The Rolling Stones Live Performances: Watch Iconic Concerts & Tracks (1964-1997)

The 1973 performance of "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" serves again to illustrate the live mastery of the Stones. The funky groove of the track, right in step with the urgency of the lyrics, gets new life in the aggressive, yet tight delivery of the band. Jagger is urgent in his delivery, his voice strained with emotion; Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman provide a rock-solid rhythm section that propels the song. That electric tension between Mick Taylor's searing guitar lines and Richards' steady rhythm guitar heightens the visceral impact of the song.

"Midnight Rambler" from the 1971 Marquee Club show is one of the Stones' most compelling live cuts. Here, blues influences lead the way; a haunting Jagger harmonica in the opening, coupled with anguished vocals, sets a dark, brooding tone. Improvisational in nature, the performance allows the full emotional depth of the song to stretch out, as the instrumental solos—most of all, Taylor's extended work on guitar—take center stage in a cathartic release. The 1971 performance of "Honky Tonk Women" from the Roundhouse exemplifies their ability to craft a perfect rock 'n' roll spectacle in which playful swagger mingles with gritty, gospel-infused rhythm that brings the crowd to roars.

Maybe one of the most captivating moments on the collection is "You Can't Always Get What You Want" from the Havana Moon performance of 2015. With its lush orchestral arrangement and soulful backing vocals, this becomes a highly cathartic live version—an anthem for the band and audience alike. The catharsis of the chorus, with the band playing vigorously, finally makes this perhaps overly familiar hit transcend to a completely other level of perception. It speaks volumes, with its gospel-tinged harmonies, about the timeless emotional weight of the Stones' music: even decades after their first hits, a live Stones show promises a new set of unforgettable experiences.

The early years of The Rolling Stones, especially those with founding member Brian Jones, had been the foundation to the unmistakable sound of the band. With an array of instruments at his command, Jones played a major part in shaping the early music of the Stones through his rich-textured contributions to their songs. His playing of slide guitar on tracks like "Paint It Black" and sitar became iconic: infusing exotic and bluesy layers that gave this band a distinction from other rock groups in those times. His presence is particularly felt in live performances like "Factory Girl" (Live 2009 Remastered), where, although more subdued, he is an integral part of the early chemistry of the band. His exit in 1969 was a dramatic shift, but his influence upon the band's blues-infused sound remained throughout their career.

Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman were the rhythm section bedrock that The Rolling Stones anchored onto. Watts's steady, unflashy drumming set the erratic performances level. His deep pocket and immaculate timing gave license for Mick Jagger to stretch out vocally and Keith Richards to take liberties with his playing, secure in the knowledge that Watts was there to keep it all anchored. Wyman, with his laid-back yet precise basslines, complemented Watts perfectly, grounding the songs even during their wildest live moments. There are numerous live performances where this is exemplified, such as the 1971 "Jumpin' Jack Flash" at the University of Leeds, where this rhythm section is so tight that the music is almost like one living, breathing organism. Watts and Wyman together helped make each show an unforgettable groove.

Another significant change that took place in the lineup of the Stones was when Mick Taylor joined them in 1969; he brought a completely different dimension to their live performances. With Jones gone, virtuosic guitarist Taylor took over, and his effect becomes especially evident on live versions of songs like "Midnight Rambler" at the Marquee Club in 1971. Liquid, eloquent guitar added musicality that dressed up the band's early '70s sound. Taylor's complex solos—most notably, on tracks like "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" Live 2009—took the music of the Stones into new dimensions, fusing blues, rock, and even shades of jazz. He was the perfect foil to Richards' rhythm playing, as the combination of his blistering yet nuanced solos with Richards' created a mesmerizing dual guitar attack that became the hallmark of the band's best live performances.

Through all of these changes, the live shows of the Rolling Stones remained continually electric—powered by chemistry between Jagger, Richards, Watts, Wyman, and Taylor. Each had something special to bring, and they formed as a band whose raw energy and mastery of the music would prove to stand the test of time. Be it the bluesy depth of early songs with Jones, the rock-solid rhythm of Watts-Wyman, or the incendiary guitar interplay of Richards and Taylor, the live performances from this era of the Rolling Stones serve as testament to the enduring power of their collaboration. The ability of the band to capture the essence of rock 'n' roll while moving with the tide of every lineup change has turned these live shows into real legend.

All in all, live performances make The Rolling Stones the real deal: unpredictable, raw, and ever-entertaining. The stuff of "Gimme Shelter," bluesy and heavy, segues into the funky grooves of "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo." On each track, the band seems to imbue classic rock with an irrepressible, almost animal-like vitality. All these years later, the Stones go on to encapsulate rock 'n' roll with every electrifying live show—a moment in musical history waiting to be written.