The Rolling Stones Performance of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” at Madison Square Garden on the 27 and 28 of November, 1969 was a turning point in the rock genre from psychedelic festival rock to arena rock concerts that were organized in huge sports stadiums. The adoption of new visual and audio technology such as lights and distortion/amplification of sound was key to this transition both logistically, and in the way of providing entertainment for these massive audiences. By looking at bands such as The Rolling Stones and their transition from festival style psychedelic rock to performing in large scale arenas, we analyze the history, underlying practical and financial motivations, as well as the amplification technology that allowed arena rock to exist as it did throughout the 1970s until today.

Our website will take you through a history of psychedelic rock and its subsequent relocation into stadiums and arena venues. We will use the Rolling Stones and their song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” as a lens to frame the differences between festival and arena rock performance styles. We will also delve into the motivations for the move to arena style venues, as well as the technology that ultimately made these area rock performances possible.