This famous documentary broadcast featured several of the era's rowdiest bands. But it was the legendary Stooges who really blew me away the first time I viewed it. Grainy, harsh, intimidating & fun. If you want to learn where true hardcore punk originated you don't have to look any further than this...a timeless performance translated through raw metal mayhem. The first time I viewed the "Midsummer Rock Fest 1970" was in 1999 while visiting my girl in London. We were at a flat gathering on Upper Street, and I'll never forget walking into that little blue room & hearing the early roars & grinds of T.V. Eye (from the Stooges Funhouse album)...I'd tell you more, but that would spoil this tasty & tantalizing flick...especially if you're into proto-punk & the godfather Iggy Pop.
4 Reviews
Some great music
ja86vet10 June 2002
I bought this film for one reason, I was there in 1970, and wanted to re-live it. Grand Funk (who I never was a big fan of) are very good. Mountain is excellent, (Theme for an imaginary western A+) Iggy and the Stooges? Ok, it's Iggy. Alice Cooper, disappointing, except when he gets hit in the face with a head of lettuce. Traffic are great (John Barleycorn must die A+). The between artists interviews with stoned concert go-ers I could do without.
Have only seen one Grand Funk song and would like to see the whole thing.
blabe7777 May 2004
Grand Funk is one of my all time favorite bands. I would love to see the entire concert if I could. Is this video available anywhere for download or purchase? Please post a message if you have any information. I also like all the other bands that appear at this rock fest. The section of the fest that I have been able to view via a single download is of Grand Funk doing "Inside looking out". At the time of this concert I was a freshman in high school and just starting to get into rock. My very first live concert was in Tulsa Okla. in which Grand Funk was the headliner. I'm not sure exactly if it was 1971 or maybe 1972 but they were still three piece and they rocked! I remember wanting to grow my hair long then because I really liked Mark Farner's long hair and thought I would look cool too. Thanks for any information on existing videos of this rock fest!
Midsummer rubbish
AAdaSC3 October 2018
A bunch of bands that really should know better. Unfortunately, the sound on the copy that I watched was terrible, especially during Alice Cooper, one of the reasons for listening. So, I can't tell you if he was any good or not. His set looked pretty rubbish with wimpish stage theatricals. I mean, putting a sheet over every member of the band. How totally uncreative. In fact, it's just sloppy. Best bit was him being hit in the face by something lobbed at him by an obviously annoyed festival goer. Less pretension please.
The whole concert is basically not entertaining. From the choice of songs to the renditions of those songs, it fails. It's a bad film but it was probably alright if you were at the concert. Maybe. As long as you were taking drugs and not listening to the music.
The whole concert is basically not entertaining. From the choice of songs to the renditions of those songs, it fails. It's a bad film but it was probably alright if you were at the concert. Maybe. As long as you were taking drugs and not listening to the music.
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