Stones on Top

The Rolling Stones' Rock and Roll Circus was a project designed for some of the finest rock and roll groups of the late sixties to strut their stuff. It was set up like a circus, complete with acrobats and animals. In between circus acts, bands like the Who, Jethro Tull, the Dirty Macs (John Lennon with Keith Richards, Yoko Ono, Eric Clapton, and Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience), and the Rolling Stones performed. Mick Jagger acted as the ringmaster.

After filming and editing, however, the project was mysteriously shelved until 1996. Rumor has it that the Stones were disappointed by their performance, and that they were embarrassed at being upstaged by an explosive performance by the Who. Whatever the real reason, the movie did not see the light of day for almost thirty years. Interestingly enough, this also marked Brian Jones's last public appearance with the band.