Rolling Stones share video of first-ever live performance of 'Sympathy for the Devil'

The first-ever live performance of 'Sympathy for the Devil' has been released from the archives. 'Sympathy for the Devil' is part of The Rolling Stones' 1996 concert film Rock and Roll Circus that documents the band’s last performance with the 1968 lineup. It features the late Brian Jones and a cameo from John Lennon.

The band had dropped Beggars Banquet six days before the performance and can be seen gripping a high off that post-album euphoria.

The Rolling Stones' feed off each others' energy - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Ian Stewart, and then bandleader Brian Jones.

Rock and Roll Circus, initially a promotional vehicle for Beggars Banquet, was filmed in December 1968. It was then stored away until 1996.

Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg remembers filming the performance at 5:30 a.m. that day. He cut audience members out of shots whenever possible to create the illusion of there being no audience. “It was an incredible shoot, I think, 36 hours or something,” said Keith Richards in a statement. “I remember not remembering everything towards the end… but it was fun… we went through two audiences… wore one out… it was great!”

“The camera was right there in front of him to use as he wanted. It wasn’t observing him from a distance; it was two feet away from him and he and the cameras were molded to each other almost because he used it so wonderfully.”