Sam Cutler
Encyclopedia
Sam Cutler is best known as former tour manager for the Rolling Stones. In numerous magazine articles and books, Cutler has been casually demonized as an unwitting, yet primary, catalyst of the violence that took place at the 1969 Altamont Free Concert.
, England
in 1943. He is an Honours Graduate in Contemporary History
(Open University
) and a qualified teacher (University of Cambridge
Institute of Education 1963-66).
Cutler worked as a Production Supervisor, Stage Manager and Master of Ceremonies
on a series of 1960's gigs
in the U.K. and Europe
with different artists, including Pink Floyd
, Eric Clapton
, The Rolling Stones
, Alexis Korner
, et al. In 1969, he co-ordinated and acted as master of ceremonies at the Rolling Stones concert in Hyde Park
London
featured in the film "Stones in the Park".
Following the Hyde Park
show, Cutler was asked to be the personal tour manager to the Rolling Stones during their 1969 Tour of America, which culminated in the infamous Altamont Free Concert where a gang member who was brandishing a gun was stabbed to death in front of the stage.
Cutler is commonly credited with first uttering the Rolling Stones' famous intro line “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World…The Rolling Stones!”.
Cutler can be seen in many scenes in the documentary film Gimme Shelter
which covers the events of the 1969 American tour, and can be heard on the Rolling Stones live album Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! introducing the band. He can also be seen in the Festival Express film
and the Stones in Hyde Park film.
Throughout his rock and roll
career, Cutler was responsible for organizing some of the largest rock and roll shows in history outside of Woodstock including the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park
, The Grateful Dead’s Europe '72
tour and the Dead’s participation in the Festival Express
train
tour across Canada
.
American
bands
which included The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane
, Crosby Stills and Nash, Santana
, and others.
The Hells Angels
were hired as security by the Rolling Stones, on the recommendation of the Grateful Dead, for $500 worth of beer — a story that has been denied by parties who were directly involved. According to Cutler, "the only agreement there ever was ... the Angels would make sure nobody fucked with the generators, but that was the extent of it. But there was no 'They're going to be the police force' or anything like that. That's all bollocks." Hells Angels member Sweet William recalled this exchange between Cutler and himself at a meeting prior to the concert, where Cutler had asked them to do security:
When Cutler asked how they would like to be paid, William replied, "we like beer." In the documentary Gimme Shelter Hells Angels Oakland chapter head Ralph 'Sonny' Barger
states that the Hells Angels were not interested in policing the event, and that organizers had told him that he and his fellow Angels would be required to do little more than sit on the edge of the stage and drink beer. Other accounts also state that the initial arrangement was for the Hells Angels to watch over the equipment, but that Cutler later moved them, and their beer, near the stage to placate them or to protect the stage.
Fights broke out during performances by Jefferson Airplane
(at one point lead singer Marty Balin
was knocked out by a Hells Angel) and The Flying Burrito Brothers
. The Grateful Dead
opted not to play after learning of the incident with Balin. By the time the Stones hit the stage, the crowd was especially restless.
While the Rolling Stones were performing Under My Thumb
, a young black man named Meredith Hunter
became involved in an altercation with some Hells Angels and drew a long-barreled revolver. He was stabbed five times and kicked to death during the Rolling Stones' performance; the incident, which took place near the stage, was captured on film, where Cutler can be seen whispering to Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
onstage, rushing towards the mortally wounded Meredith Hunter
and returning to the stage to convince the band to retreat.
The subsequent mess was blamed on the Rolling Stones -- although nobody employed by the Rolling Stones was directly involved in organizing the Altamont
gig until shortly before it was meant to happen. Sam Cutler arrived on the West Coast
to help co-ordinate the event less than a week before it was staged.
Following the concert, the Rolling Stones left for England
, leaving Cutler behind to deal with the aftermath. While his friends, the Stones promised to "take care of him", Sam never spoke to the Stones again until many years later. He had been left practically penniless and left to deal with the mess on his own.
Cutler was eventually called to testify in court proceedings relating to the matter some time later.
Since that time, Cutler has been somewhat vindicated as various authors have recognized the role of some particularly strong, or possibly tainted LSD
circulating at the event, a bad choice of venue, bad staging area design, and the role of Hells Angels
"prospects", non-patch wearing Hells Angels "wannabes", rather than bona-fide, full-patch wearing Angels themselves, as contributory factors in the bad vibes and violence that consumed the day.
, Cutler stayed in the U.S. to deal with the aftermath, was befriended by Jerry Garcia
, and subsequently hired by the Grateful Dead
as their tour manager
. He went on to become a co-manger of the band (with Jon McIntire and David Parker) and eventually became their agent.
