Relive The 1971 Performance Of ‘Carol’ By Bob Seger

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Bob Seger appeared at The John Sinclair Freedom Rally on December 10, 1971 along with other musicians like John Lennon, Phil Ochs, and Stevie Wonder. The protest and concert took place in the Crisler Arena at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This was in response to John Sinclair’s imprisonment after he was charged with possession of two marijuana cigarettes. He was supposed to spend ten years in jail but shortly after the event, Sinclair was released.

Seger performed a raucous cover of Chuck Berry’s 1958 song “Carol”. The Rolling Stones and The Beatles also recorded their versions for the track.

In an interview with Goldmine magazine in 2019, Seger looked back at his career and the obstacles he faced during his first few years in the industry when mainstream success eluded him. He recalled, “I just felt that people liked us. No matter where we played we never got a tepid reaction. I was always a high energy act and we rocked and people that liked rock and roll liked us. It’s as simple as that. I felt like a success because the crowds liked us.”

He added, “I can’t tell you how disillusioned I got and how tired I got of not making it but I never gave up. After everybody had gone and the venues were empty, I remember some nights looking back at stages when I was so disillusioned and said, “You’re not gonna chase me off, that’s stage and I’ll be back next time.””

Check out his performance below.