Gimme Shelter

Gimme Shelter is an American documentary film from 1970. It follows the final weeks of The Rolling Stones’ 1969 U.S. tour, which ended with the disastrous Altamont Free Concert and the killing of Meredith Hunter. The film is named after “Gimme Shelter,” the title track of the 1969 album Let It Bleed. In 1971, the documentary was shown as the opening film at the Cannes Film Festival, outside the main competition.

Directed by Charlotte Zwerin and brothers Albert Maysles and David Maysles, the film focuses mainly on the events of December 6, 1969. During the Altamont concert at the Altamont Speedway, 18-year-old Meredith Hunter attempted to approach the stage while carrying a revolver and was fatally stabbed by Alan Passaro, a member of the Hells Angels. The Hells Angels had been hired by The Rolling Stones as stage security, a decision that proved disastrous alongside the chaotic organization of the festival and the last-minute move to the overcrowded Speedway venue. After the incident and the organizational failure of the concert, the band introduced much stricter security measures for future performances. These safety standards later became highly influential for large live concerts.

Film discussion with
Edo Reents, Feature editor in the arts and culture section of the FAZ
Wilfried Volkmann, naxos.Kino