Altamont, the Death of Acid Rock |
|
|
"The festival at Altamont Speedway near San Francisco, held in December 1969, dashed the sense of power tha Woodstock has engendered among many youth...Altamont was the end of thet 60's..It was December 1969, and that was the end. Of the whole feeling." --p.212 A Time to Rock Rolling Stones
|
Sometimes called the end of the 60's, the Altamont concert marked a big change in music. It was a free concert with bands like Jefferson Airplane, the Rolling Stones, etc. It was a very last minute concert. The Altamont Speedway was contracted 24 hours before the concert and the Hell's Angels were hired as security for $500 worth of beer. 100,000 people were expected to show up but 300,000 came.
While Jefferson Airplane was performing the Hell's Angels began to beat a man with pool sticks. Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane jumped down to help him, and was knocked unconcious by a Hell's Angel. Later that night while the Rolling Stones were performing, Hell's Angels stabbed Meredith Hunter to death. Everyone was left in a state of shock afer the concert. The drug music of the 60's had finally ended and the nation was ready to move on. Does rock have negative effects on its listeners? Can it trigger violent or suicidal behavior? Post a message on our Bulletin Board |