I remember reading reports in American newspapers in July 1982 with headlines along the lines of "Stones Gathering Moss?" and a reference to how their gigs on the 1982 tour--the article referenced Italy in particular as I recall--were leaving the Stones "in the red." (that is, losing money.)

I know Jagger has referenced before how the logistics of a European tour make for much tighter profit margins. But really, did they lose money on this '82 tour? Surely not. Does anyone else recall these articles? Unfortunately I'm relying on memory for this. There must have been something written in Italy at the time as well if the news trickled over into America in the summer of 1982.

Also, in 1982, how many indoor arenas did they play? Looks like perhaps only very few? Frankfurt and maybe a couple Scotland gigs? Did they use the same indoor stage for these gigs as they used in 1981 (e.g., Hampton)?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-05-06 03:18 by rocker1.

I know the Italy '82 shows coincided with the World Cup final, which the Italians won, so that might explain the lack of attendance at the Stones show.

I read somewhere that back in '65, I believe, the Beatles had crap attendance #s in Italy. Did the Stones even play there in '76? I know they didn't in '73... it might just not be a good market for English bands... let alone ones who waited a dozen years between gigs.

I have a Japanese friend who had worked for TDK Europe and handled sponsoring 1982 European tour.
TDK suffered an enormous deficit. (not Stones)
He got the blame for it and left TDK after all.

As far as I can remember, Italy wasn't really a big touring market for the Stones.
A big winner on that particular market might have been Pink Floyd.

Keep on rollin'
Gangster

I was there in '82; they played twice in torino, the 1 day was sold out (70,000 people) and it was the day of the final (in fact they playe at 3 pm and not evening time as usual). the 2nd night was 50% full.
few days later they played in napoli and it was an incredible sold out (80,000)and it was also an historical concert because it was the 1st big concert in napoli; the gig happened thanks to the former mayor who strongly wanted the concert in napoli and made a lot to help the event.
so honestly i don't think it was a loss of money for the band, i remember prices were not so high comparing to germany, england etc , but the easily played in front of 180.000-200.000 people in 3 concerts
italy is not a strong market for them, rome 2007 or torino 1990 were disasters for me, but not 1982

Live in Torino 82 (just thought I post this one in an old thread) incl. the boobs





__________________________

For some reason, the old country (as we Italian-Americans say) has never been a good market for many of the biggest rock bands. The Stones had good drawings in 1982, but by 1990, I was told that the Italian concert goers and especially the Italian media turned on the Stones: with a second concert in Turin that year being canceled due to horrible ticket sales. And of course, we know what happened in Rome 1990: both concerts in a 30,000 seat stadium had horrible attendance.

Because of this, they didn't even bother with Italy in 1995 (the proposed Milan concert being replaced with the second Werchter show), or 1998 (15,000 tickets sold out of 60,000 for the Stadio San Siro show in Milan).

Also one must take into consideration this fact about 1982: Naples had a great draw (83,000) because it was the first major concert ever in that town, and Naples is only 2 hours south of Rome, so a lot of people also commuted from that city, allowing the Stones to kill two birds with one stone (hence 2 major shows in Gothenburg that year: people from Stockholm, Olso, Copenhagen and Helsinki all commuting.) Furthermore, the first Turin '82 show happened to be the 20th anniversary of the Rolling Stones first gig---and according to Bill Wyman, it was one of the worst of their entire career.

That all said, Naples was the highlight of the 1982 tour.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 2011-08-01 22:56 by stevecardi.

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rocker1

Also, in 1982, how many indoor arenas did they play? Looks like perhaps only very few? Frankfurt and maybe a couple Scotland gigs? Did they use the same indoor stage for these gigs as they used in 1981 (e.g., Hampton)?

Unlike 1981, which saw half of the tour in stadiums and half in arenas, the Stones played a total of four arena shows in 1982: 3 at the Festhalle in Franfurt and one in Berlin, which in reality was at the 22,000-seat Waldbuhne outdoor amphitheatre. All of the Scotland gigs were played in c3,000 seat theatres.

I too have wondered if they bothered to ship over the 81 arena stage just for those three Frankfurt shows (and if anyone here has pictures, please post them).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-08-01 22:50 by stevecardi.

deleted



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-08-01 22:48 by stevecardi.

Great boot! First I bought on vinyl back in the day.

