Photograph by Mark Seliger

Over two nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden last month, rock history was made again and again: Bono, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen and more legends united on one stage to celebrate the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary with a pair of concerts featuring some of the biggest talents of the past six decades. Metallica rocked with Lou Reed. Stevie Wonder sang with Smokey Robinson. The Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie and Will.i.am joined U2 and Jagger for “Gimme Shelter.” Rolling Stone has the story behind these epic concerts, and an unprecedented look behind the scenes of one of the greatest rock events ever in our new issue, on stands today.

Get a look at all of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s inductees.

David Fricke and Brian Hiatt trace the concerts’ journey from the first entreaties to artists (Led Zeppelin declined to reunite again; David Bowie couldn’t make it) to convincing HBO to air the shows as a prime-time special on November 29th to the incredible rehearsals, where Springsteen almost rocked his voice away trading “Fortunate Son” verses with John Fogerty. (more…)

A digitally remastered version of the Rolling Stones’ 1991 film Live at the Max — the first feature-length concert movie to be shot using IMAX technology — will be released on Blu-ray and DVD tomorrow, November 10th. Live at the Max was filmed during the Stones’ 1990 European tour in support of their album Steel Wheels, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. To this day, it remains the most successful IMAX concert film of all-time. (more…)

Photo: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty

When the Rolling Stones returned to the U.S. for a 1972 tour, they let photographer Robert Frank bring a crew of film cameras along for the ride with the intention of releasing an honest, behind-the-scenes look at a big band’s life on the road. The final cut was a bit more raw than the band had bargained for, though: When Mick Jagger and Co. watched Cocksucker Blues they decided they never wanted anyone else to see it. Frank won a 1977 court ruling that permits him to screen the film four times a year in an “archival situation” where he must be present.

“Look to your left, look to your right,” Metropolitan Museum of Art curator Jeff Rosenheim said Saturday when he introduced one of these rare events in New York as part of the museum’s Robert Frank Film Series. “One of you might be Robert Frank.” (Frank never did make himself known.)

Go inside the Rolling Stones’ 1969 tour in behind-the-scenes photos.

As fans filed into the museum’s theater, Exile on Main Street’s boozy “Casino Boogie” played on the house stereo, and Rosenheim speculated from a podium as to why the Stones tried to ban the film. His theory: they weren’t worried about being allowed back into the States as Jagger told the director, but disliked the film because it took fans behind the curtain, revealing the depression and loneliness behind the glamour of the road. (more…)