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Rolling Stones on video: NME concert 1968
Snippets of the Stones playing Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Satisfaction at the NME Pollwinners Concert, Empire Pool, Wembley, England, May 12 1968 (silent footage)
The NME Poll Winners Concert was one of the biggest annual music events in the UK during the 1960s, showcasing the most popular artists of the time. By 1968, The Rolling Stones were already established as rock royalty, but their performance at that year’s event marked a bittersweet moment—it would be Brian Jones’ last appearance at the prestigious show.
Held at the Royal Albert Hall on May 12, 1968, the concert featured some of the biggest names in music. However, unlike previous years, this edition was not televised, and no official footage of the Stones’ performance exists. The band played a short but powerful set, which included Jumpin’ Jack Flash, their soon-to-be-released single, showcasing their shift towards a grittier, more aggressive sound. This was a significant departure from their earlier blues and R&B influences, reflecting the band’s evolution.
Brian Jones, once the driving creative force behind the band, was already showing signs of detachment. By 1968, his role within the Stones had diminished due to personal struggles and a growing lack of interest in their musical direction. At the NME Poll Winners Concert, his presence was more symbolic than impactful, as Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts carried most of the performance.
This concert was Brian’s final real onstage appearance with the Stones before his departure in mid-1969. Though his contributions had lessened, his legacy as a founding member remained undeniable. The NME Poll Winners Concert of 1968 stands as an historic moment in the band’s history—both as a glimpse into their future and as one of the last times Brian Jones would stand on stage with them.
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