Both versions – one with makeup and one without – were directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg (The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus, Let It Be) and filmed over the course of a single day at Olympic Studios in London.
The first version, featuring a makeup-free Stones, has the distinction of incorporating a completely unique version of the song (vocals and all other instruments), whereas the version with a makeup-clad Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts utilizes a fresh Jagger vocal take over the backing track from the single.
"We shot the one without the makeup first," explains Lindsay-Hogg. "They were great. As we were doing it, I felt there was an ingredient missing, although at that point I didn't know what it was. We had a small meal break and I saw Brian Jones sitting by the makeup table and sort of playing with the colors-putting it on his face and then wiping it off-and I thought, 'Huh. That's a real interesting look.' And so I said to Mick, Keith, Charlie and Bill, 'Just go over there to the makeup table and see what it's like if you put some stuff on your face-either stripes or eye makeup, or full-face glitter, whatever strikes you.'"
"They worked with our very bright makeup person Linda DeVetta and they kind of got into it,” he continues. “After about an hour they looked different, especially Keith and Brian. Then we found the big, space alien glasses. We got something much better than we might have had, left to our own devices. It crystallized what it should be. It's one of those serendipitous moments where all the things that might have gone wrong, didn't."
The director recalls setting the overall mood of both videos with different approaches to lighting.
"The director of photography, Tony Richmond, and I thought there's another way to light them as well,” adds Lindsey-Hogg, “because it was kind of general performance lighting on the first one we shot in the early afternoon. In the second version, we shot them in these shadows. It was much more to do with shadows, and Mick coming in and out of light, and that whole little walk he does at the beginning. We put that together, and that's the one they liked best because it had a slightly decadent feel to it.
“When I edited them and played them back, they loved the videos. I'd hate to think they didn't, because then I went on to do their videos for 15 years."
Released as a standalone single in May of 1968, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” – which surfaced between 1967’s “Their Satanic Majesties Request” and 1968’s “Beggars Banquet” – topped the charts in the band’s native UK, among others, and was a Top 5 hit in several countries.
Last week, the band wrapped up their 60th anniversary European tour in Berlin, Germany.
See also:
The Rolling Stones wrap up 60th anniversary tour in Berlin
The Rolling Stones debut Bridges To Babylon track in Sweden
The Rolling Stones joined by Ukrainian choir in Vienna
The Rolling Stones debut 1971 classic Bitch in Brussels
Search Rolling Stones at hennemusic
