DVD/CD REVIEW: THE ROLLING STONES From The Vault – The Marquee, Live in 1971

Shane | 30 June 2015 | Reply

DVD/CD REVIEW: THE ROLLING STONES From The Vault – The Marquee, Live in 1971
Shock Entertainment
26 June, 2015
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
9/10

A Stones gig doesn’t get rawer than this 1971 set from London’s iconic Marquee Club. Predating punk by years, this edition of the bands From The Vault historical release program is rough and ready – possibly the reason it was shelved at the time.

‘Punk?’ I hear you exclaim. Yep. There they are: Jagger in his ridiculous frontman outfit. A full arena band on a tiny stage, amps distorting left and right, the band louche and surly, pandering not one iota to commercial concerns, just focussed on their rock n’ roll. They positively exude punk attitude.

Of particular note is the relationship between the guitarists: so different from the ‘art of weaving’ Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood have perfected, here Richards shares the limelight equally with Mick Taylor, but it’s the shy Taylor’s beautifully crafted blues licks that impress the most on the solos, while a rugged and unshaven Keef keeps the riffs strong.

At the height of their rock n’ roll pirate era, they swig from bottles of liquor and run through only eight tracks, the best being a punchy Midnight Rambler, a raunchy Bitch and dynamic closer Brown Sugar – but The Stones only need eight songs to make that much of an impression.

Obviously filmed for TV in front of a very polite and subdued audience, the DVD extras present alternative takes of a few of the tracks, as well as the band performing Brown Sugar on Top Of The Pops.