1969's Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival is mostly known as the venue where John Lennon's album 'Live Peace In Toronto 1969' was recorded (often cited as Lennon's goodbye to The Beatles). REVIVAL69: THE CONCERT THAT ROCKED THE WORLD by Ron Chapman is a documentary about how the entire concert was put together.
Chapman was able to get on camera interviews with several of the participants including the show's organizers. Originally, it was mainly conceived as an oldies show bringing together Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley and Gene Vincent. The then little known Alice Cooper band was recruited to be both a 'new' act as well as serving as Vincent's backup band. When ticket sales flagged, they paid The Doors to be the headliners. When that didn't move the needle much, they hatched a last minute scheme to get John Lennon to be an MC. Seemingly on a whim, Lennon not only agreed to appear but brought along his wife Yoko and friends (including Eric Clapton) to debut The Plastic Ono Band. It was such a hurried plan that Lennon and his entourage didn't land in Canada until after the show had already begun. The promoters hired a local Biker gang to escort Lennon from the airport and help with the logistics at the venue (fortunately, it worked out better than the Rolling Stones and Altamont!).
Director D. A. Pennebaker (MONTEREY POP) filmed the show and Chapman uses that footage generously throughout. Pennebaker released his own short documentary as SWEET TORONTO* in 1971. The footage shows that it was more than just the John Lennon show. The other artists put on lively sets, in particular Cooper. This is the show where the legend that Cooper bit the head off a chicken was spawned (the reality was more along the lines of the 'Turkey Drop' episode of WKRP In Cincinnati!). L. A. Scenesters Kim Fowley and Rodney Bingenheimer were hired to be the hosts and Fowley is partly credited helping with create the cigarette lighter encore tradition at rock concerts. Unfortunately, The Doors refused to be filmed so there is only scattered footage of the band.
It's a well put together Documentary with some interesting interviews with performers Cooper, Klaus Voorman and Robby Kreiger as well as attendees Geddy Lee and critic Robert Christgau. As usual, one wishes to have seen and heard more music. Fortunately, in addition to SWEET TORONTO, more of Pennebaker's footage exists online and on various home video releases. REVIVAL69 is a fascinating tale of Canada's most famous rock fest.
On DVD the Doc is better known as JOHN LENNON AND THE PLASTIC ONO BAND: LIVE IN TORONTO.
