The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996)

Unavailable at all for nearly three decades, then issued in a VHS edition in 1996, the Rolling Stones' legendary Rock and Roll Circus finally gets the full treatment with this DVD release documenting the 1968 event. The Stones were reportedly unhappy with their performance (hence the long delay), and it isn't their finest moment; performing "Jumping Jack Flash" and a variety of songs from their then-new Beggars Banquet album, Keith Richards is game, but Jagger's preening (especially on "Sympathy for the Devil") is over the top, and guitarist Brian Jones looks dissolute and well on his way to his death the following year. A certain weirdness permeates some of the other musical acts as well: Jethro Tull lip-syncs unconvincingly, Taj Mahal and band were obliged to perform before the circus set was completed and the audience had arrived, and John Lennon's outing with impromptu supergroup the Dirty Mac (with Richards, Eric Clapton, and drummer Mitch Mitchell) is hampered by Yoko Ono's caterwauling, although their version of the Beatles' "Yer Blues" is cool. Still, the Who are brilliant, Marianne Faithfull is beautiful, the various circus acts are fun, and the crowd clearly loves it.

The DVD comes with some fascinating bonus features, including three extra songs by Mahal, some lovely classical piano by Julius Katchen, and a "quad split-screen" version of "Yer Blues." Best of all are a new interview with the Who's Pete Townshend and the various commentary tracks added for the DVD--especially those by Tull's Ian Anderson, director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, and Stones Jagger, Richards, and Bill Wyman (who dryly attributes Jagger's reluctance to issue the show to his dissatisfaction with his own performance, not the band's). Flaws notwithstanding, this is a treat. --Sam Graham Amazon.com

Surrealistic Masterpiece

This has to be my favorite "music video" of all time. This is more David Lynchian than anything David Lynch has ever produced. It is such an odd episode in time, such a weird floating bubble of brilliance. It is a Festival of the Bizarre and the Hilarious. And, in my opinion, the music is superb. Approach this with the right expectations, and you will be dazzled!!!

For starters, the colors are super-saturated, rich and deep reds and oranges and blues. It is a warm viewing experience. Every attendee is wearing a truly strange pull-over type robe with bright colors. Everyone is preternaturally happy and involved. Coupled with all the other other-worldly behavior, one wonders exactly what planet this circus tent is on. Is this a rock show, or Star Trek?

Then we have Jethro Tull take the stage. This guy jams on a petite little flute like most rock stars jam on a Flying-V. It is a great performance. Someone says it is dubbed. If so, I never even noticed, and it doesn't really matter. The ambience is one of pure elation.

Marianne Faithful is unbelievablly beautiful and elegant in a very formal performance which is in wonderful contrast to the raunchy rock festivities around her. She's wearing a beautiful dress, and she sits on the ground. Classic-beyond-belief.

The Who: Great. Daltry and Townsend are in their primes, and everyone else looks sober, even Moonie and Entwhistle.

Okay, the ultimate killer here is this: John Lennon does an awkward little comedy shtick with Mick Jagger. Lennon ends up handing Jagger his dinner plate, and Mick nibbles the left-overs. Very charming because it all seems so natural and unrehearsed. They display a fondness for and a familiarity with one another, but with a little bit of competitive edginess. Lennon actually seems like a guy attending a party or a barbeque. He does not seem to be performing here; he is participating, and having a good time. He does his little jam with Keith Richards, Clapton, and Mitch Mitchell from the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Think of that!!!! That's the equivalent of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ronald Reagan, Churchill and Teddy Roosevelt doing a session!!!! This is monumental history folks!!!! Beyond Belief!!! And then Yoko comes out and starts screeching this painfully odd wail. The pain is deep and vast. This is where the experience become priceless: look into the faces of the musicians, look into the faces of the intimate little audience: they all look like they are about to bust out laughing at this strange noise emanating from Yoko's mouth!!! They are as astounded as we are!!!! The confusion and disbelief is palpable. John Lennon keeps on jamming, looking a little embarassed, but fully supporting his nihilistic little wife!! David Lynch must be crying as he watches this, a celluoid moment of astonishing inexplicability, contrasting vectors of logic and nuance which quite simply blow-out our normal thought processes. Try as he might, he can never match this kind of shtuff!

The the Stones climb on up and have at it. Mick steals the show. It is a 110% Stones experience in four songs.

Pete Townsend does an interview as an extra and it is worth watching as he recollects on the events of that day. He describes how Mick handled the entire project with his characteristic "responsibility and ruthlessness." Apparently Brian Jones was falling apart during the course of the filming and Mick was having to help him remain composed, as well as dealing with all the other logistics. And, Keith was literally "green" from his ingestions of God-knows-what. So, Mick has to run the show from a business perspective, and then he has to perform. I personally thought he was awesome, especially in the rendition of "Sympathy for the Devil." The man quite simply defines Larger-Than-Life-Legend as far as I'm concerned.

Folks, the four-star reviews here are missing the point just as much as the one-star reviews. Don't buy this for the music, per se. Buy this for the Overall Weird Scene Which Hails From a Bygone London Era. This is beyond mere psychedelic, this is Alternative Universe Stuff. The intimacy of it, the authentic, ad hoc nature of the entire setting, accented by little circus performers here and there. If I could chose to go back in time to this R&R Circus or to Woodstock, I would take this in a heartbeat. There's something for everybody here, and it is all good, and all strange in a friendly sort of way. It doesn't get much better in my book.

July 19, 2008

Rock and Roll Circus

Very fun. Loved Mary Ann Faithfull and Mick Jagger was so young and pretty and full of energy and full of himself. GREAT! May 20, 2008

a hoot and a holler under the big top

A very decent little concert! The stones allegedly pulled it because the who outshined them (which they did... sort of), but the big reason to grab this one is the had to find little bits, John Lennon and Mick talking over a bowl of noodles, The Dirty Mac band, with Clapton and Lennon on guitars and keith richards on bass, with Mitch Mitchell on drums and yoko in a plastic bag as "the darkness" is just great. If you're looking for definitive performances of these bands, this dvd may not be for you. But if you want some insight into what the swingin' 60's and early 70's rock scene was all about, pick this up. Hell, at this price, pick it up anyway. April 21, 2008

A Sixties Flashback

This is a fascinating piece of rock and roll history, and puts to rest the ridiculous claim that Brian Jones was incapable of contributing anything musically by 1968. E.g. "No Expectations" serves as the perfect swan song for the Stones' classic lineup. It's not only sad but infuriating to hear everyone from Pete Townshend to David Dalton drone on about how Jones was beyond any kind of help, when the simple fact is, those who were in a position to save Jones refused to lift a finger, and simply watched this man destroy himself. It illustrates why the 1960's, after all the talk and hype was little more than a fest of selfishness, ignorance and self-abuse. April 10, 2008

Circus really delivers

This video is at least a must-have for those of us that grew up with this music during the late 60s. The video is great, not so much for the coverage of the Stones, but for the excellent performances by The Who and by Taj Mahal. January 8, 2008

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