It's Only Rock'n Roll
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The book "Rolling Stones Waldbühne Berlin" was published late 2025 in Germany. The first print was sold out fast. Luckily I managed to get a copy of the 2nd edition, and that book has been with me on several travels, because it is not a book you just turn the pages, look at the pictures, and stack up in your Stones books shelves.
Before I move on with the book report, it is important to bring in the context. There is a lot of history in this book. Some of that history is found in IORR, as I am writing about below. A great venue like Waldbühne do derserve a real intro, so this is my part, before I move on to the book review.
Waldbühne is an open amphi theatre in Berlin Germany, close to the Olympic Stadium. The capacity is approx 22,000 people. It is old, built between 1934 and 1936, now nearly 100 years old. Waldbühne is unique in many ways. As for The Rolling Stones, they have been performing at the Waldbühne five times, spanning six decades.
These are the dates The Rolling Stones have been performing at Waldbühne:
In 1965 I was 9 years old, and I did hardly know what Rock'n Roll was all about. In 1982 I could have seen them at the Waldbühne, but I went for Nya Ullevi Sweden, and Wembley Stadium UK, I had just started the IORR fan clun in 1980, and I had a family with wife and three small children, not much time or money for travels.
By the time of 1998, I was lost in the Stones world. Spring time with five shows at River Plate Stadium. Summer time I followed the entire European tour of 1998, so many unforgettable moments. As for Berlin, I have two great "Waldbühne" memories: The first one was as the Berlin show at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Aug. 26 ended. The screen said "Waldbühne Sep. 10", or something like that. It was a secret up to then, but I had all the travels sorted out, so I was happy to know my first Waldbühne show was now officially announced, and it was in just two weeks time.
I do remember the first time I walked into Waldbühne like it was yesterday. It was a great summer day, and the tour was coming to an end, with just three shows to go, in Mannheim, Athens and Istanbul. As I entered on the top, there were stands selling food and drinks. There were champaign with strawberries in the glasses. Then the stage, with a fixed sort of tent roof, at the very bottom of the slope, and with a fixed stage, so no special Stones stage or bridge or anything.
There are not many amphi teatres around, fitting into The Rolling Stones and their format. Important to mention, is the "Hollywood Bowl", where The Rolling Stones performeds in 1966 and 2005. Then there is the last show The Rolling Stones have done so far, at the amphi theatre Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale MO, on July 21, 2024.
The book "Rolling Stones Waldbühne Berlin" is written by Gerd Coordes and Olaf Boehme.
The book is bilingual, in German and English text. Published in September 2025.
It is easy to see the big difference in books published by Stones fans, I mean fans like you and me, who love The Rolling Stones, and follow them as real fans, vs. professional authors, who write books about many different bands, like a job. Gerd Coordes and Olaf Boehme are true Stones fans, and they have written many Stones books. I am proud to hold their books in my hands, and I know it will take time to get through them, because there are so many details, and never any shortcuts. Also, there is context, and total labour of love.
The book start with 1965, The Rolling Stones arriving into Düsseldorf Airport, where thousands of fans are at the airport, like it happened other places during the early 60's tours, also in Oslo 1965, as I have been told later. Then brief reports from shows in Essen and Hamburg. There are pictures of tour posters, magazine articles, like a time travel into 1965, with the Bravo magazine, and all the things that happened may be even before some of us were even born!
Then a special fan story from Münster, backstage experience from two young fans, Evelyn and Gabi, not really happening at Waldbühne, but still an integral part of that tour, such a sweet and wonderful report!
For a fan who did not see The Rolling Stones live until 1973, it is strange to see pictures with Brian Jones in the front, he seems to have been the front star just as much, or may be more, than Mick Jagger, at least from judging by the photos in the book, and in the magazine facsimiles.
Then a show report by long time Stones fan Axel Schumacher - sure I envy (a bit) those who were old enough to see them live with Brian Jones, but then, may be it would have been harder to follow the band these days, from 2012 and onwards to 2024, many times, if I was old enough to see them in the 60's, just a thought.
Axel Schumacher is saying the same as otther fans and friends of mine have told from the shows in the early 60's. He says he has no memory of the music, but mainly the visuals. May be that is how our brain works. Still, friends with good memory say the noise from the fans was insane, so loud, and the PA system back then did not outpower all the screaming, so no wonder most of the memories are visual.
In 1965 there were warmup bands, of course. The Stones played 8 songs, and their show lasted just 22 minutes, as some songs were shorter than two minutes. Sure no 12 minutes "Rambler back in those days!
Then fast forward to page 76, the book is going from 1965 into 1982, almost a generation in time. The Rolling Stones are normally performing at football stadiums with capacity of 50,000 fans. Still they find space in their tour list for the very special Waldbühne. Pictures are in colours, not just black & white, like in the 60's.
Then the Bridges to Babylon tour, and for the 3rd time, now in 1998, again almost another generation in time, the Stones are back to Waldbühne. That tour was a mess for the fans, due to cancellations, first Keith fell of a ladder, then Mick lost his voice during the delayed opening show in Nuremberg. Still, they did Waldbühne, and the book is bringing many great stories, pictures and memories from this show.
Then it seems like a habit about almost a generation between the Stones Waldbühne shows, in 2014, with the "14 On Fire", one of the 14 shows of the Europena tour were at Waldbühne. The book is showing backstage pictures, set list picture, fan pictures, and lots more, to bring back the memories from that show. Many, many great pictures, worth the price of the book on their own, and Mick Taylor on stage as well, as a guest. A great touch of the 2014 show reports pages, are the pages 140-144 in the book. The Rolling Stones with focus on Charlie Watts, as this would sadly be the last show with Charlie at Waldbühne. Charlie is all smiles, great pictures, and a great tribute to Charlie, sadly missed.
And then they were three, when The Rolling Stones returned to Waldbühne for their 5th and so far final show at that venue. There are pictures of Mick, Keith and Ronnie as they walk in the lobby of the Berlin Adlon hotel, on their way to the show. The SIXTY tour is mainly documented by great pictures. The screen says "DANKE", meaning "THANKS".
Then there is an epilogue, about Hackney Diamonds etc, and on page 180, the book packed with memories ends, so I put my bookmark back to the front of the book, and will read on, and enjoy the book more, in the time to come.
Recommended? Yes. Highly!
Rolling Stones Waldbühne Berlin. 1965-1982-1998-2014-2022 Language: German and English By Gerd Coordes and Olaf Boehme Price € 29,00 + € 12,90 Shipping Costs to Holland. Release Date: 19-10-2025 Format: DIN-A4 op 178 Hardcover Book. ISBN: 978-3-9815456-4-7
The book is available from the
publisher Volker Rebell:
E-Mail: [email protected]
If you have information, corrections, additions or comments, please send email. Thanks!
It's Only Rock'n Roll 1980 - 2026