The Rolling Stones - Rock and Roll Circus
by Michael Lindsay-Hogg
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Actor: Clive Bunker, Glenn Cornick, Ian Anderson, Pete Townshend, Tony IommiDirector: Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Brand: Uni
Cinematographer: Anthony B. Richmond
Editor: Robin Klein
Producer: Robin Klein
Editor: Ruth Foster
Producer: Ian Stewart
Producer: Mick Gochanour
Producer: Sanford Lieberson
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 65 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-10-12
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: 10039
Studio: Abkco Films
Product features:
- ROLLING STONES - ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS (DVD AUDIO)
DVD Reviews of The Rolling Stones - Rock and Roll Circus
DVD Review: Unique Rock Royalty Gathering and Brian's Last Stand
Summary: 4 Stars
Let me start by saying that the sound and visuals on this DVD are top notch. The commentary, extra visuals, and remaster add to the package.
This improbable gathering captures a unique moment in rock history. In December 1968, rock luminaries lead by the Rolling Stones gathered in a chilly makeshift tent built inside a cavernous London studio for a circus-themed rock show intended for a TV special directed by Michael Lindsay Hogg. Its legendary status is well-deserved. First of all, it remained unreleased for almost 30 years after being tucked away due to Mick's supposedly not being happy with his performance. The other rumor is that the Stones felt they were blown off the stage by the Who. I think this is an unfair assessment. The Who played much earlier in the evening and played a totally different kind of music- loud power trio rock in a mini-rock opera form. The Stones were just entering their classic Jimmy Miller-produced blues/roots/rock period and were carrying dead (or at least dieing) weight in guitarist Brian Jones. It was almost 5am by the time they pulled the plug and the weariness of the long day of filming can be felt. But it is a wonderful feeling- a feeling of stoned immaculateness, of a party well had, of an almost fraternal, familial vibe, post coital bliss at a rock show. The Stones' set is as perfect as it is compelling.
Secondly, the small tent setting (at least through the camera lens) makes it feel quite homey and intimate and human. To see an audience of teen girls, nerds, 30-somethings, people of different races, and assorted proto-freaks clapping, laughing, dancing, and hanging out shoulder to shoulder in colorful ponchos and hats, mixed in with assorted costumed John Lennons, Keith Moons, Pete Townsends and Brian Joneses, is to be taken to a special time and place indeed.
Genuine circus acts perform between the rock to maintain the vibe.
With two giant US and UK flags hanging in the background, the show begins with the early Jethro Tull, at the time just starting to make a name for themselves at the famed Marquee Club. Ian Anderson sings live to a backing track while the rest of the band mimes. Tull were between guitarists and had not had time to rehearse a new one. Ian Anderson's mad minstrel/street lecher character's signature moves are already well in place, though his wardrobe had yet to be fully developed. And yes, that is none other than Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi hiding under his hat while miming guitar, kindly filling the guitar void.
After that, the Who come in with Tommy's prototype, A Quick One While He's Away. This 10 minute mini-epic in several pieces (slightly shortened for the Circus), about a wife being unfaithful while awaiting the return of her husband who has been away almost a year, is prime evidence of the Who's power, tightness, and synergy. Still awaiting their ticket to mega-fame that would come 6 months later, they were well on their way. It has to be seen to be believed-here was truly a great band approaching maturity.
Blues/soul/rnb belter Taj Mahal takes the stage next in cowboy garb and sunglasses, shouting out the Gimme Some Lovin-echoing Ain't That A Lot of Love with his band. Solid grimy bluesy rnb/soul, with a Stevie Wonder-esque clapping break, but nothing remarkable. The word is the band had to sneak into the UK on a tourist visa, guitars in hand, due to short notice!
Marianne Faithfull, looking decadently stoned and ravishingly beautiful at the same time, comes on singing the wistful Something Better to a backing track.
An amusing chat between a brown rice eating "Winston Legthigh" and Mick Jagger prefaces the next band-"Ah those were the days of I Wanna Hold Your Man", Lennon says nostalgically to Mick, talking about something from a mere 5 years previous!
The one-time-only super group the Dirty Mac comes on and threatens to take us to Rock Nirvana. Or what do you say about John Lennon of the Beatles, rhythm guitar and vocals, Eric Clapton of the recently disbanded Cream, lead guitar, Keith Richard of the Stones on bass(!) and machine gun skinsman, the amazing Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience on drums. They do a killer version of the only few weeks in release Yer Blues from the White Album. Check out John's physicality on the vamping one chord guitar solo he does, followed by a burning Clapton. And try to avoid Yoko's lame performance art in a black bag by the side of the stage trying to be a part of the show.
Next follows a 12 bar instrumental blues that shows promise of being a great jam until surreality takes over. Being that John was well into Yoko by this point, she of course has to make a mockery of things and do her screeching routine which basically screws it all up and should definitely make you blush for the shear pretentiousness. Add virtuoso violin player Ivry Gitlis absurdly out of his natural habitat to the mix and you have one of those bizarro Yoko moments that only John and Yoko themselves enjoyed, the audience be damned.
Next come the Stones in all their ragged glory, accompanied by conga master Rocky Dijon and Nicky Hopkins on piano. Jagger does a valiant job at rallying the troops, prancing around like a snake on 2 legs, flirting with the teen girls in the audience. I disagree with people who say he overdoes it. It's pure Mick, in died black hair, and at 25 entering the classic Stones era. They rip into Jumpin Jack Flash, the track which, along with the recently released Beggar's Banquet, heralded their return to rocknroll after the experimental, psychedelic/eastern period of 66-67. This should have been fine with Brian Jones, who despite being key in their experimentation and exotic instrumentation of the past 2 years, had been the original bluesman in the band. But he seems resigned meekly and passively to his fate as a fading force in the band. His clothes, make-up and hair look fine, but there is an emptiness to his eyes that betrays his stoned-out brain. His guitar seems to be either unplugged or turned way down on Flash, Parachute Woman, and the as-yet-unreleased You Can't Always Get What You Want from Let It Bleed, as he supposedly had injured his wrist and was still on the mend. He is relegated to maracas for Sympathy For the Devil.
But he makes one last poignant musical stand on celluloid in what for me is the highlight of the entire Circus- No Expectations. As if the lyrics were meant for Jones himself, Jagger sings the plaintive slow country blues while a seated Brian plays a weeping lead bottleneck slide-notice his graceful picking hand. Keith for once is relegated to rhythm acoustic. Simply magic. Sad too, as a living ghost plays out his run.
Sympathy is the climax of the set, as Jagger stips to a bare chest, revealing temporary tattoos of Satan. Kind of corny, but evidence of his growing understanding of promoting the dark aura that would serve the band well in the coming 5 years.
The show ends with the Every Man theme Salt of the Earth, with the audience and bands all crowded together on the stands, Mick and Keith harmonizing to a backing track, everyone either knackered, stoned, or both (check out a wasted Faithfull trying to hide under her hat), but a sense of pleasant relief palpable. A wonderful time was had by all. And Brian Jones gets his final hurrah, many years after his passing. Rock on, Brian.
Description of The Rolling Stones - Rock and Roll Circus
Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 10/12/2004Classic Rock Music CDs
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