Fans of The Rolling Stones have discussed an “ill-conceived” show which released just months before Let it Bleed hit store shelves.
The bizarre Rock and Roll Circus performance was mired with more than a few issues, including an act which appeared to overshadow The ‘Stones performance. It also marked the final public performance of Brian Jones, who left the band shortly after recording The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. Though the film was not released until twenty-five years after it was recorded, partly due to Mick Jagger being dissatisfied with the results, it marked a strange performance from the band just before the release of an album that changed their image.
Fans are now discussing the “ill-conceived” show though some have called it one of the best moments in the band’s history. Images of the performance were shared to The Rolling Stones’ subreddit, with fans sharing their memories of what remains a peculiar performance.
One wrote: “I heard it dragged on in the early morning. I can understand why they didn’t release it.” Another replied saying it was a “fifteen-hour shoot” and that setting up between acts and reloading cameras took up a bulk of the show’s time. While there may be a few who feel the show was overblown or just a little odd, some called the performance “great”.
They wrote: “Can’t believe the hate it’s getting. I first saw this when it was released in the 90s on TV. Just imagine a stoned 15-year-old me sitting watching the tv at night, can’t be arsed to get up and turn over (portable TV, no remote) and The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus comes on!! I’ve never heard of it, and all these acts, including John Lennon and Eric Clapton. I think it’s brilliant, I don’t think The Stones were outdone by The Who. Love it.”
1968 Rock and Roll Circus
byu/CriticismLazy4285 inrollingstones
Another countered, writing: “This was a very bizarre and ill-conceived show. I’m probably in the minority, but watching it once was more than enough. Maybe it was the quality of production, but not for me. It looks pretty cool in photos, though.”
A third user compared The Rolling Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus to The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour. They wrote: “I see it as sort of the Stones version of the Magical Mystery Tour film. Some great moments in it and some great music, but just slapped together by a bunch of stoned people without much beyond a concept.
“Jethro Tull, The Who, Taj Mahal, Yer Blues are all great! Parachute Woman, No Expectations, and Sympathy for the Devil are worth watching. The rest of it is pretty meh…”
Not the best show, but fascinating nonetheless. The Stones blew away the rest of the performances. This DVD is cheap and more than worth the time.