Monday, February 20, 2006
it's only rock 'n' roll, but enough already...
The last time the Stones threw a huge free concert, things did not go so well. The stage was a war zone and several of the supporting bands were unable to get through their sets. Marty Balin was knocked out on stage during his performance. Yet, there was nothing funnier than a bunch of stoned hippies trying to gain control of an unruly crowd using "grooviness" as their only tool. Grace Slick was particularly idiotic.
"Gimme Shelter" is one of the great concert films of the time. It is a remarkable deconstruction of some of the most ruthless aspects of that day in Altamont, New
York.
I found this matter of fact recounting of the days events in 2006 Rio as somewhat surprising:
There were three stabbings at the Rio show and it's recounted rather matter-of-factly. There was one stabbing at Altamont and the sixties came to a crashing end. Granted, the stabbing resulted in a death but the Rio stabbings have had absolutely zero cultural resonance. The tone of the whole thing is -- those scrappy old sexagenarians are still at it, ain't they something.
Was security provided by the Hell's Angels working for beer?
Perhaps the key to the relitively well-behaved crowd was the Stones crowd-pleasing song selection -- they stuck to the old hits in the two hour set.
UPDATE: Vincent Canby's review of Gimme Shelter.
"Gimme Shelter" is one of the great concert films of the time. It is a remarkable deconstruction of some of the most ruthless aspects of that day in Altamont, New
York.
I found this matter of fact recounting of the days events in 2006 Rio as somewhat surprising:
Police officers on Sunday continued to patrol the upscale Copacabana district, which was still crowded with tourists who stuck around to enjoy the beach.
Civil defense officials said nearly 500 people received minor medical treatment during and after the two-hour-long show on Saturday.
The most serious cases were three stabbing incidents that took place during robbery attempts, but none of the victims reportedly suffered life-threatening wounds.
There were three stabbings at the Rio show and it's recounted rather matter-of-factly. There was one stabbing at Altamont and the sixties came to a crashing end. Granted, the stabbing resulted in a death but the Rio stabbings have had absolutely zero cultural resonance. The tone of the whole thing is -- those scrappy old sexagenarians are still at it, ain't they something.
Was security provided by the Hell's Angels working for beer?
The city deployed 10,000 police officers for the concert -- about three times the usual contingent for the traditional New Year's festival -- as well as 600 firefighters, civil defense workers and lifeguards.
Perhaps the key to the relitively well-behaved crowd was the Stones crowd-pleasing song selection -- they stuck to the old hits in the two hour set.
UPDATE: Vincent Canby's review of Gimme Shelter.
