Fans of The Rolling Stones have a theory on why it took so long to release the Rock and Roll Circus performance.
Taking to a subreddit dedicated to The Rolling Stones, fan theories on the film featured and many believed the quality of one act was the reason the film never saw the light of day. Though the Rock and Roll Circus released decades later, Mick Jagger had previously voiced his dissatisfaction with the project. Other bands on the bill included Jethro Tull, The Dirty Mac featuring John Lennon, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, as well as The Who. Fans now think The Rolling Stones were “upstaged” by The Who, whose performance on the show is well remembered. But the exhausting production and the length of time it took to record led to a haggard show, which was shelved and pieced together in 1996.
A photograph of Lennon and Jagger was shared to The Rolling Stones’ subreddit, and reads: “John Lennon and Mick Jagger chat during a break in the filming of The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus for the BBC on December 11, 1968. A film conceived by Michael Lindsay-Hogg and Mick Jagger, which was never broadcast at the request of the group and was not released until 1996 on VHS.”
While fans have now had a chance to see the performance, some have argued it is more successful in showing how great The Who were than anything else. One fan suggested: “Stones upstaged by The Who.” Even guitarist Pete Townshend believes this was the case.
Pete Townshend of The Who told MOJO: “When they really get moving, there is a kind of white magic that starts to replace the black magic, and everything starts to really fly. That didn’t happen on this occasion; there’s no question about that.
“They [The Rolling Stones] weren’t just usurped by The Who, they were also usurped by Taj Mahal – who was just, as always, extraordinary. They were usurped to some extent by the event itself: the crowd by the time the Stones went on were radically festive.”
John Lennon and Mick Jagger chat during a break in the filming of "The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus" for the BBC on December 11, 1968. A film conceived by Michael Lindsay-Hogg and Mick Jagger, which was never broadcast at the request of the group and was not released until 1996 on VHS.
byu/GarbegeMan inrollingstones
Others have been kinder to The Rolling Stones’ performance, with one writing: “The Who were good but I don’t think they necessarily upstaged the Stones. Taj Mahal’s performance doesn’t get talked about enough – Jesse Ed Davis, Chuck Blackwell… all-star band. Great tele work by Davis. He was doing the horn parts on the guitar flawlessly.”
Another disagreed, adding: “The Who’s performance was not only a great live performance at the RnR Circus, it still remains one of the best 7 minutes and 35 seconds of live rock captured on film, for quality, entertainment value and energy, in any era of rock music.”
A third replied: “Yeah, they did great no doubt. I’ve always looked at that situation (The Who outdoing the Stones at this show) as odd… they’re just different bands. That song has several different parts and they were executed perfectly, which is just not something The Rolling Stones ever really aimed for. I’ve always liked how sloppy the Stones could be because they never lacked for soul if that makes sense.
“To me, the Stones sound ragged at the Rock and Roll Circus but that’s kind of their sound. They obviously have played better than this show, but comparing the Who’s performance to theirs is kind of apples vs. oranges.” Another fan has suggested The Who were the best in class that day as it was a performance which captures the band in their prime. They added: “The Who kicked everybody’s ass that day. The definitive performance of A Quick One, caught live during The Who’s prime.”
You can see The Who’s performance of A Quick One below.
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Yea that performance would have been just crazy in 1968. No wonder the stones didnt want it released.
The Stones were never at their very best- every performance.
The Who were never at their very best- every performance.
And they were on together. Why should their levels of performance match ?
The Who were coming in off the road where they sharpened their live set to a razors edge. It shows on this historic performance.
I enjoyed this very much. Brian Jones with his last performance. Sad to see his decline. The Who were there by permission of the Stones. They were present because of their brilliance. Jagger knew what he was doing.
Just think about the difference in drummers.
I always thought British rock was always more complete than American rock simply because their influences covered a greater period of time. Plus, created musical genres like progressive rock that expanded into areas unknown. Bands like King Crimson and Yes are examples of this progression.
I always preferred Charlie to Keith Moon. Subtlety and polish was key for Charlie; bombast for Keith.
The Who were flashier, but I never liked ‘A Quick One’.
No mention here of Yer Blues by the Dirty Mac (Keef, John Lennon, Mitch Mitchell, and Eric Clapton). Another great performance on that show.
It’s just a matter of personal taste. Never being a big fan of the Who, or Jethro Tull, I would choose the Stones even in their worst of performances. The highlight of the movie was the Dirty Mac Band ( even including Yoko). But as stated earlier, that is just my opinion…
Ask Mick Jagger if the Stones were near the same level as The Who on that occasion. Let me know what he says.
Putting aside matters of taste, the enthusiasm and tightness of the Who shows a band with unity, discipline, and talent. With the Stones, the band was in a different place. They were less viable as a team or unit, primarily because of Brian Jones’ decline playing out its closing scenes. He looks already dead in the Circus and contributes little to the music. Within half a year he was out of the band officially and then found dead.
Other factors might have played roles in the room temperature performance delivered by the hosts who closed the show, playing several songs, as opposed to one by each of the others.
The exception would be The Dirty Mac. They played a second number, but it hardly counts and seems to have come about as Lennon’s wish for Yoko to get in on the action. The funniest part of the Circus occurs during Yoko’s chanting / screaming bit. Jesse Ed is laughing with his bandmates. They must have been tripping, and then Yoko.
As for “Yer Blues”, by the Mac, the performance seems less great than it could have been with the line-up. But even at room temperature Lennon was, well… let me just say, “oh, yeah!”
Note: With Mick Taylor on lead guitar for the Stones in the years following, the Stones decisively showed their preeminence, in studio and on stage.
Jesse Ed Davis is one of the greatest guitar players ever. Any style he could master.
The Who was great that night but I don’t think that’s the reason the Stones didn’t release it for almost 30 years. I really liked the Stones performance but it was the end of a 15 hour production and they were all exhausted. Maybe it had something to do with Brian Jones getting the boot soon after it was filmed. The Dirty Mac and Taj Mahal were also great.
I disagree. The Stones blew everyone away with both the quality of songwriting and their performance. That applies to The Who, John Lennon and everyone else. Watch the video again.