I first encountered Sam Cutler like so many others through watching the sensational Mayles Brothers documentary, Gimme Shelter. Who was this lanky, sun-glassed Brit with the deep, sonorous voice introducing the ‘Stones at Madison Square Gardens as the ‘greatest rock roll band in the world’ (apparently Jagger wasn’t happy but Sam later said it was to fire up the band after a few rough gigs), and trying to assert control over an increasingly unruly Altamont crowd which was fast going off the rails. While living in San Francisco in 2001 and 2002 I became unhealthily obsessed with the idea of Altamont and our first LP Altamont Diary was based on an immersion across the day of the festival, including a few sneaky Sam samples from the soundtrack. The album was released in 2004 and become something of an ungainly underground ‘hit’ with coverage in local and international press, with some reviews incredulous that a band from Melbourne would do an entire LP based around some obscure festival from late 1969.
Fast forward to late 2005 when an email from Sam Cutler arrived in my inbox. This was like being struck by lightning – a presence from this other world had suddenly become very real and was keen for a chat! Turns out Sam had been living in Queensland (along with a few other refugees from 60’s and 70’s counter culture, including ‘Dead sound engineer Owsley ‘Bear’ Stanley) and had been made aware of our bizarre little project. At that time we were puzzling our way through a difficult second LP, Jesus East so we asked Sam if he would like to guest appear on a track we’d been toying with. Sam, a very competent guitarist in his own right, agreed and he duly flew down to Melbourne to record some ideas. At Soundpark Studios we watched as Sam tried to voice some notes but it wasn’t really happening. After a time Sam said,’ just roll the track’, put down his notes and spoke from the heart about his time ‘rolling’ with the Grateful Dead. It was magical and became Valiant on the final LP. Sam was also kind enough to MC some launch shows in Melbourne and Sydney, entrancing the crowd with his Stones and Dead stories in Melbourne, then going on a rant about the British and their Maralinga nuclear testing in Sydney (which puzzled a few). My relationship with the world of Gimme Shelter had come full circle, with the man who road managed and MC’d the Stones at Hyde Park, Madison Square Garden and Altamont, and later managed the Grateful Deal across Europe and the US was now introducing us. For a photo shoot with The Age in 2007, Sam suggested I sat in front of him and as he hugged me, whispered ‘You have no idea what’s been between these legs’ which made me laugh out loud and of course that’s the pic they used.
We had some great chats with Sam, who lived a humble later life of literature, poetry and occasional rabble rousing following a fast come down from fame and fortune in the late 70’s due to health and financial issues, including a run-in with the law in London. He made it to Australia where he lived much of his later life in a custom van and on a three wheeled motor bike, maintaining a free spirited life on the road despite recurring heath issues. Sam lived his entire life in the spirit of the ’60’s and never let go of the rock’n’roll.
We salute you, Sam.
For those interested in learning more about Sam, you can’t go past his brilliantly entertaining book.