Cutler co-ordinated the Dead's appearances at a number of memorable events including: the 1970 Festival Express
Tour of Canada
, The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen
(at 700,000+ paid admission the largest single paid admission events in rock n roll history), and the 1972 European Tour of the Grateful Dead
, the musical results of which can be heard on the Dead's triple live album "Europe '72
".
Through his company “Out of Town Tours”, Cutler coordinated the appearances of many artists including: The Grateful Dead, The Band
, The Allman Brothers, The New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Sons of Champlin, Mike Bloomfield
, Ramblin' Jack Elliott
and others.
Early life and career
Sam Cutler was born near LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1943. He is an Honours Graduate in Contemporary History
Contemporary history
Contemporary history describes the period timeframe that is without any intervening time closely connected to the present and is a certain perspective of modern history. The term "contemporary history" has been in use at least by the early 19th century. In the widest context of this use,...
(Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
) and a qualified teacher (University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
Institute of Education 1963-66).
Cutler worked as a Production Supervisor, Stage Manager and Master of Ceremonies
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
on a series of 1960's gigs
Gig (musical performance)
Gig is slang for a musical engagement in which musicians are hired. Originally coined in the 1920s by jazz musicians, the term, short for the word "engagement", now refers to any aspect of performing such as assisting with performance and attending musical performance...
in the U.K. and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with different artists, including Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Alexis Korner
Alexis Korner
Alexis Korner was a blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a Founding Father of British Blues"...
, et al. In 1969, he co-ordinated and acted as master of ceremonies at the Rolling Stones concert in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
featured in the film "Stones in the Park".
Following the Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
show, Cutler was asked to be the personal tour manager to the Rolling Stones during their 1969 Tour of America, which culminated in the infamous Altamont Free Concert where a gang member who was brandishing a gun was stabbed to death in front of the stage.
Cutler is commonly credited with first uttering the Rolling Stones' famous intro line “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World…The Rolling Stones!”.
Cutler can be seen in many scenes in the documentary film Gimme Shelter
Gimme Shelter (documentary)
Gimme Shelter is a 1970 documentary film directed by Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, chronicling the last weeks of The Rolling Stones' 1969 US tour, which culminated in the disastrous Altamont Free Concert. The film is named after "Gimme Shelter", the lead track from The Rolling...
which covers the events of the 1969 American tour, and can be heard on the Rolling Stones live album Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! introducing the band. He can also be seen in the Festival Express film
Festival Express
Festival Express is a 2003 documentary film about the eponymous 1970 train tour across Canada taken by some of North America's most popular rock bands, including The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends...
and the Stones in Hyde Park film.
Throughout his rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
career, Cutler was responsible for organizing some of the largest rock and roll shows in history outside of Woodstock including the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
, The Grateful Dead’s Europe '72
Europe '72
Europe '72 is a 1972 live triple album of performances by the Grateful Dead, recorded during their tour of Western Europe in early 1972.-History:...
tour and the Dead’s participation in the Festival Express
Festival Express
Festival Express is a 2003 documentary film about the eponymous 1970 train tour across Canada taken by some of North America's most popular rock bands, including The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends...
train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
tour across Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Altamont
The Altamont Free Concert was planned and put together by a loose amalgamation of West CoastWest Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bands
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
which included The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, Crosby Stills and Nash, Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
, and others.
The Hells Angels
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
were hired as security by the Rolling Stones, on the recommendation of the Grateful Dead, for $500 worth of beer — a story that has been denied by parties who were directly involved. According to Cutler, "the only agreement there ever was ... the Angels would make sure nobody fucked with the generators, but that was the extent of it. But there was no 'They're going to be the police force' or anything like that. That's all bollocks." Hells Angels member Sweet William recalled this exchange between Cutler and himself at a meeting prior to the concert, where Cutler had asked them to do security:
- "We don't police things. We're not a security force. We go to concerts to enjoy ourselves and have fun."
- "Well, what about helping people out - you know, giving directions and things?"
- "Sure, we can do that."
When Cutler asked how they would like to be paid, William replied, "we like beer." In the documentary Gimme Shelter Hells Angels Oakland chapter head Ralph 'Sonny' Barger
Ralph 'Sonny' Barger
Ralph Hubert "Sonny" Barger is a founding member of the Oakland, California, U.S. chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club....
states that the Hells Angels were not interested in policing the event, and that organizers had told him that he and his fellow Angels would be required to do little more than sit on the edge of the stage and drink beer. Other accounts also state that the initial arrangement was for the Hells Angels to watch over the equipment, but that Cutler later moved them, and their beer, near the stage to placate them or to protect the stage.
Fights broke out during performances by Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
(at one point lead singer Marty Balin
Marty Balin
Marty Balin is an American musician. He is best known as the founder and one of the lead singers of the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane.-Early life:Martyn Buchwald was born in Cincinnati, Ohio...
was knocked out by a Hells Angel) and The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers
The Flying Burrito Brothers was an early country rock band, best known for its influential debut album,The Gilded Palace of Sin . Although the group is most often mentioned in connection with country rock legends Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, the group underwent many personnel changes.-Original...
