A live performance by legendary rock group The Rolling Stones is still dividing fans decades on from its broadcast.
The Mick Jagger-fronted group would feature on Ready Steady Go!, a short-lived rock and pop music programme. Every Friday from August 9, 1963 to December 23, 1966, the show would broadcast some of the biggest and best names to people all across the country. One such band were The Rolling Stones, who performed their at-the-time latest hit, Paint it, Black. An upload of the performance to YouTube has since split fans, with some believing the group were lip-syncing during their performance on the show. While miming would become common practice for the likes of Top of the Pops, some were concerned the group were not playing their own instruments, and that Jagger was not actually singing.
Other viewers believe the group were, in fact, singing. They suggested Jagger actually sounded so good he was at a studio recording-level quality during his Ready Steady Go! appearance. One listener wrote: “Sounds like studio version.” Another replied: “Yes, it’s not a live show here.”
But others disagreed and suggested paying closer attention to Jagger’s performance. Though it may sound identical, some suggested Jagger was actually singing live along with the band, who are believed to have been playing live too. One person wrote: “Mick is singing live, listen to it carefully.”
Another user has conceded Jagger may be singing live, but believed other members of the group were just miming and playing along to a track instead. A detractor commented: “You’re right, Mick is live, very close to the original. I was asking for the other members.”
Even then, some believe Jagger and the band are miming in their performance. One person wrote: “Sorry, it’s not ‘LIVE’ as stated in the title. They are miming to the studio recording.” Another listener agreed, adding: “Good catch. Most people assume they are actually playing live. Instrumental is the studio version, maybe vocals too.”
Not everyone believes Jagger and the band were miming, with many at least conceding that Jagger could be performing live on the show. One fan suggested: “Vocals are definitely live.” Another added: “​Right, they used to record instruments before and let Mick singing live in that period.”
You can listen for yourself below, with the instrumentals certainly sounding identical to the studio version. Jagger, however, sounds a little more rugged than the vocals heard on the band’s studio release. It’s a credit to his voice that the versions sound so similar, but this is definitely, at the very least, a live vocal performance.
Those who picked up on the live vocals have since praised Jagger. One wrote: “The power with which Mick performs here is incredible. He’s all energy and character.”
