Me and the Rolling Stones

This is in reply to fans that wanted to know if Tony Funches actually broke his wrist during the Altamont concert.  I don’t have the patience to go thru the footage (yet) and pull a screen grab of the images..if anyone does..please let me know..

I was asked to speak at a screening of GIMME SHELTER and STONES IN EXILE last week. I ended up staying to watch it again as there were a lot of people that wanted me to stay.. and this time –for the first time— I noticed Tony Funches on stage during part of the melee–I saw him walk off the stage cradling his arm..and then later I saw him on the stage with a large white cast on his wrist and arm…funny how much you can notice when looking..

After watching GIMME SHELTER last night and noting Sam Cutler’s memories as to the Hell’s Angels security stories,  I wanted to document my memories which seem to be proved out  in the film footage.  First:  the Hell’s Angels were not hired to perform security for the concert! You only have to listen to Sonny Barger’s remarks to confirm this, unless you think we could force them to be police. Sam, now says that they were given beer to guard the generators, which was common for the west coast concerts.

The story I was told, at the time, was that the Hell’s Angels had come to the festival in a bus filled with ice and beer  (in the film you see all of them on the top of the bus and Sonny commented on coming there to just enjoy the music and drink the beer).  During the course of the day, instead of passing the beer around, they began to throw it.  A girl next to me was hit in the head with a can and there was a lot of blood (typical of a head wound).  I was told that Sam went to the Angel’s and asked to buy the beer to give to the crew (didn’t want to tell them to stop throwing it–as if you could) and bought the beer for $500.  Further to all of this:  When I was watching some of the footage the Maysles were going through while editing, I noted footage of a group on the stage performing and someone from the crowd, charged the stage and went head first into the band’s drum kit.  The bands lead singer (I thought it was a girl) asked for someone to come help them and to secure the stage.  With that, the Angel’s came  on the stage and no one could get them off or would dare ask them after that.  I have told Albert Maysles about this and told him to always look for that footage.  It hasn’t been a priority and it might appear one day or else I was totally hallucinating, which would be weird as I might be the only one there who wasn’t on acid…

PS… prior to going on one of the talk show’s in the ’70′s I informed the Maysles to correct the seemingly urban rumor about the Angel’s performing the security for Altamont.  They forgot and restated the rumor..

I was invited to a showing of GIMME SHELTER and STONES IN EXILE.  Chatted on stage with the director of Exile and then was interviewed on stage before SHELTER.  It was interesting and brought back more memories.  After the film, I stayed to talk with some friends and was surprised at how many people came over to me to rave about the film and to give their experiences at the time of the film.  Of course, some said..great film, I was 8 when it happened.   I can’t believe I still can sit thru the film and love it.  The Maysles did a fantastic job, if you can call loving what you do, a job…

Thursday, July 29 – 7:30 PM

Mods & Rockers Special Rolling Stones Double Feature: West Coast Theatrical Premiere of New Stones film! STONES IN EXILE, 2010, Passion Pictures, 61 min. Director Stephen Kijak created this fascinating doc about the 1971 “Exile On Main Street” album from extensive unseen footage of the debauched French Riviera sessions, as well as hindsight perspectives from the survivors and rare outtakes from the Stones’ masterpiece. Trailer

GIMME SHELTER, 1970, Janus Films, 91 min. Dir. Albert & David Maysles. The celebrated film of the Rolling Stones’ 1969 US tour that culminated in the cataclysm at Altamont. Also features Jefferson Airplane and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Discussion between films with STONES IN EXILE director Stephen Kijak and GIMME SHELTER producer (and Stones business manager) Ron Schneider – moderated by Mods & Rockers Festival producer Martin Lewis.

I have read a lot of opinions, comments and thoughts from people that state that they think the Stones ran from the US after Altamont, out of fear.  Lucky for me, I don’t have to rely on my memory or other people’s memories as I have the facts that speak for themselves.  If you recall,  GIMME SHELTER came about because I hired the Maysles Bros. to shoot footage of the Madison Garden show, covering two songs.  This footage was to be used for promotion of the 1970 European Tour.  The Stones left after the US tour (last date? Altamont) to prepare in Europe for the European tour.

Stones roadie publishes book, iPhone App together

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A former road manager for both the Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead is claiming a first in the fast-moving world of iPhone applications with his rock ‘n’ roll memoir.

Sam Cutler released “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and its multimedia iPhone app simultaneously this month, the first time this has been done in North America, said his Toronto-based publisher ECW Press.

The multimedia elements were developed by Expanded Books/Apps. Also on board is Ironic Apps, a firm run by former Rolling Stones business manager Ron Schneider.

The app, available for $9.99, contains the full Cutler-narrated audiobook synchronized with the text, video links to two interviews, and more than 30 photos (some exclusive to the app).

Clips will also be featured from the Stones’ disastrous Altamont free concert in 1969, when a fan was stabbed to death by a Hells Angels member near the stage.

Cutler holds a special place in Stones history as the mustachioed roadie in the related concert documentary “Gimme Shelter” who coolly pleads with fans to climb off the scaffolding or get off the stage at the California speedway. His is also the voice heard introducing the band at the start of their 1970 live album “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out.”

His book recounts his life-threatening encounters with the Hells Angels in the aftermath of Altamont, as well as his subsequent duties with the Grateful Dead.

Cutler, a 67-year-old Briton, originally published “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” in 2008 through Random House in his adopted homeland of Australia. Beginning April 13 he will begin a promotional tour in Seattle, with stops planned for Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, New York and London. He will also take part in a Webcast that will be streamed live to iPhones on April 25.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman)