What Did The Hells Angels Do At Woodstock?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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It was during the Rolling Stones’ set, however, that a 21-year-old Hells Angel named

Alan Passaro stabbed a gun-wielding 18-year-old named Meredith Hunter to death

just 20 feet in front of the stage where Mick Jagger was performing “Under My Thumb.” Unaware of what had just occurred, the Rolling Stones completed their …

Who hired the Hells Angels at Woodstock?

Security. By some accounts, the Hells Angels were hired as security by

the management of the Rolling Stones

, on the recommendation of the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane (who both had previously used the Angels for security at performances without incident), for $500 worth of beer.

Did the Hells Angels do security at Woodstock?

Most Americans remember 1969 for many things: Woodstock, the Stonewall riots, and the moon landing, among other notable moments in history. But when

the Rolling Stones hired the Hells Angels as security for the Altamont Free Concert in December of

that year, brutality and tragedy marked the end to the Summer of Love.

What concert did the Hells Angels do security for?

The Rolling Stones headline the Altamont concert at a speedway in California. It’s a free event with Jefferson Airplane and Santana also on the bill, but it turns violent when the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, who are hired as security, kill a crowd member.

How many people died at Woodstock?

Many performers made appearances hours or days after they were expected to.

Three people

died during the festival. Two people died from drug overdoses and one from being run over by the driver of a tractor who did not notice the man sleeping under a sleeping bag. Some people didn’t have to pay to attend.

Was there violence at Woodstock?


No incidents of violence occurred at the Woodstock festival

. Most of the 80 arrests at Woodstock were made on drug charges involving LSD, amphetamines and heroin. … The Festival had been scheduled to be held in Walkill, New York.

Who was stabbed at Woodstock?

It was during the Rolling Stones’ set, however, that a 21-year-old Hells Angel named Alan Passaro stabbed a gun-wielding 18-year-old named

Meredith Hunter

to death just 20 feet in front of the stage where Mick Jagger was performing “Under My Thumb.” Unaware of what had just occurred, the Rolling Stones completed their …

Did Meredith Hunter have a gun?

His sister Dixie warned him about the still prevalent racism in the outer reaches of Alameda County, which prompted Meredith to take

a . 22 Smith and Wesson pistol for protection

. The Hells Angels had agreed to provide security for $500 (about US $3,538 adjusted for inflation, 2019) worth of beer.

Did the Rolling Stones play at Woodstock?

The Rolling Stones were scattered and unavailable


Woodstock organizers naturally extended

an invitation to the Stones to perform, but according to Stephen Davis’ Old Gods Almost Dead: The 40-Year Odyssey of the Rolling Stones, singer and band leader Mick Jagger turned it down on everyone’s behalf.

Did the Rolling Stones hire the Hells Angels?

While the sun went down the Rolling Stones began their fateful set at a concert that was the culmination of their 1969 US tour, and by far the most violent. … The Rolling Stones’ US tour

manager Sam Cutler had hired the San Francisco chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club

to provide security for the concert.

What made Woodstock so successful?

The Woodstock music festival was not a smoothly-run event, but

it was electrified with moments—musical and otherwise—

that made it it unforgettable. The Woodstock music festival was not a smoothly-run event, but it was electrified with moments—musical and otherwise—that made it it unforgettable.

Why did Bill Wyman leave the Rolling Stones?

Bill Wyman left the Rolling Stones

because he didn’t want to deal with the pressure

. As Dave Swanson of Ultimate Classic Rock tells us, Bill Wyman left the Rolling Stones in December 1992, after being a part of the band’s first proper lineup and taking care of their bass duties for over three decades.

What are the rules of Hells Angels?

  • Members have to be voted in. …
  • Patches and vests are part of a strict dress code. …
  • Members always back their brothers. …
  • The code of silence is mandatory. …
  • Members must ride in a specific order and pull over together. …
  • Members cannot work for a prison or be a cop. …
  • Never rat out fellow members.

How many babies conceived at Woodstock?

As many

as three babies

were said to have been born at Woodstock. Singer John Sebastian, who says he was tripping during his performance, told the crowd, “That kid is going to be far out.”

What was the biggest problem at Woodstock?

The event was rife with problems:

Bands performed hours after they were scheduled

(the Who went on at 5 a.m.); an anarchist group tore down the fencing so fans could attend free; two people died (one was run over by a tractor).

Did Woodstock lose money?

Before Woodstock was a cultural phenomenon, it was a financial fiasco. Organizers behind the legendary music festival in upstate New York, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer, said they wound up

$1.3 million in debt

after the historic 1969 event—roughly $9 million in today’s dollars.

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.