The Rolling Stones "Sympathy For The Devil" REACTION Video | react to Rolling Stones live 60s rock

This is not the only Stones song with upbeat and dark lyrics, "Paint It Black" comes to mind. A song you should definitely react to

This video is from The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. Great concert with a lot of good talent. Definitely worth checking out the full concert.

Took me a moment to notice this clip is 55 years old. Lyrics and all! This clip comes from The Electric Circus 1968, which was supposed to be a big Rolling Stones TV special. They made the mistake of inviting other bands so the Stones could be 'kings' at the end, but the Who ruined that plan by blowing them off the stage. (See the Who's clip, "A Quick One While He's Away", from this same event! Iconic.) So it sat in a vault instead for 30 years until getting released in the mid-90s. Great reaction, ladies, nice to see you back in action. - Glenn

I'm 49 years old, I've known this song literally all my life, the Stones was one of the first bands I got into. I've heard the song thousands of times, and have watched many reaction videos for it. This is the first time I've heard anyone suggest the song could be from the perspective of God. And he never says he's the devil or Lucifer. The line is "as heads is tails, just call me Lucifer."

probably Keith's most iconic solo, both for the studio and all the live versions

Mick wrote this song after reading the Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. A Russian novel about the devil visiting post-revolution Russia. The Stones didn't release this film of the song for decades because they thought their performance was lacking as they hadn't toured in many years and The Who's performance at the Rock and Roll Circus was so sharp.

It's music and a history lesson.

I have always loved the insanity of this performance 😂 Parents must have been terrified. Pete Townsend of the Who was in there too.

One of the Stones finest, and how cool was it to see John Lennon and Yoko freaking out in the audience too! Of course John and Jagger were good friends at the time. There was no 'rivalry' between both bands, it was all media generated because it suited the narrative at the time.

Yep. Mick Jagger has always been the Eveready Bunny of rock & roll vocalists. You see the physicality he put into performing that song? At live concerts he put that into every song, start to finish. And, he never needed a choreographer, his body always just appeared to be moving in sync with his vocal chords, improvised on the spot without thought. Great band, great frontman.

Just a list of the historical events mentioned in the song for anyone who may be uncertain about some of the lyrics. "I was 'round when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain, Made damned sure that Pilate washed his hands and sealed his fate" (reference to Roman governor, Pontius Pilate who crucified Christ on the cross). "Stuck around St Petersburg when I saw it was a time for a change. Killed the Czar and his ministers, Anastasia screamed in vain"  (reference to when the Bolsheviks took control and killed Czar Nicholas II of Russia and his family. Anastasia was the youngest of his daughters who were all murdered. She was 17 years old when it happened. It was thought she may have survived until her remains were found and confirmed in 2007). "I rode a tank, held a General's rank when the Blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank" (This could be a reference to either German Generalfeldmarschall Rommel or US General George Patton. Both commanded tank divisions in WWII. Patton is most famous for the Battle of the Bulge. The largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the United States in the war. And the and the third-deadliest campaign in American history. ** My great uncle served under Patton and was there for that battle and others. He refused to ever talk about the war!) The "Blitzkrieg" is a military tactic of launching a fast, rapid advance of combined arms to achieve an overwhelming surprise attack on the enemy. "I watched with glee while your Kings and Queens fought for ten decades for the Gods they made". (Pretty sure this is a reference to the Crusades and Holy Wars which actually lasted about 3 centuries I believe. Or maybe the Religious Wars in Europe from 1517 to1648). "I shouted out who killed the Kennedys when after all it was you and me" (Reference to the assassinations of President John F Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy) "I laid traps for the troubadours who get killed before they reach Bombay" (I've read that "troubadour" in this context is a metaphor for musicians, poets and artists. The line about getting "killed before they reach Bombay" is a metaphor for their messages being deliberately sabotaged or thwarted on some way by others who disliked what they were about. Bombay (Known as Mumbai, India today) was a hub for musicians, poets and artistic expression.)

Good reaction. "The Devil is in all of us" was a lesson taught by my mother. And that's what's this song is about. Don't blame anyone but yourself for these tragedies, it's down to you. No one is completely good or completely bad so be careful when the devil in you pushes you towards an outcome. AND don't externalise it. It's you. All wrapped up in a funky rock song. Good, eh? Good performance by The Who from The Rock And Roll Circus but my fave is The Dirty Mac "Yer Blues" https://youtu.be/JeFwaWFTGYU

I never saw this before- thanks ! Outstanding !

For my money, this is just one of the greatest songs ever recorded. The historical references, the drums, the "Woo woo" chorus, and most of all, the sheer nerve it took to write and release this song in the 1960's. I grew up with people who would be immediately offended by it without really listening to it. Just an amazing song, and one of the most important ones to boot.

I have always liked this song! The early Stones were great!

Great interpretation. I was about to assume the expected one and move on but you surprised me. Interesting and now understand what your Mum said. Well done.😊

Every big name was there, The Beatles, The Who, and on and on. I believe this was from a show they did called Rock And Roll Circus.

Another great reaction , I love the reaction on BG's face when she realises that she knows the song 😂❤

So glad you liked that. I’m 69 and grew up with this age of music. This music and this kind of performance is what we were drowned in. It was a fabulous time to be growing up. I’m so so lucky.

Keith is the lead guitarist and Brian Jones on rhythm guitar and he is the founder of the group and died about a year later in 1969 at his home in his swimming pool ..He was so scatter brained from drug abuse to the point that Mick and Keith had to make him leave the band ..