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!
+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.
+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.
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/
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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 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.
"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 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...
+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.
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.")
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
ruclips.net/video/D_zYrBeM0ig/видео.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.
@@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
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!
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
@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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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."
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
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
If you read or listen to old interviews, the common theme is that the stage was way too low and close to the crowd. Merdith Hunter came looking for trouble. Life magazine has some great pictures that show that.
I did some research after watching this video and found out that Sonny Barger passed away yesterday due to liver cancer. Absolutely crazy shit! RIP wild man
The bikers were not the Hell's Angles, they were actually the Dike's On Bikes gang of lesbian women dress up as men bikers. The Rolling Stones made a deal with Dike's On Bikes to run security that night for 200 cases of Kotex Tampons
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.
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.
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!
Not to those reprobates, the hells angels. Or even any other bikers gangs. Those people were a bunch of sociopaths. They do value their “hogs” more than human life. They’re maniacs.
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!
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.
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
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
I don't think Mick and Charlie are in the same room at the same time. I think their respective segments were filmed separately. The lighting is different and had they been together they would have pulled back to show them. That's not Mick's voice. I think its one of the Maysles brothers' voice that put the film together. Its sounds more like Keith Richards voice than Micks but Richards was not there.
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.
Charlie looks like Javier in no country for old men!
Other way around 😂
a lot of people look like a lot of people.
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.
I miss Charlie
A good soul...
Thats the best book ever written about the Rolling Stones.
He was the luke warm water
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.
clarkewi- nope, it's just tired of idiots pissing on it!
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!
'I drove thru Altamont about 10 years ago and stopped to take a piss. Then the car wouldn't start.'
Well don't piss in the gas tank you fuckwit....
Woodstock wasn’t exactly planned as a free concert, Altamont was, there is a huge difference in the marketing
charlie watts"ohh dear...what a shame" sums it up really...
If everything in your entire life is invested in a piece of shit bike you have much bigger problems than someone kicking it….
james madison Ha, thank you for articulating so well what I was thinking!
+james madison Say that to a Hells Angels face james
+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?!
Your right, everybody is into something. I'm into old car's and I would fight someone who messed with my 59 Chevy!
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 Watts choosing his words carefully.
We tend to do that when we're on camera. :)
The stupidity of the times, Hell Angels as security> That sound s a little COKE fueled to me.
+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.
Alan Passaro was memeber since 4 monts but they should be prospects for one or two years
@@MichaelHansenFUN I know nothing about Angels, but the Colours on some of those in that long ago film looked very clean, as if they were newish.
@@MichaelHansenFUN And one of the leaders quit after the debacle.
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/
This Is My UzeHerName thank you.
Perfect representation of Gimme Shelter
The end of conscription killed the 60s. Once the draft was no longer an issue, most protesters went home, got jobs, and did lots of cocaine.
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.
Charlie should have got an oscar for this segment!
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.
You are on every youtube video bro!
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.
Well, this clears up once and for all where the idea for the Anton Chigurh haircut came from.
sternumagnum Haha, a handful of folk agreed with me years ago on that. Your comment made my day.
+sternumagnum Best comment I've read in a long time! Nailed it!
The Jefferson Airplane also recommended the HA. They lived to regret that. Especially Marty Balin.
Up to that point the bikers and hippies had gotten along in California. The be-in's were basically college kids, hippies, and bikers.
I think Marty got punched in the face twice by a HA that day.
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
Marty took that regret with him to the grave last year. I hope he's shaking Meredith Hunter's hand, and saying sorry.
@@joshuabrooks4907 Not sure Meredith Hunter deserves an apology. He pulled a firearm out of his pocket and tried to storm the stage.
Holy shit. Sonny Barger is the king of the Hells Angels MC. It's historic to hear him here along with Mick Jagger and The Stones.
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
I will be 76 on Monday .. just fancied to watch this again !
Why does it get swept under the rug that it was the Dead who set up HA as security, and then bolted as soon as they saw the mess they created?
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.
I think Jefferson Airplane actually recommended them and GD went a long with it.
@@armpitification nope, Pigpen (GD singer) was in fact a HA.
@@daBEAGLE1017 serious?never heard that...
@@Formula-602 serious. The only thing i disliked about the dead was the association with the HA.
