The likelihood of the Rolling Stones making it to Australia in honour of celebrating 50 years of rock, roll, and debauchery has increased after a spate of recent comments by the band, hinting at a world tour.
The seminal British rockers are soon to play four massive stadium shows in the UK and US, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of their first gig.
Newly formed global events company, Virgin Live, has already insisted the Rolling Stones four dates – two a piece in the US and UK – would be the rock institution’s only shows. But the band has proven unable to keep silent about the possibility of playing more dates, with both Keith Richards and Mick Jagger commenting on the potential of a tour.
According to FMQB, Richards “wouldn’t be surprised” if the Stones ended up expanding their current plans to perform, revealing to the BBC he would be in support of the idea.
“Nobody’s actually given a heads up on that, but I don’t think that this band is gonna wind up all of this for four shows. I think they want to do something for the end of the year, and I think next year probably looks like it’s on,” he said.
Richards also added, with characteristic wit, that he considered this year to be the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ “conception,” not their beginning, since it wasn’t until the year after that drummer Charlie Watts joined the band.Nobody’s actually given a heads up on that, but I don’t think that this band is gonna wind up all of this for four shows
“Next year is the birth, but everybody around the world has decided a conception’s worth a celebration,” he joked.
Frontman Mick Jagger has also come close to spilling the beans about a tour, saying that they had “been in touch” with former bassist Bill Wyman about rejoining the band to play some shows.
Considering the piles of money that resulted from their last international outing in support of 2005 album A Bigger Bang, it would certainly seem like an exercise in bad decision-making for both the band and their newly-minted promoter, Virgin Live, to resist a Rolling Stones world tour.Next year is the birth, but everybody around the world has decided a conception’s worth a celebration
The two-year long A Bigger Bang world tour was the second-highest grossing in history, earning upwards of $US 550 million; second only to U2′s 360 Tour.
The Stones have gone all-out for the 50th birthday celebrations, releasing a new compilation album, GRRR!, along with one of two brand new recordings, in accompanying single ‘Doom And Gloom.’
Along with this, they got high-tech with an innovative new app, which superimposes an image of a massive gorilla climbing all over certain landmarks when users direct their smartphone at the corresponding real-world image. The gorilla is in reference to the identical primate which sports the infamous Rolling Stones’ tongue and lips on the cover of GRRR!
And to think the band might not even be around if the British government had their way, according to a wacky conspiracy theory involving the FBI, MI5, and a drug dealer called Acid King Dave.
50 AND COUNTING …THE ROLLING STONES LIVE
Presented by Virgin Live.
Sunday 25 November The O2 Arena, London – UK
Thursday 29 November The O2 Arena, London – UK
Thursday 13 December Prudential Center, Newark NJ – USA
Saturday 15 December Prudential Center – Newark NJ – USA
