Mick Jagger Was Scared to Perform Again After the Stones’ Violent 1969 Altamont Concert

In a revealing tape presented on the iHeart podcast “Stones Touring Party,” Jagger shared his feelings, stating, “Either I stopped touring or I didn’t — it was as simple as that.” This quote, recorded decades ago with journalist Robert Greenfield, highlights the deep impact the Altamont concert had on Jagger, leading him to question his future in live performances.

The Rolling Stones, who hosted the free concert, found themselves in the midst of chaos and violence, including the tragic death of 18-year-old fan Meredith Hunter, who was stabbed by Hells Angels security personnel. The band’s decision to hire the Hells Angels for security contributed to the calamity of the event.

The band believed the Hells Angels could effectively manage the crowd, a decision made under the assumption that their presence would ensure order. However, the violent actions of the Hells Angels during the event led to severe consequences.

The situation worsened as the Hells Angels employed aggressive tactics to control the crowd, using pool cues and engaging in physical altercations with attendees. This environment of hostility and aggression marked a stark departure from the intended peaceful concert experience.

The situation was so dire that it led to the Grateful Dead, another band scheduled to perform, deciding to leave the venue. This decision highlighted the extreme conditions at the concert, with Robert Greenfield noting, “The ultimate test of Altamont is the Grateful Dead turned around and went home. So if there’s a gig that the Grateful Dead are not gonna play because it’s too chaotic for them—whoa!”

This incident occurred in close proximity to the stage, as the band played on, unaware of the unfolding tragedy. The severity of the violence and the loss of life underscored the catastrophic failure of the event’s security arrangements.

Mick Taylor, a former guitarist for the band, expressed how deeply the band was affected, saying, “The only thing we were very upset about was being accused and held responsible for what happened.” This period was marked by intense scrutiny and blame placed on the band for the decisions leading up to the concert.

Bill Wyman, the former bassist, reflected on this reality, stating, “You’re always open to being shot on stage — you’re always aware of that. You don’t think about it but anybody with any sense at all would think there’s a possibility at some time or another that some crank is gonna… I mean, we’ve been shot at with an air gun before onstage. [Drummer Charlie Watts] got a pellet in his cheek!”

He recounted advice from friends. “A few people said don’t go — friends of mine — they said, ‘You’ve really got to be more careful, you can’t go.’”

“There was a lot of guns confiscated and stuff like that. Don’t say I wasn’t scared — I was scared s[***]less,” he said.

This threat of violence led to increased security measures for the band. Despite this, the Rolling Stones made the decision to tour America again in 1972.

Mick Taylor reflects, “I think it affected all of us very profoundly,” capture the deep and lasting impact Altamont had on the Rolling Stones.