Adios friend
Charlie summing up the whole concert at 3:50
"what's the most you've ever lost on a coin toss?"
Charlie is really listening while Mick seems lethargic and distracted.
Well done, Charlie. Will miss you!
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 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.
He's been loyal to the same woman since before the Stones got Rolling.
"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.
🔥🔥❤🔥RIP CHARLIE WATTS & THE ROLLING STONES, THE GREATEST ROCK & ROLL BAND EVER!!!!!🔥❤🔥🔥
Oh yeah, he was great in that No Country for Old Men movie.
LOL
sickb2200 i
lol
Lol Barger going "yaaaagh". I do get the guy's point. Funny as fuck.
"Confirms what I've always believed. That everyone's a piece of shit."
-Bill Burr
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 One of the several reasons i admire Watts. And his dry humour.
+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...
Being "tactical" could've meant Charlie saying absolutely nothing, as Jagger did. Tactical, isn't what Charlie was doing.
Who's bright idea was it to hire the Hell's Angels as security guards!
The Dead and Airplane suggested it. The Stones went along. They worked for beer.
The only guy that got killed was the guy who pulled his gun at a concert. So...It appears justice was served.
And did the dead cancel their gig?
You can tell Charlie Watts is not wanting to say to much for the fear that the Angels might want to go after him.
The Hell's Angels were simply being themselves. Whoever hired them deserves the brunt of the blame for that mess.
+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?
Don Lebo at Hyde park in London July 3rd 69..
stevedrums
If I remember correctly, they were recommended by Jerry Garcia
stevedrums ya was not there but I do know greatfull dead, people helped with setting up the thing, I believe that is how it worked out.
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.
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.")
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
ruclips.net/video/D_zYrBeM0ig/видео.html
5:45 man check it out! Really sweet, and I agree with you, regardless of blame Altamont was quite culturally significant.
Jagger looks stunned to me.
@@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.
"Well done,Sonny".
Charlie Watts always look unamused
High on dope
@@jamiemoore613 how u know..hes just unimpressed
@@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
@@jamiemoore613Charlie really didn’t get into the hard stuff until the ‘80s. Heroin, speed and booze was his midlife crisis.
Another nail in the coffin of the Love Generation.
Charlie Watts looks a little like Javier Bardem
lol a little?
Appleholic1
Charlie Watts actually looks like Jimmy Fallon wearing a wig.
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!
blame GD and JA
Jagger made that decision? A lot of people were involved in putting that disaster together, yet everyone blames Jagger. Why?
All Sonny wanted to do was drink beer all night but people kept pointing guns at the stage and kicking his motorcycle. Well done Sonny!
Enjoy Hell, Son!
They got hit by hells angels.great idea putting them on security
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
I remember watching this in 1995. Charlie's great here and probably the most focused stone at that time,.
Let's be honest , that's a low bar .
That was the leader of the Hell’s Angels not just any Angel
He's nothing to me.
@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
Read George Christie's book on how Sonny B really is behind closed doors! Shocking!
They killed an innocent man! Jagger ain't the idiot here.
0:21Mick is bored like hell. Guess he's sick of hearing that shit.
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.
In this video, I thought Charlie Watts was actually Jimmy Fallon wearing a wig.
LMAO!
Jimmy Fallon ist eigl Charlie Watts nachm Termin beim Haarschneider ;D
Hells Angels=Beer=crank=crowd=violence
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 .
OK . You pull out a gun at a social gathering and if there's any wossies around I'm sure you'll enjoy their attention ?
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.
@@armpitification They were beating him before, that's why he pulled the gun. He was being thumped and staggered forward as he was pulling it.
È corretto mio fratello italiano
🔪
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.
The guy that was stabbed to death had a gun. He was charging the stage with a pistol. Who knows what he was about to do.
King Chibot he was going to kill a hells angels for the accident with a certain bike, man, its so pathetic, human life for a stell bike
looked to me like he was pointing it at the stage.
@@sega62s According to the hells angel he was pointing the gun at Mick
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.
@@electrichellion5946 You're fairly spot on. Everyone thinks Hunter, out of nowhere, was just going to shoot the stage.
Barger strikes me as being quite an articulate guy.His interviews are quite interesting.
