Rare Footage Surfaces from Steely Dan’s Y2K Rehearsals for Sony Studios PBS Special
Previously unseen rehearsal footage from Steely Dan’s January 2000 sessions in New York City has resurfaced, offering fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the band’s most carefully prepared filmed performances of the modern era. Titled Steely Dan – The Rehearsals for the Filming of the Sony Studios Shows, the material documents the band’s preparations for a PBS television special recorded at the dawn of the new millennium.
According to detailed notes shared by Pete Fogel, the footage captures rehearsals conducted in two key locations. The first portion was filmed at SIR Studios on West 52nd Street, a well-known New York rehearsal space frequently used by touring and studio musicians. The second segment takes place at Sony Studios on Tenth Avenue, where the formal filming for the PBS special was later completed.
These sessions occurred in January 2000, right in the middle of production on the Jazz/Plush documentary project, which contextualized Steely Dan’s return to active recording and performance following years of relative inactivity. The individual documenting the rehearsals confirms they were present at all of the tapings, lending first-hand credibility to the chronology and setting of the footage.
What makes this video particularly compelling is its technical perspective. Viewers are given the opportunity to see the rehearsals through the eyes of Roger, who filmed not only the band but also the studio control room, including close-ups of the mixing console and detailed shots of microphone placement. This aspect of the footage is especially valuable to audio engineers and dedicated fans, offering insight into the meticulous sound design and recording discipline for which Steely Dan is famously known.
Unlike the polished final broadcast, these rehearsals reveal the precision, repetition, and subtle adjustments that underpin the band’s performances. The footage underscores Steely Dan’s reputation as perfectionists, balancing jazz sophistication with rock discipline, even in rehearsal settings.
For longtime followers of the band, the Y2K Rehearsals stand as more than archival material. They represent a moment when Steely Dan were quietly redefining their live sound for a new era, just months before their celebrated return with Two Against Nature. As such, this video is not merely a curiosity, but an essential document of a pivotal chapter in the band’s late-career renaissance.