The Rolling Stones - Bridges to Babylon (1997)

Not the Worst Nor the Best as Stones Shows Go

I love the Stones but this show doesn't excite me as much as other Stones' shows have.

I think there are basically three reasons for this:

1)The show is over-conceptualized. This is a Stones show with a theme, ie Babylon (don't ask for an explanantion on the exact connection between the Stones & Babylon, there isn't one, and would it matter if there were?). I love Pink Floyd and I love the Rolling Stones and I love the approach that each band takes to music. Pink Floyd's approach to music making and performance is conceptual but the Stones have always been appealing because they keep things simple. Pink Floyd's music is about alienation and living in a universe hostile to artistic production and authentic being and their conceptual shows convey these themes very well but Stones-style down and dirty rhythm & blues do not need anything but players and listeners. The Pink Floyd theatrics employed on the Bridges to Babylon tour just seem out of place at a Stones show. Unfortunatley, the Bridges to Babylon tour is full of stage theatrics and gimmickry. Authentic rhythm & blues do not need a specially built theatre w/ mobile bridges and video feeds, but thats what you get with this show. The bit where Mick stops performing in order to scroll a web page of fan favorites was not a good idea. Web surfing does not add excitement to a live Stones show. These kind of misjudgements hamper this entire set. Scrolling the web page where Stones fans choose what the next song will be is supposed to create a sense of spontaneity, and the bridge that leads to an island in the audience where the band plays two numbers is supposed to create a sense of intimacy. Neither gimmick achieves the desired effect. Few bands have ever appeared so disconnected from their audience and each other as this band at this St. Louis engagement. Bridges to Babylon is the least attractive album both graphically and sonically of the entire Stones catalogue (with the exception of Dirty Work). It makes sense that this album and tour were the beginning of another dry spell.

2)The band looks way too vegas. I respect the fact that some of them (Keith) do not try to hide their gray hair. The fact that some of them do obviously dye their bristled mops is not a big deal but the fashion is way too vegas and showy and it distracts from the music. All the guys except Charlie look a bit Queeny in this show. Thats fine for Mick & Woody who have always been a bit foppish anyway. But with Keith I don't want vegas. Even though I have ceased taking Mick seriously as a singer/songwriter/talent (I do still like him as a charismatic performer) I still buy Stones albums for the Keith songs: Slipping Away (Steel Wheels), The Worst, Thru & Thru (Voodoo Longe), Thief in the Night (Bridge to Babylon)....but, c'mon, Keith looks best in his old street clothes, and here he looks as if he has been dressed by a stylist.

3) Musically, too much flash and not enough grit. Even when they play a crowd and critic pleaser like Gimme Shelter the focus is on the outfits and how they look in motion. Same goes for Sympathy, in that song Mick's painted overcoat seems to be doing the performing and not Mick (who seems like his main interest is in fashion these days and not in music).

These complaints lodged, its still the Stones. But I would go elsewhere (especially the recent Shine a Light DVD) for better glimpses of this band. April 23, 2008

Burned Bridges

"Bridges to Babylon" was not what I expected. That's my fault. The guys are old now and they seemed to be trying to enjoy what they were doing for this taped concert; but you could see the hum drum in their performance. I couldn't appreciate it for that reason and passed it on to someone else who might enjoy it. December 7, 2007

Great concert.

I finally got to see the Rolling Stones twice in 3 nights and was blown away by the whole experience. I now am trying to get as much concert material as I can so that I can relive the experience over and over again and this DVD did not disappoint. If you are a Stones fan or even a new fan you will enjoy this DVD. July 16, 2007

the stones rock on this concert!

this concert is just great, incredible! the introduction is like an american action movie! all the musicians and backing vocals have a great performance! the play list is great, since they included many hits! mick jagger sings and dances like he was still 18 years old! and the stage, wow!!!!!!!!!! i had never seen nothing like that! it is a great production and the images have such a great quality! yeah, the stones really rock on this dvd!
ednan alves pessoa July 12, 2007

Superior Concert Video

This is by far the best concert video I own. The Stones were on top of their game at this St. Louis concert, soulful, bluesy, and rocking. The cameras stay on the band the whole time, unlike many current concert videos that seem to think the viewer wants to watch the audience. The sound is CD quality, the picture and color is vivid, the editing is tight. The highlight for me is Keith Richards' "I Wanna Hold You" and some incredible versions of many classics. The songs from the Bridges to Babylon album are excellent and it is funny how quickly some of them faded from the permanent repertoire. The fact of the matter is the Stones have enough excellent songs to do ten different concerts.

I highly recommend this DVD. It is superior to the Four Flicks, and a lot less expensive. Five Stars. October 31, 2006

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