It is a little-known fact that in 1969 Carlos Santana, who also played at Woodstock earlier that year and appeared in the 1970 movie, also played at the ill-fated Altamont free concert--because he refused to allow his music to be used in the Maysles brothers film, then under the working title of "Love In Vain", even after receiving a formal request in a letter dated June 10, 1970 and signed by The Rolling Stones themselves.



The letter is currently on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland until March 2014.

Full story at: [www.lasvegasweekly.com]

Persuasion is the song The Stones wanted to use in the Gimme Shelter (aka Love In Vain) movie.

Carlos Santana at Altamont Speedway, 1969. (Robert Altman)

Carlos Santana backstage at Altamont. (Robert Altman)

Carlos Santana backstage at Altamont, with a "security" guard. (Robert Altman)

Santana were the opening act at the Altamont Speedway Free Concert in Livermore, California, on December 6, 1969. Their set was cut short after only four numbers--one of which was interrupted when one of the Hells' Angels ran across the stage on a "security" detail.

Also performing at Altamont--and also not featured in the film, at their request--were Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (after Jefferson Airplane and before The Rolling Stones).

CSNY at Altamont. (Robert Altman)

Here is 8mm footage of CSNY performing Long Time Gone at Altamont. The audio does not sync with the footage, because the original footage was filmed without sound, so the uploader of the clip "took a song off my bootleg album and put it to the video".





The ultra-rare CSNY footage was filmed by Guardian photographer Eamonn McCabe, who was 20 at the time. In 2009, his previously unseen footage of the Altamont concert including footage of The Rolling Stones was unveiled for the 40th anniversary.

Additional footage by McCabe and his impressions of that day at: [www.guardian.co.uk]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-07-11 11:53 by stonehearted.

A 2010 article in the Examiner reflects on Altamont opening act Santana, revealing that it is Santana drummer Michael Shrieve who informs Grateful Dead members Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh of the violence that has been breaking out (at 5:30 in the clip below).





Story at: [www.examiner.com]

On May 22, 2013, Carlos Santana recalled his refusal to grant permission to The Rolling Stones for use of his Altamont performance in the film Gimme Shelter.


Carlos Santana: “We said no, right?”

Santana's full reply at: [www.lasvegassun.com]