Gimme Shelter is a legendary documentary film directed by Albert and David Maysles, along with Charlotte Zwerin. It captured one of the most notorious festivals in history - The Altamont Free Concert.

The Altamont Free Concert was held on December 6, 1969, at the Altamont Speedway in California. Organized as a free music festival, it was intended to be a west coast counterpart to the iconic Woodstock festival. However, unlike the peaceful and harmonious atmosphere of Woodstock, Altamont became infamous for its violence and chaos.

During the festival, the Rolling Stones headlined the event, which attracted a massive crowd of approximately 300,000 people. As tensions escalated throughout the day, the Hells Angels, a notorious motorcycle gang, were hired as security for the event. However, their presence only added fuel to the fire.

The chaos reached its peak during the Rolling Stones' performance of "Under My Thumb." Meredith Hunter, a young African American man, was brutally stabbed and beaten to death by a group of Hells Angels after allegedly brandishing a gun. This shocking incident was captured on film and serves as a haunting reminder of the dark side of the counterculture movement of the 1960s.

Gimme Shelter, with its raw and unfiltered footage, perfectly captures the tension and violence that unfolded during the Altamont Free Concert. The Maysles brothers and Zwerin managed to create a documentary that not only showcases the Rolling Stones' performance but also provides a disturbing insight into the breakdown of peace and love that characterized the era.

The film's title, "Gimme Shelter," reflects the desperation and need for protection that permeated the festival. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the turbulent times and the loss of innocence that occurred during this event. The documentary has since become a cultural landmark, highlighting the darker side of the 1960s counterculture movement.

In conclusion, the Altamont Free Concert was notoriously captured on film in the documentary "Gimme Shelter." The festival's violent and chaotic nature, along with the tragic death of Meredith Hunter, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and complexities of the counterculture movement. The documentary continues to be a significant historical document, shedding light on an event that forever changed the perception of music festivals and the ideals they represented.

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