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The End Of The Beginning: Jefferson Airplane at Altamont

Jeff Tamarkin, Helter Skelter Books, Summer 2003

THE VIOLENCE AT Altamont had begun before the Airplane even arrived, when a number of Hell’s Angels, who had been amassing near the stage, wantonly attacked several concert-goers who’d objected to their overbearing presence or didn’t appreciate motorcycles being driven through the crowd. Even while Santana played the show’s opening set, fights broke out, prompting Carlos Santana to beg for the peace and love he’d seen at Woodstock only four months earlier.

Total word count of piece: 882

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