The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter (1970)

This 1970 documentary follows The Rolling Stones during their infamous 1969 tour of the United States. The film shows footage from the two final concerts of the tour; the concert at Madison Square garden and a week later a free concert at San Francisco's Altamont Speedway. That last concert transforms into a clash between 300,000 people from the so-called 'Love Generation' and a dozen Hells Angels who had been hired to keep order, with the tragic low point being the death of 18-year-old Meredith Hunter who was killed with stabbings. Just four months after the so peaceful Woodstock, the Altamont concert seemed to mark the end of the loving hippie era. 

Directors David Maysles, Albert Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin were present and captured the events on camera as The Rolling Stones struggled through the concert doing what they do best, making music. The documentary shows footage of the two concerts, as well as the band members' reactions while watching footage of the Altamont concert. The film premiered at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival and was also released in Dutch cinemas later that year. VPRO Cinema rated the documentary five stars at the time.

Melkweg often hosts different types of programmes at the same time, such as concerts, club nights and films. Please note that there may occasionally be some noise pollution from other programmes during the screening.