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Muddy Waters and Rolling Stones live at The Checkerboard Lounge 1981

The Stones rushed into the small club unannounced. There was no VIP area, so they sat in front of the stage as Muddy kept playing. Drummer Charlie Watts sat out the Checkerboard trip, but Jagger, Richards, Ronnie Wood and keyboardist Ian Stewart were all willing participants. One of the highlights is “Mannish Boy,” with Waters standing up from his stool for the first time to jump up and down with Jagger as they wail “I’m a rolling stone.”

Richards swigged Jack Daniel’s straight out the bottle. Mick Jagger chewed lots of gum. “The Stones drank about five bottles of Jack in two hours,” said Thurman.

– The Chicago Sun Times (Read More)

Country Boy:

“On November 22, 1981, in the middle of a huge American tour, the Rolling Stones arrived in Chicago for a three-night run at the Rosemont Horizon. On their night off, several of the Stones hit Buddy Guy’s club, the Checkerboard Lounge, to see Muddy Waters and his band (which featured guitarist John Primer and harpist George “Mojo” Buford at the time). An impromptu blues jam ensued, and before the night was done, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Ian Stewart, Lefty Dizz, Junior Wells, and Guy himself had all appeared on the stage with Waters and his band. The whole thing was both recorded and filmed, and portions of the set began appearing as bootleg and unofficial releases almost immediately, and have continued to appear in various configurations ever since across all formats, from LP and CD to VHS and DVD. This set, though, was remixed and mastered for both audio and video byBob Clearmountain, and stands to be the definite document of a very special night.”
– Allmusic.com

Baby Please Don’t Go:

Mick and Muddy swap verses through “Hoochie Coochie Man”, “Long Distance Call” and “Mannish Boy”, the tiny stage getting ever more crowded as more blues legends join the throng, notably Junior Wells and Buddy Guy, who beams the smile of the club-owner who knows he’s got the best show in town tonight. Mick tries talking in tongues on “Mannish Boy“, before Muddy and he vacate the stage awhile, leaving Keith and Ron, ciggies akimbo, to swap lines with Buddy Guy. The evening comes to a suitably unkempt ending with “Champagne & Reefer”, Mick nipping in right at the close to steal Muddy’s thunder with an admonishment to stick to reefer and stay away from that cocaine. As if!

– Uncut Magazine (Read More)

Hoochie Coochie Man:

Long distance call:

Mannish Boy:

Fantastic jam and the only time The Stones shared the stage with their idol.

Champagne and Reefer:

– Hallgeir

Bonus concert, Muddy Waters – Molde Jazz Festival (Norway,August 1,1977):