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The Rolling Stones live in New York City 1969
November 27, 1969: Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY, USA (first Stones’ shows at the MSG ever) Jumpin’ Jack Flash/Carol/Sympathy For The Devil/Stray Cat Blues/Love In Vain/Prodigal Son/You Gotta Move/Under My Thumb-I’m Free/Midnight Rambler/Live With Me/Little Queenie/Satisfaction/Honky Tonk Women/ Street Fighting Man
It’s wild to think that what became one of the Stones’ most celebrated live releases almost didn’t turn out the way the band imagined. Glyn Johns had recorded the shows in Baltimore and at Madison Square Garden, and the original idea was ambitious: a double album that not only showcased the Stones but also featured their tour companions BB King and Ike & Tina Turner. Mick loved the concept, seeing it as a way to highlight the powerhouse talent surrounding them. But Decca Records completely missed the point, dismissing the guests with a clueless “Who is BB King? Who are these people?” The label’s resistance frustrated Mick so much that he scrapped the plan altogether. It wasn’t until the 40th-anniversary edition that fans finally heard those long-lost tracks, restoring the vibe the band had originally wanted.
Hendrix hangs out
All this label drama unfolded around a night already charged with rock-star energy. Before the Stones even stepped onstage, Jimi Hendrix casually wandered backstage, celebrating his 27th birthday. He chatted with the band and later tucked himself behind Keith Richards’ speaker stack, getting a rare up-close view of the show—practically vibrating with sound. The Maysles brothers were filming for what would become Gimme Shelter, capturing the atmosphere without knowing how iconic the footage would become. And after the final notes rang out and the cameras stopped rolling, Mick still had enough energy to head to Hendrix’s birthday party, closing out a night that blended music, film, and friendship in the most effortless rock ’n’ roll way possible.
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