The Rolling Stones - Rock and Roll Circus

Starring:Mick Jagger, Keith Richards (II), Charlie Watts, Brian Jones, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, Bill Wyman, Jesse Ed Davis, Julian Lennon, Nicky Hopkins, Tony Iommi, Donyale Luna, Glenn Cornick, John Lennon, Marianne Faithfull, Julius Katchen, Mitch Mitchell (II), Ian Anderson (IV), The Rolling Stones, The Who, John Lennon
Director: Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Studio: Abkco Films
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
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.

Amazon.com

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.

Customer Reviews:

NICE TO SEE THIS ON DVD! STONES FANS HAVE DREAMED OF SEEING THIS FOR YEARS!.......2007-06-29

Like most Stones fans, I had read about this canceled show for years. I had constructed and imagined the concert in my head many times for three decades. The DVD treatment is excellent and there are some nice extras. The DVD has extra songs that the VHS release didn't have. It is great to have it, but it didn't quite live up to my vision I had conjured in my mind all these years. It is still a great addition to any fans collection.

Rock and Roll Circus a wonderful memory of Brian Jones........2007-06-12

Move over Mick, the Rolling Stones Band was Brian Jones group in the beginning. Just like when you and Keith Richards, got rid of Mick Taylor. Far to good a guitarist for the likes of Keith Richards.
Yes, we all know what happened to Brian. Yep friends just watch there friends go down the tubes without doing anything.
Gosh does this mean that we'll see you guys still marketing yourself when your in your 70's? I hope not.
I'd rather remember you, Wyman, Keith, Charlie because he cared about Brian more than you ever could.
All of the other performers were fabulous !!!! Keith Moon before his demise. Pete in his youthful heyday ! Awesome stuff.
Wolfhouddennis from Lincoln Hills, California

Keith Moon in his prime.......2007-06-11

There is nothing more exciting than seeing Keith Moon on film, whether In "Kids are Alright" or here, where the Who steal the show from the Stones and Lennon and others with an incredible performance that captures all four of them at their peak. But particularly Moon, the greatest rock drummer of all, when he was still a beautiful maniac before his sad (and short) dissipation.

Also noteworthy for me on this video is Taj Mahal's performance. Taj had 2 albums out at this time, 1968, and was still in his 20s but sang like a Delta octagenarian. His first 2 Columbia albums are classic blues rock, and feature, like the performance here, Jesse Ed Davis on lead guitar. Jesse Ed was a native American blues-rocker who had great chops and died way too young. Also, in the spirit of this London hippie party happening, Brian Jones sits in on drums for Taj Mahal's number.

John Lennon's performance of "Yer Blues" is also phenomenal, featuring Clapton and Keith Richards on guitars and Mitch Mitchell on drums. Yoko also does a number (no comment.)

The Stones are just fine, but apparently they felt so overshadowed by some of the other performers, and it WAS their gig, that they released this on audio only until just recently. Thank you, boys, the world needed this video if only for the KEITH MOON RUSH!!!!

Great.. and greater!.......2007-06-01

All these years, I wanted to listen to it. Now I own it! The Stones were absolutely fabulous. It is so great (and sad) to see Brian Jones in his last year. If I'd only known Dirty Mac was a group composed of Lennon (Beatles), Clapton (Cream), Keith Richards (Stones) and Mitch Mitchell (Hendrix Experience) - from the top 4 groups of the time. The only disappointment was that the inspirational 'Yer Blues' was followed by 'Yer Bitch'.

Rock and Roll Circus.......2007-05-30

If you are a fan of the Stones and Beatles, you should have this. Great performances by the Stones in Particular.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Brothers in Arms - True Stories of the 101st Airborne Division

Kuhle Wampe

House of Fools (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Dark Descent