Remembering Meredith Hunter, the Fan Killed at Altamont

[MusicLover7]

An excerpt from the upcoming book ‘Just a Shot Away’ tells the chilling story of a black teenager’s death at the infamous fest – and the toll it took on his family

Saul Austerlitz’s new book Just a Shot Away: Peace, Love, and Tragedy With the Rolling Stones at Altamont is the story of the concert that was going to be the West Coast Woodstock, and another triumph of the 1960s counterculture. Looking at the musicians, fans, filmmakers, bikers and journalists present that day, the book – out Tuesday – places the legendarily disastrous show in the context of the political and social changes of the era. In this excerpt, Austerlitz focuses on Meredith Hunter, the 18-year-old African-American man who never returned home from the show. Gimme Shelter, the legendary documentary by Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, had shown moviegoers the moment of his death, but what did we know of the last day of his life?

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/m...tamont-630260/

[kw21925]

From the tone of this article, and presumably the book it's excerpted from, you would think Meredith Hunter was just minding his own business, enjoying the concert, when the Angels murdered him.

In fact, he was waving a loaded gun around in the crowd, and according to some witnesses, may have actually fired a round before the Angels jumped on him.

[MusicLover7]

Originally Posted by kw21925

In fact, he was waving a loaded gun around in the crowd, and according to some witnesses, may have actually fired a round before the Angels jumped on him.

Jumped on him? He was stabbed and then beaten to death.

[kw21925]

Originally Posted by MusicLover7

Jumped on him? He was stabbed and then beaten to death.

Yes, they jumped on him, and stabbed and beat him to death.

And, he was waving a gun around in a crowd, and according to some witness accounts, may have fired a round.

The Angels were hired to provide security. Obviously, they were not trained security personnel, they were drunken thugs.

Hunter, from what I understand, was a gang member and meth dealer. Why he brought a loaded gun to a rock festival is anybody's guess.

Not every incident has clear-cut good guys and bad guys. Sometimes they're all bad guys.

[MusicLover7]

Originally Posted by kw21925

Not every incident has clear-cut good guys and bad guys. Sometimes they're all bad guys.

That statement sounds like a Trumpism.

[kw21925]

Originally Posted by MusicLover7

That statement sounds like a Trumpism.

So what is your take on the Altamont incident, since you obviously don't agree with mine?

Rest assured, I have no love for Donald Trump. Don't blame me, I didn't vote for the SOB, I voted for the candidate the people elected. But the Electoral College, whoever the hell they are, disagreed.

[MusicLover7]

Originally Posted by kw21925

So what is your take on the Altamont incident, since you obviously don't agree with mine?

Rest assured, I have no love for Donald Trump. Don't blame me, I didn't vote for the SOB, I voted for the candidate the people elected. But the Electoral College, whoever the hell they are, disagreed.

I don't know why Meredith Hunter was carrying a gun and I don't condone it, but he didn't deserve to be brutally murdered. If my memory serves me right the gun was never even fired and the Hells Angels actually brutally attacked him twice, the first time when he tried to rush the stage without the gun, and the second time when he tried to rush the stage with the gun.

In my opinion The Stones and the Hells Angels were both guilty of negligent homicide.

[kw21925]

Originally Posted by MusicLover7

I don't know why Meredith Hunter was carrying a gun and I don't condone it, but he didn't deserve to be brutally murdered. If my memory serves me right the gun was never even fired and the Hells Angels actually brutally attacked him twice, the first time when he tried to rush the stage without the gun, and the second time when he tried to rush the stage with the gun.

In my opinion The Stones and the Hells Angels were both guilty of negligent homicide.

Plenty of blame to go around, I'll give you that.

And please don't link me with Donald Trump ever again. He makes my skin crawl and my blood boil. And that's when I'm in a good mood.

[MusicLover7]

Originally Posted by kw21925

And please don't link me with Donald Trump ever again. He makes my skin crawl and my blood boil. And that's when I'm in a good mood.

Sorry!