. The Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
opted not to play after learning of the incident with Balin. By the time the Stones hit the stage, the crowd was especially restless.
While the Rolling Stones were performing Under My Thumb
Under My Thumb
"Under My Thumb" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards for The Rolling Stones. Its first appearance was as an album track on 1966's Aftermath...
, a young black man named Meredith Hunter
Meredith Hunter
Meredith Curly Hunter was a male spectator at the Altamont Free Concert. During the performance by The Rolling Stones, Hunter pulled out a gun after being punched by a Hells Angel and was then stabbed to death by a Hells Angel serving as a security guard...
became involved in an altercation with some Hells Angels and drew a long-barreled revolver. He was stabbed five times and kicked to death during the Rolling Stones' performance; the incident, which took place near the stage, was captured on film, where Cutler can be seen whispering to Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
onstage, rushing towards the mortally wounded Meredith Hunter
Meredith Hunter
Meredith Curly Hunter was a male spectator at the Altamont Free Concert. During the performance by The Rolling Stones, Hunter pulled out a gun after being punched by a Hells Angel and was then stabbed to death by a Hells Angel serving as a security guard...
and returning to the stage to convince the band to retreat.
The subsequent mess was blamed on the Rolling Stones -- although nobody employed by the Rolling Stones was directly involved in organizing the Altamont
Altamont
Altamont may refer to:* The Altamont Free Concert of December 1969Altamont may also refer to:-United States:* Altamont, California* Altamont Pass, in California** Altamont Commuter Express** Altamont Raceway Park* Altamont, Illinois...
gig until shortly before it was meant to happen. Sam Cutler arrived on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
to help co-ordinate the event less than a week before it was staged.
Following the concert, the Rolling Stones left for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, leaving Cutler behind to deal with the aftermath. While his friends, the Stones promised to "take care of him", Sam never spoke to the Stones again until many years later. He had been left practically penniless and left to deal with the mess on his own.
Cutler was eventually called to testify in court proceedings relating to the matter some time later.
Since that time, Cutler has been somewhat vindicated as various authors have recognized the role of some particularly strong, or possibly tainted LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
circulating at the event, a bad choice of venue, bad staging area design, and the role of Hells Angels
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
"prospects", non-patch wearing Hells Angels "wannabes", rather than bona-fide, full-patch wearing Angels themselves, as contributory factors in the bad vibes and violence that consumed the day.
Rock and Roll Management Career
Following the events at AltamontAltamont
Altamont may refer to:* The Altamont Free Concert of December 1969Altamont may also refer to:-United States:* Altamont, California* Altamont Pass, in California** Altamont Commuter Express** Altamont Raceway Park* Altamont, Illinois...
, Cutler stayed in the U.S. to deal with the aftermath, was befriended by Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
Jerome John "Jerry" Garcia was an American musician best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead...
, and subsequently hired by the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
as their tour manager
Tour Manager
A tour manager is the person who helps to organize the administration for a schedule of appearances of a musical group or artist at a sequence of venues .-Background:...
. He went on to become a co-manger of the band (with Jon McIntire and David Parker) and eventually became their agent.
Cutler co-ordinated the Dead's appearances at a number of memorable events including: the 1970 Festival Express
Festival Express
Festival Express is a 2003 documentary film about the eponymous 1970 train tour across Canada taken by some of North America's most popular rock bands, including The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends...
Tour of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen
Summer Jam at Watkins Glen
The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen was a 1973 rock festival which once received the Guinness Book of World Records entry for "Largest audience at a pop festival." An estimated 600,000 rock fans came to the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Raceway outside of Watkins Glen, New York on July 28, 1973, to see The...
(at 700,000+ paid admission the largest single paid admission events in rock n roll history), and the 1972 European Tour of the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
, the musical results of which can be heard on the Dead's triple live album "Europe '72
Europe '72
Europe '72 is a 1972 live triple album of performances by the Grateful Dead, recorded during their tour of Western Europe in early 1972.-History:...
".
Through his company “Out of Town Tours”, Cutler coordinated the appearances of many artists including: The Grateful Dead, The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
, The Allman Brothers, The New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Sons of Champlin, Mike Bloomfield
Mike Bloomfield
Michael Bernard "Mike" Bloomfield was an American musician, guitarist, and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois, who became one of the first popular music superstars of the 1960s to earn his reputation almost entirely on his instrumental prowess, since he rarely sang before 1969–70...
, Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Ramblin' Jack Elliott is an American folk singer and performer.-Life and career:Elliot Charles Adnopoz was born in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish parents in 1931. Elliott grew up inspired by the rodeos at Madison Square Garden, and wanted to be a cowboy...
and others.