Who sang the famous scream on 'Gimme Shelter' by the Rolling Stones?

The voice — including the shattering high note on the word 'murder' — belongs to Merry Clayton, a gospel and session singer who was called out of bed in the middle of the night in 1969 to record the part. She was pregnant at the time. The emotional intensity in her voice comes partly from the physical toll of singing at her absolute limit.

Did Merry Clayton miscarry after recording 'Gimme Shelter'?

Yes. According to Clayton and her husband at the time, she suffered a miscarriage later that same night after recording the session. The connection between the session's physical intensity and the miscarriage has never been medically confirmed, but Clayton has spoken about the timing repeatedly in interviews, including in the 2013 documentary 20 Feet from Stardom.

What happened to Merry Clayton's career after 'Gimme Shelter'?

Clayton continued as a highly regarded session and backing vocalist throughout the 1970s, recording with artists including Carole King, Neil Young, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. She had several solo albums but never achieved mainstream commercial success despite her critical reputation. Her story reached a global audience through the 2013 Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, directed by Morgan Neville.

The Price of the Take

Genre: soul, rock, gospel, Merry Clayton, backing vocals, 1960s, 1970s

February 28, 2026

Merry Clayton drove to a midnight session pregnant, cracked her voice on the most famous backing vocal in rock history — and lost her baby the next day.

Tracks

1. Gimme Shelter — The Rolling Stones
2. Oh No, Not My Baby — Merry Clayton
3. Southern Man — Neil Young
4. Sweet Home Alabama — Lynyrd Skynyrd
5. Yes — Merry Clayton
6. A Song For You — Leon Russell
7. O-o-h Child — The Five Stairsteps
8. Lovely Day — Bill Withers
9. Bridge over Troubled Water — Aretha Franklin

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