Mick Jagger, perhaps a better Boatsman

Hells Angels planned to kill Jagger: documentary

Updated Sun. Mar. 2 2008 9:10 AM ET

The Associated Press

LONDON -- A new British Broadcasting Corp. documentary claims Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger escaped an assassination plot hatched in 1969 by the Hells Angels.

A program to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Monday says the rock star was the target of the plot following a purported dispute with the motorcycle gang over concert security.

Jagger had vowed not to use Hells Angel members as bouncers following the death in December 1969 of an 18-year-old fan at a notorious free performance at Altamont Speedway in Northern California.

In return, the BBC claimed that gang members hatched a plan to kill Jagger at his holiday home in Long Island, New York.

Tom Mangold, the presenter of the program, was quoted as telling Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper that The Hells Angels were so angered by Jagger's treatment of them that they decided to kill him.

He said the men tried to reach Jagger by sea but their boat was hit by a storm and they were thrown overboard and while they all survived, they made no other attempt on his life.

Mangold said the plan was disclosed during an interview with Mark Young, a former FBI officer, for the BBC's "The FBI at 100'' documentary.

It was not clear whether Jagger was ever informed of the alleged plot against him.

LD Communications, Jagger's publicists in Britain, did not immediately return calls requesting comment.

The Hells Angels have always denied any connection with the Altamont Speedway killing.