Previous page Next page First page IORR home
The Rolling Stones Fan Club of Europe
It's Only Rock'n Roll

Orange Bowl
Miami, FL
Friday, Dec. 5, 1997

Review by Bob Cianciosi

3rd eye blind - listened to them from parking lot, great reverberation dave matthews band - very popular down here, tight sounding smashing pumpkins - last two songs with guest Marilyn Manson (he behaved) The Rolling Stones - a rhythm and blues based band from England

From the opening shot of fire out of the screen, this baby was a keeper. Mick's speaking voice sounded a liitle hoarse, but it was noteperfect when singing.

The web vote of SAR starts with Mick once again asking how to play it.

The center stage "club" set of LQ,TLT,LARS with audience participation kicked. A lady from our group caught a rose that Mick threw into the crowd. Needless to say, she was moved.

The B2B songs were well received, although the first minute or so of ASMB seems muddy. FTS,OOC,SOM .....SOM stood out as the big winner in the crowd with the audience chants of "...I said yeah....oh yeah..ohhh yeah, you'll never make a saint of me...ringing the stadium.

The classics all were very tightly performed.

My insatiable appetite for more RS takes me to Orlando for more......

The set list:

  1. Satisfaction
  2. Let's Spend The Night Together
  3. Flip The Switch
  4. Gimme Shelter
  5. Anybody Seen My Baby
  6. Saint Of Me
  7. Bitch
  8. Out Of Control
  9. She's A Rainbow (web choice)
  10. Miss You
    -- Introductions --
  11. All About You (Keith)
  12. I Wanna Hold You (Keith)
  13. Little Queenie (center stage)
  14. The Last Time (center stage)
  15. Like a Rolling Stone (center stage)
  16. Sympathy For The Devil
  17. Tumbling Dice
  18. Honky Tonk Women
  19. Start Me Up
  20. Jumping Jack Flash
  21. You Can't Always Get What You Want (encore)
  22. Brown Sugar (encore)

Review by Roozbeh Rezaie

You know it is often said that the in Rock n' Roll, there are the Stones, then there is everybody else. I finally found out what that meant. Last night was the most extraordinary experience that I had encountered.

I arrived at the stadium at 5:15 PM because of all the traffic, but I did not care weather I saw the three opening acts or not, I was there to see the Stones. Lost in a fog of celebrities and second-hand smoke (an I don't mean cigarettes) I began down the isle as the usher told my friend and I "you got a long way to go, your in A3, you're in luck!" I was soon about to find out what he meant. As time passed and we stayed seated in the fifth row, I noticed that there were row unattended seats in the first row. I pulled out my wallet and the usher was generous enough to move us from the fifth row to the first row for $20.

As the lights went down after 8:30, I was hypnotized by the Babylonian facade projected by the terrific sound system, and thought to myself "God exists, because if he didn't I wouldn't be here." Then smoke fills the stage and the maestro, Keith Richards takes center stage as Charlie Watts climbs into his kit, and that moment, within a span of ten seconds, every song, movie, book, interview, every memory I had of the Stones flashed by my eyes and Satisfaction tore through the stadium and I believe all of South Florida. My eyes were filled with so much tears from the presence of these middle-aged kids that I could not begin to explain to you how I felt. Mick worked that stage like never before as Charlie laid down the beat, and Keith and Ronnie played a slash-and-burn combination that would drive a steak through the heart of the competition.

I HAVE TO PLEASE ASK ALL OF YOU TO FORGIVE ME FOR LEAVING OUT SO MUCH DETAIL. I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU WHAT LAST NIGHT DID TO ME BECAUSE I'M IN ANOTHER WORLD. ALL THAT I CAN THINK ABOUT IS WHEN I WILL SEE THEM AGAIN. IT WILL BE MONTHS BEFORE I COME DOWN FROM THIS HIGH. THE TEARS OF JOY GLISTEN MY EYES EVERY MINUTE.

The show progressed incredibly. One minute when the telescopic bridge projected following Keith's set, I looked at the crowd and the energy that shoots back at you just sweeps you off your feet. I had the time of my life, when Keith stepped down during the most incredible "Jumpin' Jack Flash" I ever heard and headed towards my side, I could not believe he was less than seven feet away from and one look at that face let said: 100% Sex, Drugs, and ROCK 'N ROLL. While he was down there tearing up the chords, I yelled at the top of my lungs "thank you Keith" he replied in an amazing manner that sent me straight to heaven "bless you mate!" as he pressed on and headed back up.

It goes by so fast, these 22 songs. I wish they would go thirty, hell why not their whole catalogue, believe me they probably could. There performance was a personal testament of their personalities and love for each other. Keith got on one nee during the intros for Charlie, as he gave a kiss on the cheek to his mates at the end of the show. After last night I knew they would be back. There is no way they'll hang it up. Not now, and not on their turf. Like Keith said "you don't leave the Stones unless your in a coffin."

To all of you who read this, I could probably write a book on those 2 1/2 hours. I can not wait to see them after again, and something in my heart tells me it won't be long. It probably won't hit me until a week from now, but when it does I can't wait to see what can top this high.......after all, It's Only Rock 'n Roll, but I like it, like it, yes I do. God bless you fans, and of course the Rolling Stones.

Read all about the Bridges To Babylon tour in the It's Only Rock'n Roll magazine issue IORR 31 out Jan, 1998.

Previous page Next page First page IORR home It's Only Rock'n Roll 1997 -
© The Rolling Stones Fan Club Of Europe