Have always wondered about this: do rock musicians in general--and The Stones in particular--get together after a show, or the next day, or whenever, listen to tapes, and discuss what went right, wrong, etc?

Or is one person in charge (in The Stones' case, Mick, or Chuck, or ?) of evaluating the previous performance and reporting back to the group any problems that need to be corrected before the next show?

Or does it all kind of run on auto-pilot and by now they really just sort of know what's working, what's not, and what they need to do to correct any problems?

Sorry in advance if this has been addressed before; I couldn't find any record of it. Has always been something I've wondered about.

They tape everything they do. They tape all the people there. They tape the fans. And.......yes, they watch the tapes with vigilence.

CE

Oh, and they are a tad superstitious. If a song "goes wrong", they dump it immediately from the setlist.

EDIT TO ADD: Obviously, if "Satisfaction" goes wrong it stays in the setlist. What I meant was - if a new-ish tune goes wrong then boom, it's gone for the rest of the tour.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-06-03 20:12 by Cocaine Eyes.

Ah, do they "debrief," debug?

Good question, LBA.

Thanks, CE.

~"Love is Strong"~

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angee
Ah, do they "debrief," debug?

Good question, LBA.

Thanks, CE.

You're welcome - but take a look up please. I've just added a bit of info.

Thanks,
CE

in the 70's there was a party in keiths room every night and they would blast a tape of the show while everyone was hanging out.
so they had a pretty quick turnaround on what they played and re-listening to it.

nowdays i'm not sure. you would think they would not only listen to the shows but watch a video of it.even if the others don't, jagger is so meticulous about everything he probably sees it and does a breakdown of what worked and what didnt.

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angee
Ah, do they "debrief," debug?

Good question, LBA.

Thanks, CE.

Yes, thanks, CE. I figured everything was taped, of course.

Do you have any idea how the process works? Seems like they live such separate lives, even while on tour. Is there a designated time at which everybody gets together and pokes fun at Ronnie missing an intro or Keith having a fashion malfunction or Mick forgetting a lyric? I just wonder how they get these issues on the table and then go about solving them.

Perhaps these are just well-guarded state secrets ...

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lem motlow
in the 70's there was a party in keiths room every night and they would blast a tape of the show while everyone was hanging out.
so they had a pretty quick turnaround on what they played and re-listening to it.

nowdays i'm not sure. you would think they would not only listen to the shows but watch a video of it.even if the others don't, jagger is so meticulous about everything he probably sees it and does a breakdown of what worked and what didnt.

Yeah, it's so much easier to imagine them doing something like this back then. I think there may even be some info of this sort in Stanley Booth's book on the '69 tour.

But, nowadays? I just have no clue.

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LongBeachArena72
Perhaps these are just well-guarded state secrets ...

At this point, they all watch the tapes before the soundcheck for CityX show that night.

BTW: Their lives are not as separate as one might think! Whilst on tour, I mean.

CE

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Cocaine Eyes

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LongBeachArena72
Perhaps these are just well-guarded state secrets ...

At this point, they all watch the tapes before the soundcheck for CityX show that night.

BTW: Their lives are not as separate as one might think! Whilst on tour, I mean.

CE

I see. Cool--thanks!

That is one video screening session I'd love to be a fly on the wall for ...

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Cocaine Eyes

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LongBeachArena72
Perhaps these are just well-guarded state secrets ...

At this point, they all watch the tapes before the soundcheck for CityX show that night.

BTW: Their lives are not as separate as one might think! Whilst on tour, I mean.

CE

for some reason, this post made my day-i guess you dont become the best at something and stay that way for so long without working at it.
it's like they say, the great ones make it look easy.

Very interesing thread! I always wondered this..
Probably Mick does it. He does so much preperation for the tour, does his fitness and singing exercises and I bet at least after the first show he wants to see/hear if he's in a good shape. And I guess Mick is also the one who decides about the rare songs.

StonedRambler-

i can see you are a bit new here,you may want to reread cocaine eyes post and give it a little more....consideration.

Insider info deluxe! Thanks CE

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Cocaine Eyes
They tape everything they do. They tape all the people there. They tape the fans. And.......yes, they watch the tapes with vigilence.

CE

Oh, and they are a tad superstitious. If a song "goes wrong", they dump it immediately from the setlist.

EDIT TO ADD: Obviously, if "Satisfaction" goes wrong it stays in the setlist. What I meant was - if a new-ish tune goes wrong then boom, it's gone for the rest of the tour.

They didn't think Can't Be Seen "went wrong" on the tour premiere in Europe last year?

I always thought in the past--looking at the 81, 89 and 94 US tours for example--the first 3 to 6 shows had new songs played as tryout to see if they'll work live ("Tops" in 81) or older songs/covers to see where they can work in the set or just trying to get their "live legs" back. This is why I've always found the first handful of shows on any tour the most interesting (not really counting the '12/'13/'14/'15 tours separately; it's been one long piecemeal tour to me)

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TheGoons
I always thought in the past--looking at the 81, 89 and 94 US tours for example--the first 3 to 6 shows had new songs played as tryout to see if they'll work live ("Tops" in 81) or older songs/covers to see where they can work in the set or just trying to get their "live legs" back. This is why I've always found the first handful of shows on any tour the most interesting (not really counting the '12/'13/'14/'15 tours separately; it's been one long piecemeal tour to me)

Absolutely.

