Rolling Stones US Tour
The Rolling Stones have had a lot to celebrate this year, after being announced as one of the headliners for the prestigious Glastonbury Festival 2013 with the Arctic Monkeys and Mumford and Sons, they have announced details of a full tour of the USA.
The tour will start on the West Coast of America, with a flyby in the gorgeous Staples Centre in LA before stops in Oakland, San Jose, Anaheim, Toronto, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia. The Stones have a strong work ethic and are renowned for their relentless touring schedules. If any rockers have lived life in the fast lane, it is the Stones and they don't want the good times to end, so the tour is going to continue into Europe.
With a schedule 18 dates in the USA so far, there are sure to be number of surprises in store considering only 9 of the destinations have been announced hitherto. The Stones have truly global appeal, and the title ‘super-band' is bandied about too often, but they meet the criteria more than anyone (over 200million album sales worldwide). Only the likes of U2, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd could generate as much USA buzz before a tour.
And this adventure is particularly important considering they have just passed the 50 year mark last December. The "50 and Counting" tour celebrates their longevity of this band, which seems all the more astounding if you think how many young pretenders have tried to emulate them and failed. The music business is tough, and only the strong survive – just look at Keith Richards.
Mick Jagger is more energetic than most 20 year olds and he has intimated the stage will be visually spectacular for the whirlwind tour, saying: "The stage is shaped like lips and goes off into the venue so I get to run around in the crowd. It's great fun to be able to get that close to the audience."
It was reported a few months back that global brand AEG Live stumped up the cash to be lead promoters of the North American tour, purported to be in the region of $80million. So there is no shortage of money behind the venture, and it promises to be a truly awe-inspiring musical journey.