background and just observe everything. Amazing sense of style too...best-dressed man in rock'n'roll, hands-down. Barger was, and is, a thug. Amazed he's still alive.
He's the best cuz he's a 6/2-er. Born on June 2nd, along with greats like The Marquis de Sade, Lydia Lunch, Stacy Keach, and Me. :) Shit, Marilyn Monroe was born a day before us and there's damn good reason. JFK? 5/29. We're bad aces, right, God? I love your bass playing, btw.
I hate to say this, but I think Mick and Charlie did a great job by not responding to Sonny calling Mick an idiot. You can tell that the Meredith Hunter incident traumatized them, especially Mick because he had a front row seat to Meredith's murder. I think Mick is still affected by it to this very day.
+Joshua Brooks Traumatized them? Those fucking jackoffs set this debacle into motion. What kinda moron does it take to give a bunch of pussies like the Angels any authority?
Dude, it was the Rolling Stones job to entertain that crowd of 300,000 people. I'm pretty sure that they knew that the Hells Angels were given security detail in that festival, but still, the fact that Mick was standing near where this guy was killed should give him a good reason to be traumatized. In a way, I agree with Funny on this issue, because the biker had every right to defend themselves, as well as the other three hundred thousand attendees at this festival from people like Meredith hunter. I'm not saying Meredith was a bad person, but he should have known to never bring a gun to a rock festival. Especially, when the Hells Angels are the security detail. the angel exercise his right as an American citizen to legally defend himself.
Joshua Brooks of course he is. He's not a member of that shitstain of a band, the Dead, who are responsible anyway. Back then, in the Bay area, when the Panthers were still prominent, plenty of Black guys had white girllfriends. I doubt if that had much to do with it. The Angels however, were nutwagons anyway, and wouldn't have been there if it weren't for the freakin Dead. Of course, people have needled Mick for years about it, he'll always be the one held responsible.
Well in the video Merideth is holding a pistol, and pointing it toward the stage, what would you think would happen under those circumstances, a friendly chat. I mean what would he be affected by, he never said to Merideth bring a gun to an open air concert, so I'd sleep very well.
the guys Hunter deserved it. Who goes to a concert with a freakin gun. He was obviously a criminal looking for trouble and he got it. Thank you Angels.
Charlie is very classy here, when he could've been anything but. He didn't put Barger or the Angels down, didn't criticize them, just basically gave them a few compliments.
+Chris Kavanagh Classy because he didnt criticize the leader of the Hells Angels while being filmed? Lol, I call it 'Tactically Wise'. But classy works too I suppose...
Sonny turns 84 next year, and he's still the president of the Oakland, California chapter of the Hell's Angels, a chapter he founded in 1957. With the recent death of Outlaws founder Harry "Taco" Bowman, Sonny really is the last man standing.
Sonny Barger is the king of BULLSHIT talking mofo's. So what Barger talks his shit. So what if he meets a WingsMan, So what if I pound his Ho, or Mom in the azz. So what if he has any bich Angels who wanna get some Outlaws, SavGa
"Well done, Sonny." These words have stuck with me for years...and Sonny put the Stones straight so hard in this phone interview...all Charlie could say was, "Oh dear...what a shame." in the saddest way.
Sonny was naive. Mick Jagger is not The Rolling Stones. The RS are part of a whole big organization of record execs and lawyers. And don’t forget that the RS were not the only band that played that day. A lotta people were involved in making this concert happen, yet Sonny put it all on Jagger as the scapegoat.
Charlie Watts is really just such a cool guy, always so grounded, no matter how outrageous the Stones may have been. The backbone of the band, no doubt, and a helluva drummer.
It's always strange for me to hear how Mick REALLY talks. I don't know how many fans know this, but Mick's cockney accent is part of his character. The way you hear him in this clip is his natural accent. Very refined
Mick does not talk during this clip. The guy responding to Charlie is not Mick. There is a longer clip where you can watch them reviewing the video and the payback of the stabbing. Watch that and you should se what I mean.
"Oh dear! What a shame!" There is so much honesty in the comments and reflections by Charlie Watts. This is one genuine guy who wouldn't want to hurt anyone and his reactions here are quite humane and genuine as well. Those PRESCIOUS BIKES became the catalysts for continuous aggressive reactions by the Hells Angels. People were tripping on LSD, speed, and other things. A motorcycle is the last thing you should have parked in front of the stage at a rock concert. Dumb decision Mr. Jagger!
During a call in radio show the day after the concert, Sonny Barger called in and said basically that he felt used by the Stones and that nobody was going to touch his beloved Harley Davidson motorcyle. He calls Mick an idiot while Jagger listened. Jagger said nothing. You could tell they were worried about the Angels being pissed at them.
Why was all the anger directed towards Mick? Many people had a hand in putting this together; the promoters, the lawyers, the owner of Altamont, and also all the other bands that played that day, but the HA put it all on Mick, who is only one member of a five piece band.
