Click on the headline to link to a Wikipedia entry for The Rolling Stones 2005 A Bigger Bang Tour.
DVD Review
Shine A Light, The Rolling Stones and various musicians, directed by Martin Scorsese , 2008
Just when you thought it was safe to move on from the various Rolling Stone reviews in this space here comes another one, this time though through the directorial efforts of Martin Scorsese and the filming of the Stones 2005 international “Bigger Bang” concert tour (and I believe, as of today, their last one). Needless to say the day is long past when anyone, at least anyone that I know, will dispute the title of “the world’s greatest rock band” that has been attached to this group. In the old days an argument could be made, and rightfully so, that Jim Morrison and the Doors on their good nights secured that title but that was then. Moreover, off a viewing of this production it is easy to see why the Stones carry that undisputed title, without hype, even today.
Director Scorsese has made a very good decision to go light on the filler (early Stones interviews, press conferences, etc.) and the technical aspects of putting on such a tour (and the compounded problem of filming it). The center of the documentary is the Stones’ concert from Chicago (a Bill Clinton charity benefit concert) complete with all the classics, Sympathy For The Devil, Satisfaction, Brown Sugar, Girl With The Faraway Eyes, etc. Clearly these sixty-something guys still can rock and one best keep that AARP membership offer at arms length. But, to finish, here is the “skinny”, one must always remember that the Stones started, heart and soul, as a white blues cover band (Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and so on) and so the scene that steals this production is when old Chicago bluesman, Buddy Guy, comes on to fire up Champagne and Reefer. Wow! That was worth the price of admission all by itself.
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