Regarding GT's apparent low opinion of The Stones, it seems to come down to laziness, or at least being inconsiderate, when it comes to the audience, as mentioned in this interview from 2012 with
Classic Rock Revisited.
Jeb [[i]Classic Rock Revisited[/i]]: Do you feel pressure to always step up your game because of this? When you have a bad day do you have to make yourself get up?George: No, I am on all the time, anyway. I am like Tom Jones. I demand the same from the band and the crew. I can’t stand these guys who are in bands and they show up six hours late to the rock show. They are IN the band! Once they show up then they are mean to the audience. I can’t believe these people. You are in a rock band; that is what you do for a living. How can you be late? Think about that for a minute…your dream was to be Keith Richards or Mick Jagger and that is your gig and you show up late? Everybody wants to be a rock and roll star; the President wants to be a rock star. I am a rock star and I want to be one, too. People say, “What time is Thorogood and his band going on?” Someone says, “They go on at eight.” The guy says, “What time do they show up?” They say, “Seven-thirty.” The guy says, “Seven-thirty? That is not much time.” The guy says, “They show up at seven-thirty in the morning!”
Full interview at: [
www.classicrockrevisited.com]
Jeb: You brought up the Rolling Stones. Kemper Arena, 1981, you opened for the Stones and they were off that day and you were on. You blew them away.George: [looks at me like I am insane]
Jeb: What? You don’t believe me?George: Thirty years later, I’m starting to believe that because I have heard that from so many people from all areas of the world. I just go, “Okay…” Now, it must be true if it has been said that many times. I have to tell you this…I went up to Bill Wyman, Ian Stewart and Bill Graham and said, “Do you think I’ll ever be as good as Mick Jagger on stage?” One of them, I don’t remember which one, giggled and said, “You’re there now.” Another one said, “You would not be here if you were not that good.” Bill Graham said the same thing to me that you just said. Now, I want to be clear about this…YOU brought this up…