Vilhelm
Nordic Stones Vikings

Turin '82: 70,000 1st and 40,000 2nd

Naples '82: 83,000

Rome '90: 25,000 1st and less than 10,000 2nd

Turin '90: 40,000

Milan '03: 62,000

Milan '06: 58,000

Rome '07: 35,000

The profit on 82 was $4 million I believe.

There was a similar report in the UK press in 1990 saying that ticket sales were mediocre and the merchandising sales were poor.

They probably haven't lost money on a tour since the 70s.

I thought that the 81-82 was the first tour ever sponsored (Jovan and TDK) meaning that the Stones did not lose any money. Afterwards sponsors could have stay away if they were to lose money with the Stones, don't think they have, au contraire, they have had VW, American Express, Budweiser, America Quest and others.

It's a brand awareness thing, I mean Tommy Hilfiger !!?

There were a couple nice tour posters for Italy 1982 - I have one but it's in very bad shape. Does anyone have a good scan - I'd like to have one as a momento.

Those audience numbers aren´t bad,except only 2nd Rome in 1990.

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marko
Those audience numbers aren´t bad,except only 2nd Rome in 1990.

Yeah, you're right Marko. People also need to put things into perspective: since 1995, The Stones have drawn MUCH bigger audiences in Europe than in the USA. I don't think any US concert has had a crowd bigger than 70,000+ since Steel Wheels (and only then it was in LA), whereas VL and B2B Europe often had crowds as big or bigger than that.

Ticket sales in 1990 were also affected by the World Cup taking place in Italy at the same time.

They had the same problem when playing France in 1998.

They also had huge problems in getting licences to play in Italy in 1982. The tour t-shirt actually lists shows in Florence, Milan and (I think) Rome, none of which took place.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-08-02 20:58 by Gazza.

And the shows in Rome 1990 were fantastic,i really like the 1st one,Paint it black absolutely killer version.

Marko,have you a decent version of 1st show in Rome (25/07/90)?!

decent,,,it up to your ears,,,but i rate from 4-10 so i think its somewhere 6.
Its fun to listen,audience sings thru entire show.

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marko
decent,,,it up to your ears,,,but i rate from 4-10 so i think its somewhere 6.
Its fun to listen,audience sings thru entire show.

LOL Marko, I'm often more tolerant of bad recordings than most people, but Rome 1990 is just too messed up for me. That said--based upon what I can hear--it i a good performance.

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mailexile67
Turin '82: 70,000 1st and 40,000 2nd

Naples '82: 83,000

Rome '90: 25,000 1st and less than 10,000 2nd

Turin '90: 40,000

Milan '03: 62,000

Milan '06: 58,000

Rome '07: 35,000

[www.archiviolastampa.it]

Rome, 1970: 12,000

It appears there was a major shortage in material used to make men's pants in Italy in '82 judging by the video.

I read some 1982 comment of Mick's that the Stones weren't making money in Europe—as in America—so the European tour "is all about the music."

Woody in his memoir said the Stones didn't make money in Europe like America, and also said bands avoided touring South America for years because the money always disappeared down a hole of graft. I once stayed with European friends in the South of France shortly before heading to Italy, and they gave me the warning, "Italy is a nation of thieves." However, I had no problems in Italy. So hopefully the Stones didn't face anything venal.

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Gazza
Ticket sales in 1990 were also affected by the World Cup taking place in Italy at the same time.

They had the same problem when playing France in 1998.

They also had huge problems in getting licences to play in Italy in 1982. The tour t-shirt actually lists shows in Florence, Milan and (I think) Rome, none of which took place.

Actually Florence 1982 didn't take place because there were problems with the local administration (who owns the stadium). The Napoli date was picked up in substitution of the Florence one.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-08-03 20:08 by Wild Slivovitz.

I'm sorry to say, but apart from a handful of fans Italy does not love the Stones ...

Italy does not love the Stones ...

..... why?....Geeeeez hope not 'cause of that cold Italian Pizza line ....



ROCKMAN

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Rockman
Italy does not love the Stones ...

..... why?....Geeeeez hope not 'cause of that cold Italian Pizza line ....

Good one ... ... ha ha ha ha. No, not for that reason.

The main reasons I believe stemming from our traditional melodic .... the dullness of certain political figures and religious in the 1980s saw the Stones as carriers of messages which are harmful to the healthy Italian Youth
Now things have changed a little but not much ... ...