The original rock n roll circus, the Stones in 1968, I’ve seen that. The CD and the DVD was released (not rereleased -before there was only odds and sods) a coupla years ago. I watched it. Listened to it. And despite the honor of seeing Brian Jones in the flesh, and the watching Lennon and Clapton on the same stage, and the Who performing A Quick One, wasn’t all that.
The Stones shelved it for financial reasons but a viewing discovers another problem: that quirky, campy, being for the benefit of Mr. Kite drug induced whimsy was a drag.
It is hard to remember today, but one of the things punk brushed away.
Monday and Tuesdays whimsical wonderland of rock and roll circus got booted in the face by hardcore but even if it hadn’t, it would have been a major irritant. I admit I am as far away from target audience as rock n roll can find, but I can’t express to you how irritating the mimes were. How tedious the hula hoopers, how asinine the entire experience and, just, what a crap idea it was.
It did what it said it would on Tuesday, and replacing OK Go with Ariel Pink was pretty hot, but it was distracting.
Should they do it again? Sure. Should I go… maybe not.