It goes without saying that the Rolling Stones have pumped out a boatload of live releases on CD, DVD and Blu-ray Disc over the past few years. Certain purists would argue the band hasn’t issued a decent live album since the classic Get Yer Ya- Ya’s Out or maybe Love You Live, but then they would be ruling out gems from the archives like Brussels Affair (Live 1973), L.A. Friday (Live 1975) and El Mocambo 1977. Live sets from more recent shows like Sticky Fingers Live At Fonda Theatre, and A Bigger Bang – Live On Copacabana Beach offer unique perspectives, typically around an album, location or event. The Stones’ 2023 GRRR LIVE! follows this pattern by featuring several special guests.
Available across various formats — digitally in Atmos, triple black, red, or white vinyl, double CD packages with a DVD or Blu-ray Disc — GRRR LIVE! captures the Stones’ concert on December 15, 2012, at Newark, New Jersey’s Prudential Center during the band’s 50th anniversary tour. The night marked the final of four shows in the New York area, so the Stones decided to make it a party by inviting by Lady Gaga, The Black Keys, Gary Clark Jr, John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen and their former guitarist Mick Taylor to the stage for a few numbers.
The practice of having guests at shows has been something the Stones have done regularly since the 70s. Typically, they bring out flavors of the day, along with the occasional contemporary or personal hero. In the case of the 50th anniversary GRRR tour, Mick Taylor played a song or two at just about every stop, while original bassist Bill Wyman joined the band for a couple songs in London. Other guests dropped in, depending on location and scheduling.
In New Jersey, the band make no bones about delivering essential stuff like “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It),” “Honky Tonk Women” and “Start Me Up.” With an expanded lineup of support players, the Stones have been a smooth-running machine for over 30 years, its only major disruption losing original drummer Charlie Watts in 2021. For the 50th anniversary GRRR greatest hits album and tour, the addition of “Doom And Gloom” and “Oner More Shot,” a couple of new hip-shakers, only enhanced the festivities. All of this, plus the guests made for one fun-filled evening in New Jersey.
Lady Gaga came up first for “Gimme Shelter.” Wearing a skin-tight jumpsuit and what appeared to be extra tall high heels, the singer came on strong with her brand of over-the-top prancing about, doing her best to outshine Mick Jagger. The ultra-cool Stones’ frontman had no problem maneuvering — you almost feel his anxiety though he never loses stride. He even lets the wind-down go on longer than it should.
Things go down a lot more organically with Gary Clark Jr and John Mayer on “Going Down.” Both guitarists provide fiery solos, especially Mayer, which usually lights a fire in the Stones’ engine room. The Black Keys, at their pinnacle at the time with their El Camino album, take the prize for looking the most uncomfortable and awkward for a round of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?” To their credit, playing on stage with the world’s greatest rock and roll band must be a daunting endeavor. In contrast, Bruce Springsteen, whose own legacy comes closest to the Stones, had no reservations about belting out “Tumbling Dice,” though no one could ever do that song justice as well as Linda Ronstadt.
That leaves the most anticipated point — at least for hardcore Stones fanatics — of the show: the reunion with Mick Taylor. Though it might have been preferable to see Taylor churn out the jazzy solo on “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” as he did at other stops on the tour, New Jersey was treated instead to a chunky “Midnight Rambler.” The guitarist stepped it up with a few licks here and there, but mostly towed the line with Ron Wood and Keith Richards. Hey, you can’t always get what you want.
Speaking of which, in a rare attempt to replicate the actual recording, the band offered up a unique version of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” with the Choir of Trinity Wall Street. This, along with a double-punch of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” to end the show on a high note.
Since its original airing in 2012, this show has not been released in any form. With the video re-edited and the audio remixed, plus three songs (“Respectable” with John Mayer, “Around And Around,” and “Gimme Shelter” sans Gaga) from the December 13 show (also in Newark) as bonus features on the DVD and Blu-ray, GRRR LIVE! is one to add to the library, especially if it’s full of the dozens of other live sets released by the Rolling Stones.
~ Shawn Perry
