Some background:
The Stones in 1969.
The beginning of 1969 found the Stones recording. They were having more and more problems with Brian Jones, and this culminated in his eventual release from the band. Jones was fired because of his lack of production in the studio, and because of the impossibility of touring with him in the US, due to his recent drug busts. Although Jones did play on a few of the Let It Bleed tracks, he is not on most, and much of the album is recorded with only one guitarist. On June 13th, 1969 Brian Jones was offically replaced by the band with the introduction of
Mick Taylor. The Stones planned a free concert for July 5th in Hyde Park to celebrate their return to the stage, and to debut their new guitarist. This concert will conincide with the release of their new single, Honky Tonk Women.
Brian Jones was found dead in his swimming pool two days before the Hyde Park show. The show was transformed into a memorial concert for Brian. Over 300,000 people showed up for the concert, which, although sloppy, is a success. Mick read a poem by Shelly for Brian and the band played many of their new songs for the first time to an audience. The London Hell's Angels are hired as security and there are no problems.
The Stones finish Let It Bleed and go on tour in support of Beggar's Banquet and the smash hit summer single, Honky Tonk Woman/You Can't Always Get What You Want. Songs from Let It Bleed are played on the tour, but the album is held back until the end of the tour so that the band can tour off a new album in 1970 when they tour europe. Since the Stones had last toured, sound systems had been dramatically upgraded, and screaming girls had been replaced by a new breed of fan who wanted to hear the music. The US Tour is a huge success and the band plans another free concert, this time in Altamont California. A live album, Get Yer Ya Ya's Out, is recorded in the last shows of the tour, and is released in 1970.
As it is well documented in the movie,
Gimme Shelter, the Stones had problems from the beginning when they tried to play a free concert near San Francisco. The venue was moved around and even when a venue, Altamont Speedway, was finally found, problems continued. The day before the concert, the Stones released their new album, Let It Bleed. The name of the album predicted the horror that what was to follow more accurately than anyone ever would have guessed. Over 300,000 people showed up for the free concert, and the Stones had planned a day long, festival style show, featuring Santana, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Jefferson Aeroplane, Ike and Tine Turner, and the Grateful Dead. Because the Dead had in the past hired the Angels for security, the Stones again hired the Hell's Angels. This time, it backfired. After Angel inflicted violence all day, which included Marty Balin from Jefferson Aeroplane getting knocked unconscious, as well as a number of people who were savagely beaten with pool cues, the day was forever scarred when Meridith Hunter was killed by Angels in front of the stage during Under My Thumb. The Stones were unaware of what was going on and continued the show, playing an extended set. The Angels claimed Hunter had a gun and was pointing at the stage, which is at least partly true, he did have a gun. The Grateful Dead chose not to play that night due to the violence, which probably was the only smart thing anyone did all day. That day cast the Stones as bringers of violence and evil, an image which to a degree is still on them today.
After Altamont, the band left for England and played a few low key shows in London, waiting quietly for the 1970 tour to begin.
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