Avid Collector Announces His Search For 1969 Rolling Stones Altamont Concert Poster

SAN FRANCISCO, June 27, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Avid collector, Andrew Hawley from Vintage Rock Posters, announces his search for 1969 Rolling Stones Altamont concert posters. This concert was conceived as the Woodstock of the West, but show ended tragically. The concert was held on December 6th at Altamont Speedway with about 300,000 attendees. According to Hawley, "Jorma Kaukonen, the lead guitarist of Jefferson Airplane, thought up the idea of a free concert in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. He wanted to expose the Stones to the San Francisco music scene. The concert concept started to break down once San Francisco got wind of the size of event and refused to issue permits. Police resources were already stretched thin with Chicago Bears-San Francisco 49ers game that weekend. The location of the concert was changed the day before the event which put the operation in desperation mode. Many bad decisions were made which created a bad vibe permeating the event from start to finish. The concert featured Santana, Jefferson Airplane, The Flying Burrito Brothers and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The Rolling Stones were the final act. The Grateful Dead refused to play because of the mounting violence at the venue."

Hawley adds, "Probably the worst idea was to hire the Hells Angles for venue security. Hiring the Hells Angles sounds like a crazy idea, but Ken Kesey called the Hells Angles "Noble Savages." The motorcycle gang was considered honorary members of the counter culture in San Francisco in the 1960s. The bands in San Francisco and the Hells Angles were acquainted so asking them to do security was not that far fetched. The Hells Angles compensation was $500 and beer to protect the generators and keep people off the stage. Fist fights started in front of the stage and ended with the stabbing death of an attendee. The poster created for the concert was ill conceived, too. It was printed on thin paper by a local printer. The layout features a stock photo of the Rolling Stones with venue information printed near the bottom. The poster comes in three colors - yellow, orange and two shades of green. It was printed the day before so there was no time to hang the posters around San Francisco to advertise the upcoming free music festival. Instead, the poster was sold for $1 at the show or distributed at the end of the event. Since the poster is the last 1960s Stone poster, it is considered valuable."

Hawley is willing to pay $5,000 cash for a Rolling Stones Altamont concert poster. He is also interested in any authentic 1964-1966 Stones concert posters. Any condition accepted. Please call 310-346-1965 or email andrew (at) vintageconcertposterbuyer.com.

SOURCE Vintage Rock Posters