The new year of 1996 brings some good news and some bad news. Let's take the bad news first, so that we finish off the negative stuff!

Well, there were never any official publication of the 1996 Voodoo Lounge Tour, so you can't say it was cancelled... Still, the Stones management did plan for concerts in India, Brazil, Argentina and may be other places like Greece. The problems and complexities just got too many, and on Jan. 9 it was official. There will be no tour dates in 1996. The Voodoo Lounge Tour did indeed finish in Rotterdam on August 30, 1995.

The cost of touring Asia should be covered partly by solid ticket sales in Brazil and Argentina. As there were problems scheduling dates and venues in Argentina, there were a bigger economically challenge to make the tour happen. Then all kinds of problems regarding facilities, electricity etc. did not fit into the Voodoo Lounge concept in Asia.

Yes, yet another cancellation, which wasn't really officially announced. The 2nd single from the Stripped album were supposed to be Wild Horses, and it should have been released in the last week of Jan. '96 in Europe, and first week of Feb. in USA. However, they just cancelled the single release, and there are no information about a 2nd single release.

Unofficial information tells the Wild Horses single should have been including the tracks Tumbling Dice, Down In The Bottom (Meet Me In The Bottom) and Live With Me. Also, "I'm Free" has been mentioned as a candidate. I'd love to see "Memory Motel" on it!!!

Then to the good news, and there are plenty, of course!

The new Stripped album was a real success for Virgin. In some areas it has been selling better than Voodoo Lounge. Talking about Voodoo Lounge, that album sold about 5 million copies, of which 2.5 mill. in USA, then about 200,000 in each of Canada, Germany, Italy and Argentina, plus figures of 10.000 - 100,000 in other areas.

Stripped has sold more than 3 million copies already, and it's still in the top 20 charts several places. As an example, Stripped has sold 50,000 copies in Norway, while Voodoo Lounge sold less than 40,000. These are the sales awards as of date of writing (Feb. 6th):

Platinum: Argentina, Canada, Italy, USA.

Gold: Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, UK, Uruguay.

Silver: Denmark, Mexico, Portugal.

Stripped went into top 10 in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Norway (#1), Portugal, Spain, Sweden (#1), Switzerland, UK, USA.

It's been said many, many times, but this time it was said for sure. ABKCO is about to release the "Rock'n'Roll Circus", the famous film/party event that took place in the late 60's with the Stones and other celebrities. The schedule for the video release was Feb. 96, but now it's been delayed (again). Also, there have been talks of a CD. More to follow.

It's Only Rock'n Roll no. 25 Feb. 1996 - © The Rolling Stones Fan Club Of Europe