+stevedrums The Stones previously used the Angels as security before Altamont, (why not seems like they could handle the task)and there were no problems and went with them for this festival. Who knew?
keep on rollin 79 that’s true, but regrettably the London HA was a gang of non-violent fans of hell’s angels and biker culture and weren’t actually a part of the club.
@Joe J. the kids have arrived in the comments. My stepdad was the president of the Black Pistons and he was in the NightHawgs and Outlaws. So I could give a fuck either bro
Mellow Charlie put diva Mick in his place. What a legendary tale. Don't mess with the drummer. They're usually the strongest member of the band. All that drumming you know.
Moral of story ; Friends don't let friends pull out guns at concerts where HELLS ANGELS are working security . I liked the crocodile tears from the assailants girl friend , I'm sure she didn't know he was packin ?
Superblaster Megamaster Ok . You get the village people for bouncers , I'm sure they'd be way more effective on a gun wielding member of your audience . I'm a coward I'll just continue with the Hells Angels , I know they're methods are crude they should have waited until he fired his gun on Jagger .
She did. But the witness stories don’t line up w the HA being innocent at all. They were beating the shit out of people all day with pool cues etc. They also beat the pulp out of Meredith Hunter after they stabbed him. The Angels were definitely not innocent.
Charlie's response is very wise. He stops himself from speaking in detail or placing blame twice. Personally think the whole situation was handled poorly. Not really anyone's fault any more than it's everyone's fault. I myself am interested in knowing more about Charlie's reference to "how they cleared the way to the stage". I am indifferent in regards to blame, I just enjoy researching culture history. Anyone know where I can find that footage thank you in advance
I think he was referring to just after Meredith was stabbed and led away, and the Angels cleared a massive spot in front of the stage so people could move.
Maxsfable no, he was referring to the angels driving their motor cycles slowly through the crowd, from the back to the front, making a trail a metre in width in order for them all to get to the stage
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-D_zYrBeM0ig.html 5:45 man check it out! Really sweet, and I agree with you, regardless of blame Altamont was quite culturally significant.
@@nickbyfieldward Yeah, because Mick, in 1969, is not used to being called an "idiot" on live radio. I have no love for Sonny Barger, a well-known asshole, but his harsh take on Jagger here has been echoed for years to come, not without justification, regarding Altamont. To me, the Maysles' footage of Jagger and Watts here, reviewing already-shot footage of the concert, etc., is pure genius documentary filmmaking. Anyway, always loved Charlie, one of the greatest of drummers. May he RIP.
The "Well done, Sunny" reply from Charlie still resonates with from that terrible time..... ("Yeah, Dude.. this is America where a man can still speak his mind.")
This is actually a really interesting cultural moment- Barger (CEO of the Angels) calling in and giving Jagger (CEO of counterculture) his perspective on what has proved a major historical clash/event. That the Maysles let Charlie Watts own the scene is genius.
What didn't help at Altamont was the stage was only 3 feet high with no restricted distance from the crowd. The crowd were right at the edge of the stage where you could reach ot and touch Mick Jagger in fact one girl even reached her arms out to him. So the tension of people budding infront of one another to get a close look got tense. Just look, you can even see many moments of guys and chicks nudging each other to get close to the stage and space was too tight! No wonder things got out if controll. Also, during Jefferson Airplane, they stopped their show too because some ruckus started in the crowd and some guy got pulled away and one of the Hells punched out their bass player who also argued with the guitarist! The whole Altamont show was a poorly planned show worse than Woodstock!
The movie/documentary is required viewing prior to watching these snippets on YT. That way people will be that is was not a 'Stones' concert. The Altamont Free Concert included: Santana, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Jefferson Airplane, & Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, then the Stones as the final act. The Grateful Dead were also scheduled to perform, between CSNY & the Stones, but declined to play shortly before their scheduled appearance due to the increasing violence at the venue
Just watching the zodiac movie and kept hearing the name Mel beli, then it clicked who the attorney was, it's the same guy who spoke in this concert organising the altamont event.crazy times lol
the full sonny barger statement is on the dvd. he is right and he said "if you wanna be my friend then be my friend, if you dont want to be my friend, then I dont want to know you" or words to that effect. "I think we have one of the hell's angels on the line, sonny barger" YOU GOT THE #1 HELLS ANGEL OF THEM ALL!!! He ended up being #1 Hell's Angel. No one can touch this guy. Also he was the founder of the Oakland chapter, and at this time, He was the President of the Oakland chapter.
The situation wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the Hells angels, which came first the chicken or the egg I eat the chicken and then I eat its leg
No, Altamont was intended as a free concert thank-you to their fans (they just didn't expect the Angels to be such violent animals; the Grateful Dead recommended them). It was because the Stones REMEMBERED their fans that this happened.
