Considering their 50+ year career, it’s not surprising that some major events in Rolling Stones history may fall on the same date, but today (December 6) marks the anniversary of three very important moments.
1968 – Release of Beggars Banquet
This album kicked off one of the greatest sequence of albums (followed by Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St.) in all of rock and roll. It also marked the Stones’ return to their rock roots (“Sympathy for the Devil,” “Street Fighting Man”) after experimenting with more psychedelic sounds.
1969 – Altamont
The Altamont Speedway Free Festival kicked off just one day after the release of Let It Bleed. The chaotic concert that infamously featured the Hells Angels as security resulted in countless injuries and four deaths, including the stabbing death of 18-year-old Meredith Hunter by Hells Angel Alan Passaro.
1970 – Release of documentary Gimme Shelter
Taking its name from the opening track to Let It Bleed, Gimme Shelter chronicled the ill-fated Altamont Speedway Free Festival and its fallout. Multiple members of the camera crew even captured Hunter’s death, which was then shown in the film. Mick Jagger was also shown watching the footage and is by far one of the most chilling moments in any documentary.
Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.