While the Rolling Stones were at their “elegantly wasted” best during the 1972 appearances, they were more controlled than during the 1969 set of concerts. During that tour, the band was feral, slashing through shows, some brilliant, some utter trash. Bootleg live recordings from the period bear this out. On any given night, the Stones could create the most primal and essential music and the next night they would play like a sloppy drunk garage band standing in their own vomit. Between tours, the band perfected its hedonism.
By 1972, much was the same, but much had changed. The band ran a bit tighter ship. The true star of the shows was the Exile material. “Rocks Off,” “Happy,” “Down the Line,” “Tumblin’ Dice,” and “Sweet Virginia” were all performed live to great acclaim. Exile on Main Street was released amid what could only be considered a futuristic promotional process. The Stones were tax exiles in the South of France where, at the Villa Nellcote rented by Keith Richards, the band created perhaps the masterpiece of rock music, all in spite of themselves. It was not view so at the time, but then again time provides the hindsight to consider such things.
Greenfield’s account is close to the source while not being in the middle of it, effected by his copious use of interviews and primary source materials. The author has been taken to task by critics for having relied on too many secondary and tertiary sources. While this is true, perhaps it is best as those summer months in 1972 were spent in a warm heroin haze that has taken on a faded color photograph tone over the past 35 years. In a myth, the circumstances need not have happened to nevertheless be true.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!
2 - Furron
It's time for the USA to grow up and realize rock and roll and pop culture in general are just busy work the power elite feed us to keep us happily occupied and out their way.