While I don't doubt they might drop a tune that obviously doesn't work from the set list. I tend to think they are probably considerably beyond the point of evaluating every performance in order to make improvements for the next one.

I mean they have played these songs hundreds of times and there is a big difference between rehearsing the songs and discussing them and evaluating every performance. What is Mick going to do, tell Keith to play a better lead, tell Ronnie to stick to the rhythm more tightly? And are you actually going to get Charlie to watch all these performances?, no way.

Keith mentioned a while back that he hadn't seen Mick at the venues prior to getting on stage for many years. Besides getting ready for a show involves psyching ones self up, warming up and other things. I seriously doubt they are going to risk getting ready by looking at and evaluating mistakes from the previous show.

They have all talked about their pre-show preparation and I've never heard anyone talk about debugging stuff from the previous shows. Sorry CE, I don't buy it. Unless there were major problems I just don't see this as part of the Stones 2015 routine.

peace



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-06-03 22:19 by Naturalust.

Yeah, as if they should "debug" Satisfaction and JJ Flash after playing them for the 5,000th time. Sure...

I think they only debug if something goes catastrophically wrong, like an amp going dead in the middle of a number or Keith getting electrocuted during "The Last Time".

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Cocaine Eyes
They tape everything they do. They tape all the people there. They tape the fans. And.......yes, they watch the tapes with vigilence.

CE

Oh, and they are a tad superstitious. If a song "goes wrong", they dump it immediately from the setlist.

EDIT TO ADD: Obviously, if "Satisfaction" goes wrong it stays in the setlist. What I meant was - if a new-ish tune goes wrong then boom, it's gone for the rest of the tour.

Like Silver Train

Yup. That's why they have 3-4 days between each show.

Yep. If a band needs to debug performances after 50 years of playing live shows they are either way more serious about the music than I give them credit for or way more insecure about their abilities as musicians than makes sense. The reason they work so hard in rehearsals is so they don't have to do this sort of constant re-evaluation once the tour is started, imo.

And if they actually watched every performance on the last tour, there is no way they wouldn't have invited Taylor back for this one.

peace

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alieb

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Cocaine Eyes
if a new-ish tune goes wrong then boom, it's gone for the rest of the tour.

Like Silver Train

They played it again in Brisbane.

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Naturalust
Sorry CE, I don't buy it. Unless there were major problems I just don't see this as part of the Stones 2015 routine.

Hi, well let me put it this way. The tapes are there for everyone to watch and critique. BUT, let's say they play "Connection" for the first time. I'd be certain to say they'd all sit down together and look for how well everyone handled it and also whether (or not) it fit well into the overall 'feel' of the performances of that particular tour.

Did that make more sense?

And to the poster (forgive me, I forget your login name) who suggested MICK and Mick alone does it all......well, I'm confused! (Not really). So MICK does it all then? Jerry Hall was right when she said "He's busy!" circa 1991-2. He plays drums, piano, horns, sings, dances, 3 guitars at the same time, sews the costumes....... And after ALL THAT, Mick sits back and watches himself doing it all. I have to echo Jerry Hall with "He's busy!"

CE

EDIT TO ADD: The VERY most important tapes they watch and watch again and again are the rehearsal gigs. They watch and listen to audience reaction. They watch their own every move. But as I just said, if they introduce "Connection" it's going to be looked at again and again until everyone is happy with it. OK now?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-06-03 22:57 by Cocaine Eyes.

do The Stones debug their performances?

To the point where they are completely sterile?................n-----o......

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EddieByword
do The Stones debug their performances?

To the point where they are completely sterile?................n-----o......

Oh Lord no! We need the Stones to remain "a bit wobbly" as Bill said so long ago.

Good point, EddieByword.

CE

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StonedRambler
Very interesing thread! I always wondered this..
Probably Mick does it. He does so much preperation for the tour, does his fitness and singing exercises and I bet at least after the first show he wants to see/hear if he's in a good shape. And I guess Mick is also the one who decides about the rare songs.

That's a tad bizarre. If anyone was trying to 'decide about the rare songs' wouldn't it be crazy (to say nothing of impolite) to not have the guitar players and the drummer in on the decision-making?

The Stones is a group effort, believe it or not. It ain't The Mick Jagger Show!

CE

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TheGoons
I always thought in the past--looking at the 81, 89 and 94 US tours for example--the first 3 to 6 shows had new songs played as tryout to see if they'll work live ("Tops" in 81) or older songs/covers to see where they can work in the set or just trying to get their "live legs" back. This is why I've always found the first handful of shows on any tour the most interesting (not really counting the '12/'13/'14/'15 tours separately; it's been one long piecemeal tour to me)

Thank you! You said it better than I ever could.

CE

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Cocaine Eyes


Oh, and they are a tad superstitious. If a song "goes wrong", they dump it immediately from the setlist.

When the power went out on opening night in Philly, '89, it was during "Shattered." They never played it again that tour.

i think it's hilarious that anyone would think they just casually go out there and blow away a crowd and move on-they see EVERYTHING.

think of it like this,charlie helps design the stages for a tour.it's like a championship team,everyone is accountable.

keith is way,way more involved than he leads the fans to believe,the image is one thing-the casual,slightly buzzed, devil make care guy,the reality is something completely different.

a rule of thumb-if they're making it look easy they worked really hard to do it.