Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31829 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-07-05
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 123 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Like most festival shows, the Toronto Rocks concert, a SARS benefit held on July 30, 2003 before a teeming crowd of 490,000, is a pretty mixed bag. For one thing, the Guess Who, Rush, AC/DC, and the Rolling Stones--the headliners--are all well past their primes. They're still kicking, of course, and fans of each will relish their sets. But no headliner save Rush exudes the freshness and spark evident in the tantalizing snippets of the performances we don't see on this single-disc DVD: Canadian acts like Blue Rodeo, the Tea Party, and Sass Jordan (with a still-riveting Jeff Healey on guitar). The Stones command more than their fair share of screen time, and some would say they've earned it. Meanwhile, we're also served three helpings of Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi's ho-hum Have Love Will Travel revue. Who steals the show? The Isley Brothers, led by founding singer Ronald and axeman Ernie, who blaze through "Who's That Lady" and their classic "Shout" with a band of lock-tight musicians and dancers.

The DVD includes the kind of full-size color booklet every concert disc should come with, a choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and uncompressed PCM stereo sound (both great), and a dose of "bonus" backstage ballyhoo. A unique extra is the director's broadcast call of the camera shots for AC/DC's "Thunderstruck," revealing the frantic, real-time demands of a live shoot. --Michael Mikesell

Synopsis
Hosted by comedians Dan Aykroyd and Mike Bullard, The Rolling Stones headlined the largest ticketed single-day event in history on July 30th 2003. Nearly half a million people descended on Downsview Airport, Toronto for an amazing concert from some of the world's biggest names in aid of a SARS virus charity.

Customer Reviews

Review of Toronto Rocks
I went to Toronto last year. Being aware of this DVD and not having previously been able to purchase it in this country, I thought I would try to find it when I returned to Toronto last week. I did. I did not, however, purchase it, not being sure if I could play Region 1 DVDs. I returned here, only to find it now widely available in retail shops (and subsequently online).

Bought mainly for The Rolling Stones (who I've never had the pleasure of seeing live), and also AC/DC, though this 1 disc edition is incredibly short (missing almost 10 hours of the day's events) it is a nice summary of the day. Nice to see at least 1 main Canadian band who performed on the day getting more than 2 tracks on here - Rush.

Mabe not as-important-an-event as the back cover would suggest, it's still a worthwhile buy. Two (swaying from side-to-side) arms up!