Forget the TV shows where they used backing tracks (Ready Steady Go, Ed Sullivan Show, Top Of The Pops, etc), but what instruments did Brian play during concerts? Obviously guitar, harmonica & organ, but did he ever play sitar / dulcimer / marimbas / piano (etc) on stage?

And do we have photographic evidence?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-08-20 23:35 by Sleepy City.

the may 5th 1966 RSG show wasn't playback, and he's got a sitar in the shots from that.
but if you're really insisting on non-television performances ... the Stonesvikings have some shots posted
where he's playing keyboards - for example Stockholm 1966: [www.stonesvikings.com]

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with sssoul
the may 5th 1966 RSG show wasn't playback..

Are you certain about that?

Yes, he played all of them on live performances...no one even thought about adding tapes to live shows back then. Way too complicated...pun intended. Time to put on After-Math.

JR

I think it's generally believed that RSG used live performances after some point in '65.

>> Are you certain about that? <<

according to nzentgraf.de, the title of that show was "RSG Live", recorded at Wembley.
there are some mistakes on any website, of course, but nzentgraf.de does normally note when playback was used.

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with sssoul
>> Are you certain about that? <<

according to nzentgraf.de, the title of that show was "RSG Live", recorded at Wembley.
there are some mistakes on any website, of course, but nzentgraf.de does normally note when playback was used.

Yes, I just checked on there too (& I agree it's normally very accurate). But I still think it sounds like playback (with live vocals) to me...

>> I think it's generally believed that RSG used live performances after some point in '65. <<

thanks, texas fan - it's interesting sorting out which TV appearances were done with playback and which were full-fledged performances.
the Ed Sullivan shows were of course playback + vocals from the second 1966 show onward,
while in the UK the earlier shows were playback, and later it varied a lot.

nzentgraf.de also indicates that the february 1967 Eamonn Andrews appearance was a full-fledged performance -
is that right? Brian's playing piano in photos from that.

but back to concerts ... His Majesty's posted some fine shots from the 1967 tour
and i'm pretty sure i recall that Brian's on keyboards and/or recorder in some of those.
i hope HM will look in to confirm or correct that!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-08-21 01:21 by with sssoul.

Recorder on Ruby Tuesday on the 67 Europe Tour?

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Sleepy City

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with sssoul
>> Are you certain about that? <<

according to nzentgraf.de, the title of that show was "RSG Live", recorded at Wembley.
there are some mistakes on any website, of course, but nzentgraf.de does normally note when playback was used.

Yes, I just checked on there too (& I agree it's normally very accurate). But I still think it sounds like playback (with live vocals) to me...

I've just watched a bit of this, & not only are there no microphones near the acoustic instruments, but Bill's bass isn't plugged in during the first song (& look carefully at the beginning of 'Under My Thumb', someone can be seen plugging a lead into Bill's bass, though the notes can be heard before the lead is even connected!).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-08-21 00:43 by Sleepy City.

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with sssoul
nzentgraf.de also indicates that the february 1967 Eamonn Andrews appearance was a full-fledged performance -
is that right? Brian's playing piano in photos from that.

I think this is correct. Apparantly they wanted the RS to play 'Let's Spend The Night Together' on the show, but when they were told that they had to perform fully live they chose 'She Smiled Sweetly' instead.

>> But I still think [the may 5th 1966 RSG show] sounds like playback (with live vocals) to me... <<

yeah, you're right - i need to dust off my RSG dvd, don't i.
that's the one where I Am Waiting starts with the camera on Keith singing sort of half-heartedly, right?
as if he's waiting for some Mick to come out of somewhere :E



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-08-21 00:49 by with sssoul.

then there are the shows with "prepared backing track" and live vocals, like the '67 Palladium show

but yeah, you can clearly hear the recorder on Ruby Tuesday on the '67 (non-TV) concerts -- like Paris..

And electric dulcimer on Lady Jane.

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Sleepy City
Apparantly they wanted the RS to play 'Let's Spend The Night Together' on [Eamonn Andrews] show, but when they were told that they had to perform fully live they chose 'She Smiled Sweetly' instead.

why? what were they afraid they couldn't reproduce--the piano?

Brian was at his most versatile onstage during the 1967 European tour.

Guitar, electric dulcimer, harmonica, recorder and organ. The only other additions to these instruments were the occasions where he played percussion onstage throughout 63 - 65.

I don't believe he ever played mellotron, sitar or any other instrument live onstage at a rolling stones concert.

Have a look in here for photos of him playing these instruments:

[www.iorr.org]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-08-21 05:51 by His Majesty.

I believe Brian played the kazoo in open g on "Little Red Rooster" at the San Bernadino blues festival in '64, but I am struggling with confirming at this point.

Vox keyboard at the Sports Arena in Boss Angeles, Dec 5th 1965 and also the dulcimer on "Lady Jane" at the Hollywood Bowl in 1966. Those were the only times that I saw the Stones with Brian.

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Sleepy City
Apparantly they wanted the RS to play 'Let's Spend The Night Together' on [Eamonn Andrews] show, but when they were told that they had to perform fully live they chose 'She Smiled Sweetly' instead.

why? what were they afraid they couldn't reproduce--the piano?

I've no idea.

Incidentally I don't think Brian played sitar live, is this correct?

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Sleepy City

Incidentally I don't think Brian played sitar live, is this correct?

Yes, although patti smith has memories of a concert where she saw the stones and Brian was supposedly sitting upfront playing an electric sitar, only problem is she says it was in 1964. She's probably getting her tv shows and concerts mixed up.

Anyway, I've seen no pics or anything that supports the claim that Brian played sitar live, yes he mimed for PIB tv appearances, but no sign of any live use that I am aware of.

>> She's probably getting her tv shows and concerts mixed up. <<

maybe she was confusing one of Brian's odd-shaped guitars with an electric sitar.

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with sssoul
>> She's probably getting her tv shows and concerts mixed up. <<

maybe she was confusing one of Brian's odd-shaped guitars with an electric sitar.

Ah yeah, that could be it, the Vox teardrop or phantom.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-08-21 11:53 by His Majesty.

Any recorded evidence of him playing the riff to Popeye The Sailor Man during numbers? Which song(s) did he play it on?

Paris 1966........



ROCKMAN

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Sleepy City

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Sleepy City
Apparantly they wanted the RS to play 'Let's Spend The Night Together' on [Eamonn Andrews] show, but when they were told that they had to perform fully live they chose 'She Smiled Sweetly' instead.

why? what were they afraid they couldn't reproduce--the piano?

I've no idea.

ok, well, there's a chain of reasoning by the band implied by how you explain the change of tune... but we'll have to speculate on what it was.

Brian was a multi-instrumentalist.

Any opinions on what was his best instrument?

Which instrument was he most proficient at playing?

Is that live version of She Smiled Sweetly from RSG available anywhere?

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1cdog
Brian was a multi-instrumentalist.

Any opinions on what was his best instrument?

Which instrument was he most proficient at playing?

Of all the instruments he played I'd say he was best at harmonica, I love Brian's harmonica playing! He reached a far more technical level on harmonica compared to how he played guitar etc.

>> Is that live version of She Smiled Sweetly from RSG available anywhere? <<

the She Smiled Sweetly being discussed is from the Eamonn Andrews show, not RSG,
and i've never heard of it being in circulation.

>> Any opinions on what was his best instrument? <<

his slide playing does it for me. i belive HM about the "technical superiority" of his harp playing,
but i can't help it: i just resonate more to guitar.