Joel Selvin

ALTAMONT: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock’s Darkest Day (Dey Street; August 16, 2016) is Joel Selvin’s riveting and dramatic account of The Rolling Stones’ infamous 1969 concert. Sandwiched between the Manson Family Murders and Kent State, Altamont was part of this triple blow that is credited with being the end of a carefree, fun-loving era. What sets ALTAMONT apart is Joel dozens of in-speth interviews with key players and people who were there, including Stones tour manager Sam Cutler, eminent rock critic Greil Marcus, Altamont owner Dick Carter, and Patti Bredehoft, girlfriend of the murdered man, uncovering new details that shed a brighter light on rock’s darkest day. Among the long-buried truths he explores: • the strange presence of the mysterious Jon Jaymes, who usurped much of the organizing of the event, despite not being on the Stones’ payroll • the other, less-publicized deaths at Altamont, including a drowning and two vehicular deaths • how the drugs readily available and consumed at the concert had changed from those available at earlier outdoor concerts, including Woodstock, altering the mood of the event • how the classic documentary by the Maysles brothers shaped the story in the public’s mind—for better or worse • how concert logistics, including a very low stage, precipitated the violence • the long-term effect of what happened at Altamont on the Hells Angels The product of twenty years of exhaustive research ALTAMONT is told with compelling immediacy. This breathtaking cultural history is the ultimate account of an event that rocked not only the music world, but helped alter the zeitgeist of a singular moment in time.