Grace Slick in a blue velvet suit. Gram Parsons bashing a tambourine. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young appearing like they like each other. Altamont will be forever known as the death of the Sixties, but the Library of Congress just made it a little sunnier with previously unreleased footage.
The 30-minute clip — released via the Congress’ blog — contains no sound, with a fuzzy home video quality that looks as if your drunk aunt filmed your backyard family barbecue. And yet it shows that contrary to how it was remembered, Altamont was more than a Rolling Stones concert gone terribly wrong, where the Hells Angels famously knifed 18-year-old fan Meredith Hunter.
Here we see footage not included in Gimme Shelter, like the Flying Burrito Brothers’ performance at nine minutes in. Gram Parsons commands the stage, while Keith Richards and Mick Jagger marvel from afar. (That same night, Richards played “Wild Horses” for Parsons, which he ended up covering on Burrito Deluxe a year later.) Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young take the stage around 11 minutes, ironically kicking off with “Woodstock.” (Following the festival, the supergroup would head to UCLA for their second concert of the day).
In the blog post, Neely Tucker explains that the Library of Congress found the footage in 200,000 reels of film it acquired 20 years ago from archivist Rick Prelinger. A technician discovered two reels labeled “Stones in the Park,” which Neely assumed was the well-documented 1969 Hyde Park show. But he was pleasantly surprised to find he was incorrect.
“Many people know the Gimme Shelter documentary pretty well, but there’s a lot more in this home movie,” he wrote. “Although the footage is silent, we were all thrilled to see close-up footage of concert performers who were cut from the film, such as Carlos Santana and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. It was especially great to see Gram Parsons fronting the Flying Burrito Brothers, since you only see the back of his head in Gimme Shelter.“
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Kelly Rowland has shared some heartfelt guidance for KATSEYE as the girl group faces a challenging period, with Sophia Laforteza and Manon Bannerman temporarily stepping away to prioritise their mental health.
Having experienced worldwide fame at an early age with Destiny’s Child, Kelly understands the intense pressure that comes with success and changes within a group. During an interview with Rolling Stone, she encouraged the KATSEYE members to look after their own needs while continuing to stand by one another.
She explained: “In an industry as fast-paced as music, where there are constantly eyes on you and pressure to keep rising, your health is one of the most sacred things you have.
“I learned during my time in Destiny’s Child that you can show up for your fans and your group while still honouring what you need as an individual.”
Kelly then revealed what she would personally tell the group: “My advice to the KATSEYE girls would be to listen to themselves, be kind to themselves, and continue supporting one another through every season.”
As KATSEYE continue their Wildworld tour, Kelly also highlighted the importance of making space to recharge: “Especially on tour, it’s so important to intentionally carve out time to rest and reset in their daily routines. Taking care of your mind and body is what allows you to bounce back, stay resilient, and keep doing what you love.”
KATSEYE began their Wildworld tour on Tuesday (01.09.26), although neither Sophia nor Manon was present.
Sophia discussed her decision on Instagram Stories, telling fans: “I cannot express how much I want to participate in this tour and perform for you all. I have to remind myself every day that our health and mental wellbeing should always be prioritised.
“When I show up for you, I want you to get the best version of me. I've been in ongoing treatment and doing everything I can to stay healthy, occupied and happy.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s important to care for yourself.”
KATSEYE later posted an official announcement on Instagram, saying: “We would like to share an update regarding Sophia’s upcoming schedule.
“Sophia is focusing on her wellbeing, and the company remains fully committed to providing her with all the support and resources needed.”
Signed by HYBE and Geffen Records, the announcement verified that Sophia “will not be participating in the Wildworld Tour in Europe and the UK”.
However, no reference was made to the group’s scheduled performances in North America.
The statement added: “We sincerely ask for EYEKONS’ warm understanding, as our highest priority will always be the health and long-term well-being of our artists.
“We will share further updates as they become available. Please continue to send your love, warmth, and support to Sophia and KATSEYE.”
Sophia also expressed her appreciation for the care she has received from her management team and fellow members while dealing with her health concerns.
She added: “There’s been nothing but love and support from the company, my members, and everyone else around me as I work to get well. I can’t wait until I return and share the stage with my sisters again.
“They’re gonna put on an extraordinary performance for you. Trust me, I’ve been watching and they’re absolutely giving.”
Ending her message with gratitude, she told supporters: “I love you all so much. Thank you for understanding.”
The Pinky Up singers, whose lineup also includes Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeung, have appeared with five members since February after Manon took a break to concentrate on her “health and wellbeing”. Sophia’s temporary absence means the group is currently performing with four members.
