An old W.I.P. paper on Altamont

I did this sometime this year, but never finished it. I really wanted to, too, but I just ran out of motivation. I'm sick, and I'm not used to being sick, so instead of Pink Floyd I'll just post this as is. I love posting unfinished works for some reason, especially one like this where there's some small notes.

I think this started as a sort of documentary-based script that just ended up a report as time went on. I just really wanted to includes sources.

I spent a lot of time with that's already here, diving into personal accounts, old newspaper articles around the time (very interesting actually due to all the false information further away the source) and the remaining footage, as well as cross referencing concerts the bands played around the same year for comparisons in set list and "comfortability" levels. Interestingly enough, through this I found out that 1969 Santana is pretty unknown territory. There's not a lot of known set lists from this time period besides the obvious Woodstock concert. There's a little more information for 1968 live Santana, though, so it's just really weird.
And yes, those MLA sources are wrong, but I like having web URLs in my sources for easy access.

*Rolling Stones – Under My Thumb intro plays)

While song goes on, newspapers fade in or roll in.*

Five artists performed at the Altamont Concert:

Santana, Jefferson Airplane, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and The Rolling Stones.

Santana

Despite 1969 being the year Santana toured the most, second only to 1973, not much of it was documented. (Setlist.fm)

Santana was already touring around the west, but Altamont came between a small 20-day hiatus.

Three songs were known to be played there, Savor, Jin-go-lo-ba, and Evil Ways (Santana Setlist), which were common songs on the 1969 set list. Santana was apparently rushed out before he was expected to play, and was “peaking” on LSD, but other than that he says everyone performed incredibly. (Boehm). The Hell’s Angels, however, already started causing problems by throwing full cans of beer onto the stage from a bus yards away. In response, someone was sent to buy all the beer they had for $500. (Philip)

Footage from his set was never released. On June 10, 1970, during preparations on the Stones movie Gimmie Shelter, they sent a letter to Santana asking for permission to use his performance in the movie. His response was no, because “it didn’t show the Stones or ourselves or anyone in a good light.” (Katsilometes)

Jefferson Airplane is where it starts to get ugly. The Hell’s Angels moved their bikes up to the front of the stage, not as a barricade but for front row seats.

Jefferson Airplane just finished up the Eastern part of the tour, flying over to California from their last concert from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. They played a nine song set list with We Can Be Together, The Other Side of This Life, Somebody to Love, 3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds, Greasy Heart, White Rabbit, Come Back Baby, The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil, and Volunteers. (Jefferson Airplane Setlist)

During their third song, Somebody to Love, The Hell’s Angels attacked Marty Balin with pool cues, knocking him unconscious. Paul Kanter, on mic, thanks the Angels for knocking him out, and one of them actually gets on mic and doesn’t say anything in particular because he was interrupted by even more fighting in the crowd.

“Both sides are fucking up temporarily so let’s not keep fucking up.” (Maysles, Maysles and Zwerin)

 This footage is available as part of Gimmie Shelter. If Santana thought his performance shone a bad light, I can’t believe Jefferson Airplane let theirs go on.

Spencer Dryden, their drummer, who was fired three months later, quotes that this concert was not the beginning of the end, but “the end”, but the actual firing was because Jorma Kaukonen wanted a more powerful drummer. (Dihn)

Use this guy as a source, he’s amazing. (Activist)

I love references! A lot of things had to be addressed, especially if you want to read further.

References

n.d. Web. 10 July 2016. <http://www.setlist.fm/search?query=santana+1969>.

Activist. Stage height. 21 April 2011. Web. 10 July 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AAltamont_Free_Concert>.

Boehm, Mike. Performs Sunday in Costa Mesa : Santana Recalls Altamont, Bummer End to '60s Rock. 2 September 1989. Web. 10 July 2016. <http://articles.latimes.com/1989-09-02/news/vw-1337_1_costa-mesa>.

Dihn, Thuvan. Spencer Dryden. 16 May 2009. Web. 10 July 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AAltamont_Free_Concert>.

Gimme Shelter. Dirs. Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin. Perf. The Rolling Stones, et al. Prods. Porter Bibb and Ronald Schneider. Maysles Films, 1970. Film. 11 July 2016.

Jefferson Airplane Setlist. Ed. Beria, et al. Vers. 12. 9 December 2015. Web. 11 July 2016. <http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/jefferson-airplane/1969/altamont-speedway-livermore-ca-23ddc457.html>.

Katsilometes, John. Notes: Santana recalls his ‘no’ to The Rolling Stones; Goodman’s unsettling Willie Brown fundraiser; Lewis likes (two) female comics. 5 June 2013. Web. 10 July 2016. <http://lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2013/jun/05/notes-santanas-no-rolling-stones-goodmans-unsettli/>.

Philip, Norman. The Stones. Consett: Sidgwick & Jackson, 2001. Web. 10 July 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AAltamont_Free_Concert>.

Santana Setlist. Ed. Beria and pomes27. Vers. 4. 11 June 2014. Web. 10 July 2016. <http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/santana/1969/altamont-speedway-livermore-ca-2bddc456.html>.