I can hear any good sounding gig of the 78 or 81 over and over. All though mostly each tour the set lists were fixed each night, the Stones focused on their new releases and simply rocked hard. Espec. Keith and Ronnie were way above their current level.
The ABB tour showed clearly the Stones don't believe in their own new music anymore, with playing just one(!!!) song of their latest 17(?) song album.
They have become simply a nostalgia act relying mostly on Jagger and Levell, pleasing the main crowd, not caring about the real fans and not muscically challenging themselves anymore.
I really wonder, what keeps them going as musicians?

what keeps them going?

$$, cocaine and women!


oh.... wait, thats what keeps ME going!

Yawn, yawn, yawn! Nearly 30 years ago now! Check the reviews to last nights gig? Which ABB ones did you go to?

I gave up after last year tour. I am interested to hear new stuff from their latest release. Why shall I listen to all the old stuff over and over again? I have a excellent sounding recording of Barcelona 2007. That does not make me too happy about the musical level from both guitarists.

kees Wrote:
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- excellent sounding recording of
> Barcelona 2007. That does not make me too happy
> about the musical level from both guitarists.


both? you do realize that there are three . . ..

Aint it tea time in the old folks home?

Still analysing bootlegs with ya Rich Tea n Horlicks??

Try a gig for a change and you might be surprised.......

nikki bong Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> kees Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> - excellent sounding recording of
> > Barcelona 2007. That does not make me too happy
> > about the musical level from both guitarists.
>
>
> both? you do realize that there are three . . ..

Maybe Blondie had a bad night

LOL, exactly, harm . . .

Tell me Bing Bong. Do you want the stones to continue?

um, yes. it's you that i want to stop!

Tried the Saitama 2006 soundboard too. Great sound indeed but Jesus, if people call that an outstanding performance......
I don't mind some rusty playing and some decline but I can't think of any other still touring band where the difference between the piek period and the current level is so big.

kees Wrote:
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> Tried the Saitama 2006 soundboard too. Great sound
> indeed but Jesus, if people call that an
> outstanding performance......
> I don't mind some rusty playing and some decline
> but I can't think of any other still touring band
> where the difference between the piek period and
> the current level is so big.


right -- in a way, they are victims of their own Awesomeness. they were so great at peak (all the way up through '81) that there was no way they would ever approach those levels again . . .

"um, yes. it's you that i want to stop!"

What and leave this board to the prozac posse?

There's more chance of OpenG buying a Ronnie Wood LP!

nikki bong Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> kees Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> - excellent sounding recording of
> > Barcelona 2007. That does not make me too happy
> > about the musical level from both guitarists.
>
>
> both? you do realize that there are three . . ..

the 3rd and 4th (Blondie and Mick) are just to backup our hereos! But kees is absolutely right.

Still I don't see any answer to 'what keeps the Stones musically going on? I don't believe it's money. But as they don't challenge themselves at all I am really puzzled about this.

Perhaps after 40 year career,a ground breaking tour, Superbowl, Rio, Shine a Light Movie, highly rated album etc. etc they might still be under the crazy impression that their really rather still good!

But why play than one song from that 'highly rated album'? Don't get me wrong, I think ABB is a pretty good album what deserved much more attention during last tour thant the Stones gave it. I think it is rideculous to play only one song from it.

Ask jagger? Probably cause most people go for a piss during the 'new' stuff!

Gotta think, most of Joe Public aint even heard the new LP or care. Its £4 in Tesco's now......

They go to hear the classics, and Jaggers goes for that!

ablett Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ask jagger? Probably cause most people go for a
> piss during the 'new' stuff!
>
> Gotta think, most of Joe Public aint even heard
> the new LP or care. Its £4 in Tesco's now......
>
> They go to hear the classics, and Jaggers goes for
> that!


your observations are not far off the mark, but then the question what keeps them going as MUSICIANS is even more justified when even themselves or at least Jagger has realized that the Stones stopped being creative force and turned into "Micki Jaggeroo's Golden Oldies Show" with elderly ladies and gents clapping their hands to -or out of- the rythm of their golden glorious chartbreakers from a time deacdes ago. in addtion to that I have read here often enough that its not really important if the guitarists sound up for it or not as long as ists still a great SHOW, so whats the point keep on going in MUSICAL/ARTISTIC terms?????

Kees -

What keeps you going as a person? What gives you reason to get up and face the daily grind?

If you can answer that question, then it's probably really easy to figure out what it might be like for other people, including the Stones

I'm sure there are days you wake up so you can be challenged. Days you wake up because you've got something to look forward to. Days that you wake up because you know you've got something to do. Days that you don't want to wake up, but know that it might make someone's day if you were around.

You've got a reason. What is it?

My guess is that it's probably one as simple as the Stones'

ablett Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Perhaps after 40 year career,a ground breaking
> tour, Superbowl, Rio, Shine a Light Movie, highly
> rated album etc. etc they might still be under the
> crazy impression that their really rather still
> good!


Exactly!! Also you can see they still actually really enjoy doing it (although I appreciate that this is not easy to spot whilst listening to a recording and munching on those biscuits)

in what way was it a "Ground-breaking" tour? 'cuz it made a lot of money? artistically - that is, most importantly - there was no development to speak of. oh yeah, and the new songs (with the exception of the criminally ignored IWTL, RFD & BOMH) blew.

obligatory disclaimer: i had a GREAT time at all of the shows i went to, and can't wait to see 'em again in '08.

As long as they play stadiums they have to please the crowd that consist of 95% Stones lovers and just peaple who wants to see the Stones and then you have 4,99 % real Stones fans and 0,01 Freaks like us who want to hear We Love You and songs they never played.

Ever been to a Stones concert and hearing a song you don't recognize immediately ? very irritating.

So just except they play HITS as they do for 40 years (except for'69)

__________________________

"what keeps the Stones going as mucians?"

First of all, their passion. Maybe they would make money in other ways, but i'm sure that they haven't any other real, deep passion but music. Music and performing.

Passion for playing the same songs over and over? In less and less interesing versions?
Why no passion for the new album? Why no passsion for the hardly played stuff?

They still like playing and the money isn't bad. This is what they do. It defines who they are to a degree. You know that they still get a huge adrenaline jolt when they hit the stage. That doesn't go away, and I think is one factor, that excitement of hearing that crowd roar that brings them back. Obviously, they LIKE doing this or they could just quit. It isn't just the money that gets these guys out there these days.

I agree with filstan...that rush of hitting the stage has to be a big part of it. I cant imagine what it must feel like for them....the stage is probably more of a home to them than anywhere else.

JR

I think Keith and Ronnie`s hand movements are out of sync with what we actually hear. I`m never sure if we`re hearing a playback, some session musicians in the background, or Keith and Ronnie themselves. Is Chuck Levell the big locomotive?

Suppose they don't know what else to do. That's been their whole life. And the money ain't that bad either ;-)

thats what they do..