• Writers: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
• Producer: Jimmy Miller
• Recorded: 1969, Olympic Studios in London
• Released: December 5th, 1969
• Players:
  Mick Jagger — vocals, harmonica
  Merry Clayton — vocals
  Keith Richards — guitar, vocals
  Charlie Watts — drums
  Bill Wyman — bass
  Jimmy Miller — percussion
  Nicky Hopkins — piano
• Album: Let It Bleed (1969)
• Also On:
  Hot Rocks, 1964-1971 (London, 1972)
  Gimme Shelter (Decca, 1972)
  Rolled Gold: The Very Best Of The Rolling Stones (Decca, 1975)
  No Security (Virgin, 1998)
  Forty Licks (Virgin, 2002)
• Many people believe “Gimme Shelter” is about the infamous 1969 Altamont concert, where Hell’s Angels security guards stabbed 18-year-old Meredith Hunter to death. It was, however, recorded long before Altamont, and the Let It Bleed album was actually released the day before the concert.
• A clip from Gimme Shelter, Albert & David Maysles‘s film about the Rolling Stones‘ 1969 tour that ended at Altamont, led to the trial of Hell’s Angel Alan Passaro on murder charges. The jury, which only heard from one witness, found Passaro not guilty.
• The Gimme Shelter film, a documentary devoid of commentary, showed the uncontrollable crowd problems in vivid detail. In an emotional movie review, Rolling Stone critic Michael Goodwin wrote, “It’s a real horror movie.” The movie contained repeated clips of a shocked lead singer Mick Jagger and drummer Charlie Watts watching unedited video of the murder.
• Though some people assume that Stones’ friend and occasional touring mate Tina Turner recorded the song’s female vocal, it was actually a relatively unknown singer named Merry Clayton. Rock singer Bonnie Bramlett was originally supposed to sing that part, but her husband, Delaney Bramlett, started a fight because she hadn’t asked his permission first, so Clayton stepped in.
• “Gimme Shelter” was never released as a single.

FAST FORWARD:

• Many artists have covered “Gimme Shelter” over time. The list includes Grand Funk Railroad, the Goo Goo Dolls, Mitch Ryder, Sisters Of Mercy, and Hawkwind, among others.
• The Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 18th, 1989. Pete Townshend of the Who delivered the induction speech, during which he said, “Guys, whatever you do, don’t try to grow old gracefully. It wouldn’t suit you.”
• Bassist Bill Wyman left the Stones in 1993. His replacement Darryl Jones has worked with the band ever since, but he hasn’t been named an official member.
• The most recent album from the Stones is A Bigger Bang, which was released over a year ago to coincide with the start of their world tour.
• The Stones headlined the halftime show for Super Bowl XL (40) at Ford Field in Detroit in February 2006.
• 2006 was a rough year for the Stones — Richards fell on his head while on vacation in Fiji and had to have cranial surgery, which led to European dates being rescheduled; guitarist Ronnie Wood did another stint in rehab to deal with his alcoholism; and frontman Mick Jagger had throat issues over the summer which forced the cancellation of two dates in Spain, followed by more throat problems that led the band to rework part of their fall North American tour.