Like John Lennon, I don't think the Rolling Stones had a grasp of violence on an American level. Many have said had Lennon stayed in Europe, he'd still be alive and I agree. I think Jagger looked at the Angels as sort of cartoon characters not having a clue as to what they and this country is really capable of.
Watch the film. The Angels were beating people all damn day. Including Marty Balin from the Jefferson Airplane. Yeah, Sonny's book is interesting, but he's a bit prejudiced about the whole thing.
Why would you put your most valuable possession, in the path of sure fire destruction😂😂😂 Give me a break, these narcissists wanted to create a problem, they offer no solution except for violence an escalation of violence
Nelson Robert Willis that’s how the story goes as told on a podcast I listened to today. The the deceased was being punched and kicked and only pulled out the .22 to stop his attackers. It’s been told that his last words were to the 22 year old HA which were “l wasn’t going to shoot you.” Then a trash can hit hm one the head. The podcast is “Once upon a Time” number 146. From there I went to you tube and found the video clip of the first strike of the blade and a split second later the dark outlines the revolver can be seen against the light colored fabric worn by a woman. Quickly the situation turned to a turd sandwich and everyone had a bite.
You need to get something straight. Meredith Hunter came to the concert with a gun. Meredith Hunter worked his way up to the stage. Meredith Hunter pulled out his gun. Now, what the fuck do you think he was going to do next? If it wasn't for the Angels, there would have been no 50th Anniversary Tour. Kick Sonny's bike, kick any Angel's bike, kick my bike; there will be hurt.
Mick once said of that concert, "Sometimes I think the only two people who didn't have a good time were me and that guy that got killed...." How could anyone there have enjoyed that chaotic scene?
I’ll say this, who knows the reason why that black guy got killed, but it’s self defense and lucky he got spotted right in time before he either killed one of the Stones members OR some innocent(s) in the crowd. I don’t respect the Hells Angels and their involvement at this concert, but at least one of ‘em was paying attention and took action!
I always wondered why the HA had it out for Jagger. A lot of people were involved with putting that disaster together, yet the HA always believed that Jagger, and Jagger alone, was responsible for their legal fees.
"Oh dear. What a shame." Hindsight's 20-20. Charlie properly expresses regret over the poor decision to have violent bikers do their security work. Meanwhile, Mick is surprised. "Well done, Sonny."
everyone is to blame for this one, the guy that brought the gun, the angels and the stones...they were all in cahoots with each other, using each other...
+Ben TEN TEN I would NOT go to a black majority concert with the black panthers as security and then pull out a gun right in front of the stage, anyone doing that has pretty much committed suicide in my opinion, and that is basically what happened to Merideth Hunter at Altamont. Regular security (ie: cops) would almost certainly shoot to kill in that situation.
The dvd shows everything…warts and all… I have the anniversary version…same as Woodstock had horrible moments..one story they had bulldozers cleaning the garbage away and all garbage bags, one young kid had wrapped himself in a bag the nite before and wad still sleeping on the ground (it rained most of that weekend) the bulldozers got him…after the fact when it was figured out, it turned out the kid was the son of one of the police working Woodstock..there’s a book..stories from Woodstock…all people who attended..the policeman told his story
Who's the idiot that put this Festival together? An outdoor Festival in the cold Winter in Northern California! The stage was on the same level with the crowd! It's a miracle The Stones got out of there alive or at least getting severely assaulted! There was an air of malevolence that permeated that whole Festival and came to a head with the stabbing death of Meredith Hunter. Mick Jagger got smacked in the face when he got off the helicopter by a hippie who shouted out "I hate you!" Let's face it, The Rolling Stones were never about flower power and love. The Stones always projected the dark side singing the NB Blues which in some quarters in the Afro-American community consider the Devil's music. I mean "Jumpin'' Jack Flash" and "Sympathy For The Devil" featured some very wicked lyrics and music! Come in "Their Satanic Majesties Request"? Coming on the heels of Brian Jones's mysterious death, there was an air of death during that '69 American Tour.
Charlie and Micks segments were filmed separately. The film is really misleading. After listening to the full life audio of Altamont here on you tube I'm finding the Gimme Shelter film severely alters the actual events. Great film though it is. I don't suppose I could have done a better job putting the film together but its very fragmented and misleading regarding the Altamont coverage.
I think I heard a bit of sadness in Charlie's words, and possibly a bit of arrogance in Sonny's. On the other hand, I'm sure neither the Rolling Stones, nor Sonny Barger had any clue that that guy was going to pull a gun and point it at people. It's unfortunate the guy died, but the Hells' Angels killed one man in an effort to protect many other innocent people. Good job HA!
Founders of the Hells Angels The early history of the Hells Angels MC is a bit spotty. However, below are a few of the early founders: Original founder (1948) - Otto Freidli San Francisco Chapter (1953) - Rocky Graves Oakland Chapter (1957) - Sonny Barger
