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The Rolling Stones film the Waiting On A Friend video, the St. Mark’s Bar and Grill, and more
Modern music videos are often sterile, over-processed vanity projects, but Waiting On A Friend captures a different frequency entirely. The Rolling Stones didn’t need a high-budget concept or green screens in 1981; they just needed a Greenwich Village street corner and the sticky-floored charm of the St. Mark’s Bar & Grill. While the rest of the world was busy trying to figure out how to package rock for MTV, the band was simply hanging out, turning a casual afternoon of cheap drinks and impromptu jamming into a definitive piece of New York City folklore. Sometimes, the best art is just showing up.
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
July 2, 1981: The Stones shoot a promo video for Waiting on a Friendin the streets of Greenwich Village and also at the St. Marks Bar, same area in New York City, just around the corner (where they also do a little jam playing a few old blues numbers)
The indoor scenes for the promo video of Waiting on a Friend were filmed at the afore mentioned bar located at the corner of St. Mark’s Place and First Avenue in the Village. This iconic setting provided the perfect backdrop for the video, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, known for his work on the Stones’ 1968 TV special The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus and the Beatles’ Let It Befilm, among other notable projects.
A Lost Landmark in Rock History
At the time the bar featured a modest painting of the Stones on its back wall, adding a unique charm to the location. Sadly, the establishment, along with its tribute to the band, has since disappeared, leaving only memories of its connection to rock history. The choice of this intimate and atmospheric venue added a touch of authenticity to the video, aligning with the song’s reflective and mellow tone.
While the bar may no longer exist, its role in this memorable video remains a significant part of the Stones’ legacy, capturing a moment in time when the streets of New York City served as both inspiration and stage for one of rock and roll’s most iconic bands.
When The Rolling Stones Took St. Mark’s Place
Shot on July 2 1981, the video became very popular on MTV. Matching the song’s lyrics, Jagger is seen waiting for Keith in the doorway of an apartment block. The building, at 96–98 St. Mark’s Place in Manhattan is notable for having also appeared on the cover of Led Zeppelin’s 1975 album Physical Graffiti. The two then walk down the street and enter the St. Mark’s Bar & Grill where the other three band members are already drinking. Of course Ronnie appears in the video, although he was not a musician on the original recording. Mick sings the song to Keith, and the video concludes with the band setting up for a gig at the back of the bar, largely ignored by the other patrons.
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