The 1969 US Tour and the Altamont Free Concert: How the Stones' Triumph Turned to Tragedy

The Rolling Stones’ 1969 US tour was supposed to be a victory lap after years of legal battles and a three-year touring hiatus. They came back as the self-proclaimed “World’s Greatest Rock & Roll Band,” selling out arenas and showcasing new songs from Let It Bleed and the soon-to-be-released Sticky Fingers. But the tour’s chaotic logistics—Grateful Dead rejections, financial disputes, and a rushed cross-country schedule—set the stage for disaster.

The final show, a free concert at Altamont Speedway on December 6, was supposed to mirror Woodstock’s peace-and-love vibe. Instead, they hired the Hells Angels as security for $500 worth of beer, and by the time the Stones played “Under My Thumb,” 18-year-old Meredith Hunter was stabbed to death in front of the stage. The concert became a symbol of the end of the 1960s idealism, forever overshadowing the musical highs of the tour.