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The Rolling Stones at the NME Poll Winners Concert 1968
On May 12 1968 the Stones were part of the NME Poll Winners Concert at the Empire Pool, in Wembley, England Compered by Jimmy Saville, other performers included in the bill were Dusty Springfield, Status Quo, Don Partridge, Amen Corner, The Move, The Herd, Bee Gees, Love Affair, The Association, Lulu, Scott Walker, and Cliff Richard & The Shadows.
A Busy 1968 Week for The Rolling Stones: From Studio Work to the NME Stage
It was May 12 1968 and the Stones were ready to appear at the at the Empire Pool in Wembley, London, as part of that years’s edition of the New Musical Express Poll Winners’ concert. It had been a pretty busy week for the group. Not having gone on the road that year (their last show at the time was the final concert of the European tour in 1967 in Athens, Greece) and instead having dedicated themselves to recording their future studio album Beggars Banquet, to be released in December, the day before their appearance at the festival they filmed a stubborn version of the promotional video for Jumpin’ Jack Flashat the Olympic Studios in London under the orders of director Michael Lindsay-Hogg (similar to the second one, the one who appeared with their painted faces)
The Stones Return Live with a Short but Historic Set
The Stones had been keeping a very low profile all though the first few months of 1968, so what better chance to promote themselves again than playing in front of a live audience in one of the most popular music festival in their homeland? After all they had already appeared there in the previous three years (on April 26 1964, April 11 1965 and on May 1 1966) Not much to do onstage anyway. Their set for the NME 1968 awards consisted of only two songs: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction and the live debut of their future new single Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
An Award, a Farewell, and 35 Seconds of History
Besides their short set, after introducing them, actor Roger Moore presented them with a NME award for British R & B Group. Sadly, it was also to be the last public concert of Brian Jones, who died the following year. Although no audio from the show ever showed up (and why at all?), after about 45 years a silent colour film featuring only 35 seconds of their appearance on stage (probably from the TV show Time For Blackbum, from Southern TV channel) was released on YouTube (see below)
Mick Jagger, after the show: “It was just like the old times. In fact, it was better than the old times. One of the best receptions we have ever had. We were all delighted”
From the Daily Mirror, May 13 1968: “The Stones came rolling back into the limelight and thousands of teenage fans screamed a welcome. For a moment the 10,000 fans were silent in amazement. Then they went wild as the group started to play. Some leapt on their seats, screaming. Others showered the group with tulips. At one point, Mick threw his shoes into the audience during a frantic dance”.
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