Book Review: Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock’s Darkest Day

Joe Selvin’s Altamont is a compelling account that probes not only what happened on December 6 1969, when Meredith Hunter was brutally stabbed to death at a festival that was supposed to be “Woodstock’s western twin”, but also the hows and the whys behind the fateful incident.

In doing so, he eschews common narratives and sticks to cold, hard facts and evidence to build his account. The result is a book which both criticises the mismanagement of the organisers and also puts the festival in the context of the counter-culture movement, turning easily digested myths about “peace and love” in the 60s generation on their head.

Selvin’s words might be difficult, but they are vital for people to hear.