Posted on 05/10/2005 7:47:04 PM PDT by John Lenin
Rock megastars Rolling Stones announce world tour
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By Ellen Wulfhorst
NEW YORK (Reuters) - It's only rock 'n' roll but they still like it.
The Rolling Stones, well into their fifth decade of playing rock 'n' roll, on Tuesday announced a global tour that will stretch into next year and laughed off suggestions that it would be a farewell tour.
"We never say this is going to be our last tour. We never think about it. We take each tour as it comes," singer Mick Jagger, 61, told a news conference at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
"I think that's a trap to try and get people to buy your tickets and say, 'Well, I'll never see them again."
Reminding the cheering crowd that not only are they far from elderly but one of the greatest bands in rock 'n' roll, the Stones kicked off the event with live performances of "Start Me Up" and "Brown Sugar" and a new song Jagger called "Oh No, Not You Again."
The wiry Jagger wriggled and strutted, while Keith Richards, also 61, grinned mischievously over his guitar licks in front of Lincoln Center's Juilliard School.
It was a relatively low-key launch for a band that once landed in a blimp in a city park to kick off a world tour in 2002.
"This is one of the earliest concerts we've been to in a while, actually,," Jagger said of the mid-day event. "We're calling it the cornflakes concert."
The Stones, who burst onto the rock scene in the early '60s in England, are putting together a new album, still untitled, that is "85 percent" finished, Jagger said.
"We tried to make it very wide-ranging and we tried to make it very hard-hitting, but it's got its sensitive moments," he said.
"It kicks some ass," Richards added.
The first tickets go on sale to the public beginning Saturday for the tour which opens August 21 at Fenway Park in Boston and continues in North America through early 2006, said tour director Michael Cohl.
The tour travels to Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Japan and "hopefully" China before heading to Europe in summer 2006, he said.
"There's a lot of other fantastic bands and a lot of old rubbish out there, and we hope it's going to be a wonderful summer of rock 'n' roll and we're going to be right in there," Jagger said.
"May God have mercy on your soul," added Richards.
Prices will average about $100 per ticket, and the shows will take place in stadiums, arenas and theaters, Cohl said.
Asked how much they might make on the tour, while Jagger paused, Richards jubilantly shouted out: "Millions!"
The band, whose shows can sell out in minutes, last toured in 2002-03. The Stones hold the record for the top two most attended North American tours, promoters said.
Jagger said the Stones are likely to choose old songs, new songs, blues and covers of other artists' work.
"Sometimes they choose themselves," Richards said.
The band has a history of staging elaborate stage sets and Jagger said the coming stadium tour will have some 400 people on stage behind the band.
"You'll get a great view of our bums, so we'll have to work on them a bit," he said.
I have nothing against old farts like The Stones playing rock and roll in their 60's ...but at this point in their lives I would think they'd knock it on the head ...They have a gazillion dollars already ...Sure they dig playing ; why not play for charity ? Bono and U2 could join them and they could give all the dough to those poor countries Bono is always crying about ...
I have over 800 Dylan bootlegs... if you or somebody you know is looking for a show,contact me. My source has EVERY show from the last 10 years{there might be a stray he doesn't have}Plus anything else thats out there. If you think I'm kidding, send me a request and I would be happy to get it for you...try me....
About a decade ago they announced their "Steel Wheel" tour. Jay Leno commented that the next tour would be the "Aluminum Walker" tour. He's not that far off!
You know, I get the distinct impression these guys aren't just doing it for the money, but actually enjoy their work.
Rock on.
oooookay ... didnt realize it was humor.
Oh okay, now I get it ... guess my time came pretty fast.
...sponsored by Metamucil.
Aren't they called the rolling prunes now?
I saw him performing in a video clip recently and noticed he didn't play guitar. I wasn't aware he had a disease. Pretty cool of him still to be out there to please his fans.
There are other similarities between Dylan and the Stones. Approximately 1965 was when the Stones really became big. Approximately 1965 was the last time anyone was able to understand a freakin' word Dylan was singing. See? Amazing and uncanny similarities!
I saw Deep Purple and Yes in the past two years, believe it or not they sounded as good or better than they ever did.
Wow. Didn't realize they were playing still. Not a big Yes fan, but I would love to see 'purple. Was Blackmoor with them?
Funny...Mick turned 38 that year... and, yeah, I thought that was old, then, too!
Ha Ha, there have certainly been times when Bob has been very bad in his singing, but something tells me you really aren't that familiar with his work, which is fine..I can take a little razzing!
I remember reading a quote from a looong time ago where Mick said if he was still playing Rock-n-Roll when he was 30, he would kill himself.
I remember something like that, too, although I thought he said 40... either way he's a few decades overdue!
I saw their Steel Wheels concert in the early '90s and Jagger blew me away. He truly did. I've rarely seen a performer give as much of himself as he did. Earned my respect and was highly entertaining. Didn't expect to enjoy the evening. Had a wonderful time, thanks to my young daughter who insisted that I tag along with her and a group of her friends.
Have a suspicion Mick still has what it takes. Hey, why not? Tina Turner still has her game on, etc., etc.
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