By the 1970s , the 1960s zeitgeist that had spawned hippie culture seemed to be on the wane . The events at Altamont Free Concert shocked many Americans , including those who had strongly identified with hippie culture . Another shock came in the form of the Sharon Tate and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca murders committed in August 1969 by Charles Manson and his " family " of followers . Nevertheless , the turbulent political atmosphere that featured the bombing of Cambodia and shootings by National Guardsmen at Jackson State University and Kent State University still brought people together . These shootings inspired the May 1970 song by Quicksilver Messenger Service " What About Me ? " , where they sang , " You keep adding to my numbers as you shoot my people down " , as well as Neil Young 's " Ohio " , a song that protested the Kent State massacre , recorded by Crosby , Stills , Nash and Young
Kent State massacre
Kent State shootings
Hippie