In the late 1960s, America’s counterculture was full of big dreams — peace, love, music, and the idea that a better world was possible. After the success of Woodstock, many believed that huge free concerts could bring people together in harmony. So when the Rolling Stones and several other major bands agreed to headline a free show in California on December 6, 1969, fans expected another magical moment.
Instead, the Altamont Free Concert would be remembered as the event that symbolically ended the 1960s.
A Good Idea Gone Bad
The original idea for the concert came from members of Jefferson Airplane, who hoped to create a West Coast version of Woodstock. They even dreamed of inviting The Beatles to join them. After the Beatles split up, the Rolling Stones stepped in as headliners.
But everything started falling apart immediately. The location changed multiple times due to disagreements with authorities. Only two days before the show, organizers settled on Altamont Speedway — a remote race track with almost no proper facilities. It was cold, it was rushed, and no one was prepared for the massive crowd that showed up — possibly as many as half a million people.
Hiring the Hells Angels
In one of the most notorious decisions in rock history, the Hells Angels motorcycle club was hired to provide “security.” They were paid with $500 worth of beer — and they drank it. To make things worse, many Angels were reportedly also high on drugs. They weren’t trained, they weren’t calm, and they weren’t the kind of people who should have been managing a huge, chaotic crowd.
The result was aggressive pushing, beatings, and total lack of control.
A Dark Mood Over California
The late 1960s weren’t as peaceful as the hippie dream suggested. The Vietnam War was raging, major leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy had been assassinated, and the Manson Family murders had shocked the nation only months before. The dream of peace and love was already cracking — Altamont just revealed it in the harshest way.
Violence Throughout the Day
As the concert began, the tension was obvious. People were freezing, many were on strong drugs, and the Angels were already getting violent. During Santana’s set, fights broke out. During Jefferson Airplane’s performance, singer Marty Balin was punched unconscious by a Hells Angel. Even Grace Slick, usually calm and confident, had trouble keeping things together.
The Grateful Dead, who had recommended hiring the Angels, took one look at the situation and refused to perform.
The Death of Meredith Hunter
When the Rolling Stones finally arrived — hours late — things were already on a knife’s edge. During the song “Under My Thumb,” everything collapsed.
An 18-year-old fan named Meredith Hunter, wearing a bright green suit, got into a confrontation with some Angels near the stage. High, scared, and overwhelmed, he pulled out a revolver. Almost immediately, a Hells Angel named Alan Passaro attacked him and stabbed him. Hunter died on the ground as the band continued playing, unaware of exactly what had happened.
This moment, caught on film in the movie Gimme Shelter, became the lasting symbol of Altamont.
The End of the 60s
By the end of the night, four people were dead, dozens injured, and the dream of a peaceful counterculture was shattered. What was meant to be a celebration of unity became a reminder that the hippie dream couldn’t survive without planning, safety, and responsibility.
Altamont wasn’t just a concert gone wrong — it became the moment people look back on as the true end of the 1960s.