Chat Live with Sam Cutler April 25-click this for info
Simultaneous release of iPhone app and new book sheds light on Altamont, the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, and other “wonderful reprobates”

You Can’t Always Get What You Want by Sam Cutler is a magnificent account of the life and times of Sam Cutler with the Rolling Stones, then the Grateful Dead in the late 1960s and early 1970s. As tour manager for the Stones he played a pivotal role at a watershed moment in American history: the infamous concert at Altamont Speedway, where a young man named Meredith Hunter was stabbed to death by a Hells Angel in front of the stage.

There has never been an official investigation into what actually happened at Altamont. Cutler has recorded for posterity the political build up to the free concert, and the aftermath of the fateful occurrences there. The release of You Can’t Always Get What You Want is intended to finally “set the record straight” and his lucid backstage and onstage account is undoubtedly the book’s centerpiece. But, he adds, “there’s more to my story than Altamont. This is the story of my life on the road with two of the world’s greatest bands.” Cutler begins the book by describing his humble roots in Hertfordshire. An orphan, the illegitimate son of an Irish gypsy and a Jewish mathematician, he would become the personal tour manager for two of the greatest bands of all time – a career he attributes to his unique upbringing and adoptive parents, a fascination with the entertainment business, and what he describes as “a simple twist of fate.”

Cutler is a humorous writer, selfless and unfazed by the antics of the legendary musicians whose touring lives he looked after. While the Stones took their roles of cosseted rock stars for granted Cutler’s job consisted of dealing with riot police, groupies, drug dealers, mobsters, and promoters. Rock fans will love Cutler’s in-depth descriptions of his friendships with the likes of rock legends Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett. Cutler shows the colorful personalities of performers, and provides a fascinating look at the logistical challenges of touring the bands. He includes a rapturous account of what is known as the “Winnipeg Express,” the train tour in 1970 that carried an assortment of the most talented musicians of the time. Included in the book and iPhone app is a 12-page photo section featuring images by renowned photographers Ethan Russell, Robert Altman and others. You Can’t Always Get What You Want is published by Toronto-based ECW Press and is available from bookstores and online booksellers across North America.

Cutler will tour North America in April 2010 to promote the release of the book. He will be traveling by car from Seattle to San Francisco before heading to Los Angeles, Toronto, New York City and London, England.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010-04-22 20:50 by bmuseed.

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