Black Fighting Biker Knuckles

Perhaps one of the most notorious events in Hells Angels' history involved the December 6, 1969, at the Altamont Speedway. The Grateful Dead were also scheduled to perform among other artists, but cancelled at the last minute owing to the ensuing circumstances at the venue. The Angels had been hired by The Grateful Dead as crowd security for a fee which was said to include $500 worth of beer.The Angels parked their motorcycles in front of the stage in order to create a buffer between the stage and the tens of thousands of concert goers.Crowd management proved to be difficult: many spectators were injured and four died. Over the course of the day, the Hells Angels became increasingly agitated and violent.The Angels used sawed-off pool cues in order to control the crowd. After one of the Angels' motor bikes was knocked over, the Angels became even more aggressive, even toward the performers onstage. Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane was knocked unconscious following an altercation with an Angel.The Grateful Dead refused to play following the Balin incident, and left the venue.