The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996)

Powerful

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Most people who watch "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus," a TV program that the Stones put together for the BBC in December '68--but that was never aired--will likely be struck by the same thought: How could this remarkable show fail to have been shown back when? The program turns out to be a godsend for fans of '60s rock, featuring as it does not only "The World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band," but also Jethro Tull, The Who, Marianne Faithful, Taj Mahal and a band called Dirty Mac, interspersed, under the big top, with some amusing circus acts, and observed by a small but enthusiastic audience in whimsical regalia. All the performers are in top form here, but the highlights for me were Jethro Tull, here with future Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi filling in for the recently departed Mick Abrahams, and the two songs performed by the Dirty Mac. This was a one-shot supergroup consisting of Mitch Mitchell on drums and Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and John Lennon on guitars! The version of the Fab Four's "Yer Blues" that they dish out here is just awesome, and when Yoko Ono hits the stage to caterwaul on the instrumental blues romp "Whole Lotta Yoko"...well, just hold on to your eardrums! This program, fittingly, belongs to the Stones, however, and the six tunes that the boys give us are just terrific, especially that "Sympathy for the Devil," during which Mick Jagger gets to prove again that he really is rock's best frontman. Whotta high-energy display; no wonder John Lennon can be seen boogying his pies off in the audience! Bottom line: If you're a fan of any of the artists mentioned above, this DVD is for you!

When the Stones take the stage and erupt into Jumpin' Jack Flash, it's quite obvious we are witnessing an age is long now dead. The 'beautiful people' in the audience--draped in yellow rain coats or something--resemble participants in some kind of primitive religious ritual.This, of course, is the true purpose of Rock n' Roll, isn't it? It replaces our instinctual need for community rituals that we've lost in the past few hundred years. The Stones occupy the stage like Shamans in a primitive hunting society. A Judeo-Christian might be offended by their endorsements of Lucifer in 'Sympathy for the Devil', but the real purpose of the song (or any Stones song) lies right there in the title. Good NEEDS Evil in nature. Things live, things die.So, have some sympathy. And some taste.10/10

Wow. Wasn't that a party. An "intimate" show in a circus tent with the bad boys. I don't know why Mick felt the stones' performance was weaker than the other acts, I mean, The Who were the best of the bunch, but it doesn't get any better than the version of "No Expectations" contained herein. A time capsule in the best sense of the word, all the acts were great- from Tull's wicked opener to The Dirty Mac's "Yer Blues". If only Barnum & Bailey could do it as good.....Let's Drink To The Good Hearted People...

A great movie- featuring Jethro Tull (with Tony Iommi, later of Black Sabbath), The Who (who blow the roof off), Taj Mahal (with Jesse Ed Davis, guitar giant), Marianne Faithfull (who sings beautifully), The Dirty Mac, featuring John Lennon (vocal/rhythm guitar), Eric Clapton (lead guitar), Keith Richard(s) (bass), and Jimi Hendrix's drummer Mitch Mitchell. (Joined in their second number by Yoko Ono on vocals and Ivry Gitlis on violin.) Finally, the Stones. A great performance, the last featuring the band's founder, Brian Jones, who is, unfortunately, the only downer. He would die the next July, you can tell he was in the downward spiral.