Rock Encyclopedia

‘VH1 Rock Doc: Shine A Light’ Premieres on VH1, VH1 Classic, and Palladia on Friday, November 26th at 9PM*

VH1, VH1 Classic, and Palladia are shining a light on one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, The Rolling Stones, during Thanksgiving week.  Starting, Wednesday, November 24th at 9PM*, VH1 Classic will premiere two new programs that showcase the Rolling Stones’ “Exile on Main Street” era.  The Thanksgiving week programming caps off with the world television premiere of “VH1 Rock Doc: Shine A Light,” the 2008 documentary directed by Academy-Award winner, Martin Scorsese premiering on VH1, VH1 Classic and Palladia on Friday, November 26th at 9PM*

Wednesday, November 24th:

VH1 Classic is kicking off its Rolling Stones Thanksgiving feast with the pivotal documentary “Let’s Spend the Night Together” at 9PM*. The acclaimed film directed by Hal Ashby chronicles a performance from the Stones’ 1981 tour, including the major classics from their album “Some Girls” album, including “Just My Imagination,” “Beast of Burden,” and “Some Girls.”

Thursday, November 25th

After Thanksgiving dinner settle down for the rest of your evening with VH1 Classic and Palladia with the premiere “Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones” at 9PM*. This rarely seen concert footage from the band’s 1972 North American “Exile on Main Street” tour, draws from two concerts that took place in Texas and includes hits from their album as well as standards “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Satisfaction,” “Brown Sugar,” and many more.

Topping off the evening, VH1 Classic will bring fans “In Rehearsal: The Rolling Stones at Montreux” at 10:30PM*. Hosted by VH1 Classic Rock Night radio show host, Eddie Webb, this documentary shows unique and never-before-seen rehearsal footage depicts the band preparing for their appearance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1972. The documentary also features The Rolling Stones performing “Tumbling Dice”, “Loving Cup”, “Shake Your Hips” and a 3 minute long blues jam. (more…)

Album Launch to Coincide With New Documentary ‘Stones in Exile’

Universal Music Group is pleased to announce the re-release of The Rolling Stones album Exile on Main Street with an additional 10 never-before-heard tracks. Regarded as one of the greatest albums in rock ‘n’ roll history and one of the most defining of the Stones’ catalogue, Exile will be available May 17, 2010, in the U.K. and May 18, 2010, in the US.

Upon its release more than three decades ago, Exile on Main Street innovatively wove varying musical genres, instruments and even artists into a compelling rhythmic masterpiece. This new compilation features 10 tracks originally recorded during the Exile era and only recently discovered while working on the reissue project. The unearthed tracks which include such titles as “Plundered My Soul,” “Dancing in the Light,” “Following the River” and “Pass The Wine” have undergone a unique evolution, while staying true to the essence of the 1972 album. Alternate versions of “Soul Survivor” and “Loving Cup” also are a part of the Exile bonus materials.

As a complement to the release of Exile on Main Street, a documentary, “Stones in Exile,” has just been completed for fans to view on US Network television and through BBC Worldwide internationally. The documentary features rare, never-before-seen archival film, photos and interviews as well as new conversations with the band and the artists they influence. Produced by Oscar-winning filmmaker John Battsek and directed by Stephen Kijak, who is known for award-winning work on Cinemania, and Scott Walker: 30 Century Man, “Stones in Exile” offers an uncommon glimpse into the lives of the band as they created one of the greatest albums of all time.

The original 18-track double-album was recorded in various stages at multiple locations, including Olympic Studios in London, Keith Richard’s mansion Nellcote in France, and in Los Angeles where the literal “Main Street” influenced the album title. These atypical circumstances surrounding the recording process greatly affected the album’s outcome which was highly reflective and influenced by the sociopolitical turbulence that marked the late `60s and early `70s. The Stones nixed the influences of a flower-child era and directed their creative process with the edgier, excessive, “more is more” approach of the `70s. Exile reveals a sprawling mix of genres with undertones of blues, country, R&B and gospel mixed with lyrics that fervently demand for release and liberation.

The album pulled together an electric array of talent including Dr. John, the late Billy Preston and pianist Nicky Hopkins. Guitarist Mick Taylor, who replaced Brian Jones in the band shortly before Jones died in 1969, is a magnificent blues player who brought an intensity and elegance to these epic tracks. At times, these musicians and others lived on the recording studio premises with the band creating an extremely open and creative collaboration for the album.

“The album’s riveting portrait of artists pushed – by the times, by themselves – to the very limits of their creativity has provided inspiration to every musical generation that has come along since Exile was released in 1972,” said author Anthony DeCurtis. “Every song on Exile on Main Street is elevated by its relationship to the music that comes before and after it. The album’s irresistible power is unlikely to diminish any time soon.”

Exile on Main Street will be available in two CD formats: the original 18 track release; a deluxe CD edition with the 10 special bonus tracks; and a super deluxe package that also includes vinyl, a 30-minute documentary DVD with footage from Cocksucker Blues, Ladies and Gentlemen… the Rolling Stones and Stones in Exile, and a 50-page collector’s book with photos from the Exile era. The 10 unreleased tracks were produced by Jimmy Miller, The Glimmer Twins and Don Was.

Source: Universal Music Enterprises

RELEASE CELEBRATES THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STEEL WHEELS TOUR

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Rolling Stones Steel Wheels tour, Universal Music Group and S2BN Entertainment announce the digitally re-mastered release of Rolling Stones Live at the Max on DVD and Blu-ray tomorrow, November 10, 2009. Live at the Max was the first feature-length IMAX concert film to be shot and, to this day, it holds the record as the most successful IMAX concert film of all time.

Offering every fan the best seat in the house, Live at the Max features 90 minutes of classic Rolling Stones footage shot during the European leg of their Steel Wheels tour in London, Berlin and Turin, and showcases 16 songs including classic favorites such as “Start Me Up,” “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll,” and “Honky Tonk Woman.” The digitally remastered release of Live at the Max will be launched alongside the reissue of five Rolling Stones live albums: Love You Live, Still Life, Flashpoint, the much-loved Stripped and Live Licks.

Live at the Max is available online at Amazon and at local retail outlets worldwide.

The Rolling Stones are renowned for their dynamic live shows, DVDs and films which include Four Flicks, a four-disc DVD set that was certified 19-times platinum and is the number one selling concert (long form) DVD in U.S. history, as well as the Martin Scorsese directed 2008 blockbuster documentary Shine a Light.

Live at the Max delivers unparalleled visual and audio quality for a viewing experience that is superior to any other live concert video.

The Rolling Stones: Live at the Max
1. Continental Drift
2. Start Me Up
3. Sad Sad Sad
4. Tumbling Dice
5. Ruby Tuesday
6. Rock And A Hard Place
7. Honky Tonk Woman
8. You Can’t Always Get What You Want
9. Happy
10. Paint It Black
11. 2,00 Light Years From Home
12. Sympathy For The Devil
13. Street Fighting Man
14. It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll
15. Brown Sugar
16. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

DVD TECHNICAL INFORMATION
– Picture: 4×3 (This keeps the IMAX image true to form)
– Audio: Uncompressed PCM Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Blu-ray TECHNICAL INFORMATION
– Picture: 1080p High Definition 16×9 Widescreen
– Audio: Uncompressed PCM Stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
– Blu-ray discs will only play in Blu-ray compatible players
– Blu-ray Discs are Sony Playstation® 3 Compatible

Source: Universal Music Enterprises