Where's my drummer?!
"I'm not your drummer, you're my fucking singer!"
You've earned my respect
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.
RIP Sonny
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.
At 2:45, that’s not Mick answering Charlie, is it?
No, it’s one of the film editors.
You can definitely see how Tord Up Over It Charlie Watts is
"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."
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!
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.
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
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.
I remember him since I was 13 years old and I am 71
Barger should have tried working for a living. He got his 15 minutes. What a loser. Anyone miss him? Of course not.
Bob Affolter hes not dead you idiot
he is #1 hells angel with book deals and everything else you don't have-EVER READ HIS BOOKS he does not GLOSS over anything
Sonny has more money than Croesus!
Still alive
Who was Charlie talking to? It wasn’t Mick
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.
I really do understand Sonny about the kicking Motrorcycle thing. You put so much money into it.
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
@@Desmondbrown73im definitely not arguing that narcissist for sure
Ah that's where Javier Bardem took inspiration for his haircut in No country for old men!!!
If you read or listen to old interviews, the common theme is that the stage was way too low and close to the crowd. Merdith Hunter came looking for trouble. Life magazine has some great pictures that show that.
rip sonny barger and charlie watts
I did some research after watching this video and found out that Sonny Barger passed away yesterday due to liver cancer. Absolutely crazy shit! RIP wild man
Fuck you for celebrating this piece of shit
Wow he outlived Charlie
The bikers were not the Hell's Angles, they were actually the Dike's On Bikes gang of lesbian women dress up as men bikers. The Rolling Stones made a deal with Dike's On Bikes to run security that night for 200 cases of Kotex Tampons
Beg your pardon?
It was a different crowd when some hells angles punched Evil Knievel, they got their ass kicked, one of them was in a coma for 6 months.
i'm sure evil wasn't waving a gun around
Kharma
What a mess all of it was.
Whenever i see a member of a Motorcycle Club or wannabe Angel, I always wish Tony Soprano and Christopher Moltisanti would show up...
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.
It was the Grateful Dead who originally suggested the Hells Angels. The Stones and their manager just more or less went along with it.
Who were the babies born at the concert anyway? And what happened to the three/two other people (besides Meredith Hunter) that were killed?
Charlie was such a calm and sweet soul.
Miss him so much.❤️
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.
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!
I agree Joshua Brooks, too many people still think that HA's were out of line. I think you couldn't buy better security if you wanted to
The life of a man is more valuable than a bike
Not to those reprobates, the hells angels. Or even any other bikers gangs. Those people were a bunch of sociopaths. They do value their “hogs” more than human life. They’re maniacs.
Whose bright idea was it to hire the Hell's Angels in the first place?
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!
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.
Charlie Watts R.I.P.
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
please disable the comments, there's no point
3.00 Charlie is just how the royal Charlie would sound like if he were Stoned!
There's gotta be something in your life that will piss you off like hell if someone messes with it.
the guy who got killed tried to shot at the stones? I don't understand...
I love George Christy's book on the H.A...and Sonny B....the reality of how this man really is behind closed doors would shock u!!
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
I have the deepest respect for Charlie Watts.
He speaks the unvarnished truth!
Hey sonny. Check the video of the angel on stage during under my thumb and ask yourself if he’s “loaded” or not
The Stones would of been nothing without Charlie's SWING, 🥁
I don't think Mick and Charlie are in the same room at the same time. I think their respective segments were filmed separately. The lighting is different and had they been together they would have pulled back to show them. That's not Mick's voice. I think its one of the Maysles brothers' voice that put the film together. Its sounds more like Keith Richards voice than Micks but Richards was not there.
I thought the same
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 Scared of white folks and toting his white girlfriend.
+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.
Don't forget The Dead for setting this up in the first place.
@@nickthebastard7566 He pulled the gun because he was being beaten by the Angels.
I'm assuming that the Angels are not known for proportionate responses.
One of the Maysles brothers I think. And the brief woman's voice is Charlotte Zwerin also of the film crew.
organizers:scumbag's angels:scumbag's
Ah, see I didn't know that myself. I thought they were pulling an Axl Rose on the crowd, heh.
Stones drummer has the same haircut like Javier Bardem in no country for old men