I mean South Europe. The first time they played Greece was in 1967 and the second one was in ...1998, during B2B tour! The show was, of course, absolutely successful. (sell out, 79,466 tickets, Olympic Stadium of Athens). Since 1990 they played Italy just once (Milan, 2003, more than 65,000 people). OK, in the summer of 1990 they had some troubles to selling strongly tickets there, but don’t forget that was the period and the country of the Soccer World Cup’s conduct. They had difficulties in France too, in the summer of the 1998, for the same reason. (So, now be careful with the dates of German concerts, hey, are you hearing mr M. Cohl ???)
I think it’s time for a concert in Belgrade (as it is roumored) and for the second show ever in Zagreb. The first one was in 1998, absolutely successful (sell out, 76,000 tickets, Hippodrome).

After all these -close upon one another- tours, after attracting more than 16 million (!) people during the last 11 years and 22 million since 1989, i think the band now needs more “thirsty” people and audiences. South and Southeast Europe offer a lot of people, not only fans, who feel realy thirst for the Stones, believe me! A few days ago the Stones sold out fast Ottawa, but not Toronto. Do you think the band is less popular in Toronto?? Of course not, just the Stones in Toronto is not a rare live act. Still great and worthwhile but not rare. On the first two tours since 1989, they bursted into two huge markets: Japan in 1990, North America in 1995. But there are not NEW huge markets anymore. So, mr Cohl, regard South Europe as a kind of new important market and you’ll do the right. But NOT with the american ticket prices, OK mr Cohhhllll ???

I imagine a sell out concert at Olympic Stadium of Athens, again, or two sell outs at the new stadium “Karaiskaki” (capacity 33,500). It’s a nice “warm” venue, near the sea. I hope see you in Greece, fellows!

That's what you get for living in the middle nowhere. Just joking, I know how you feel. Are The Stones being unfair or are the repressive gov'ts being unfair to large music shows? Who else has played Greece recently?

"The wonder of Jimi Hendrix was that he could stand up at all he was so pumped full of drugs." Patsy, Patsy Stone

Wham?

Ouch, also just kidding.

Cheer up people of Athens.
True, big bands do not often visit Greece.
I remember that "voodoo lounge" was supposed to pass by Greece, but that it
didn't happen in the end cause the demands the Stones had were considered
outrageous.
But the fact that the Stones don't go there probably reflects that big business
is less big in Greece. That has positive sides too, as you know. I bet you can still
for very reasonable prices eat outside on a square or so in badly organized Athens.
And it's so nice. I haven't been there in years, but I still remember it all very well.
Great city athens. They probably will play italy. Why not move over to italy to see
the stones? That's doable. Or go to Belgrade. That's even more doable.
Giasou.

stickydion Wrote:
>... I think it’s time for a concert in Belgrade (as it
> is roumored) and for the second show ever in
> Zagreb. The first one was in 1998, absolutely
> successful (sell out, 76,000 tickets, Hippodrome).
....

actually they played in Zagreb in 1976 ,two shows, Belgrade skipped ...but i agree with you it is time ...i only hope that rumors will come true !

Well, as a Dutch guy of course I cannot complain... on most tours, the Stones played Holland about 4-5 times, sometimes more (BTB/NS tours)
But I think that not only Southern Europe is being ill-treated, but also Eastern Europe. The New EU-states - how often did the Stones perform in countries like Latvia, Hungary, Bulgaria, not to mention Ukraine, Russia, China - by now, it should no longer be a problem, there's no iron curtain anymore, there's lots of people with money in these emerging markets, tickets would certainly sell out.

I hope it's our turn to get a show in Norway as well. No shows between 1965 and 1990. In 1990 and 1995 the shows (Valle Hovin) were packed (2 times full capacity 38.000 in 1990 and 1 time full capacity 40.000 in 1995). In 1998 35.000 showed up, and in 2003 they skipped Norway

Please come back this time!!!!!

If you pay them enough they will even play in the "middle of nowhere"... Sorry to say that but it's the truth. Times of "against the establishment" are long history...

If you pay them enough they will even play in the "middle of nowhere"...

That's correct, just remember Schuettorf in 1995.

Wilco

Manace of Myfair

"Who else has played Greece recently?"


As Whale says, truly big bands do not often visit Greece. Stones 1998 (80,000 people), U2 1997 (50,000), Pink Floyd 1989 (65,000) and perhaps REM 1999 (20,000, smaller venue) have been the top live moments, here. Gun's 'n Roses 1993 was an unsuccessful show, only 10,000 in the Olympic Stadium! But if you look to a scale (or more) lower, the things are much better. In the last 5- 10 years have played here Lou Reed, D.Bowie, Blur (very bad show!), Oasis (the worst!), Pati Smith (excellent!), Primal Scream, Peter Gabriel, Sonic Youth, Placebo, Metallica, Prodigy, Ramones, Joe Strummer and many many others. Some bands or artist play Greece again and again: Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Moby, Steve Wynnn, Scorpions, Iron Maiden and others.


In Athens every summer is conducting a Festival ("RockWave") with important or just famous artists. This summer will play Velvet Revolver, Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, Garbage, Sonic Youth, Moby, Dio, some well known metal bands (Slayer, Accept, etc), In Athens will play White Stripes, too.

OK, a huge and costly live act, like the Stones, it's difficult to visit Greece if on the touring map are not Italy and other Balkan States too. But if they play Rome and Belgrade, why not Athens? It's just one more station. So i still hope. In different case ...buon giorno Roma or good mornig Belgrade !!

PS Whale, thanks for the wishes. But don't remind me the "VL" tour, please, it's painful! The roumors for the show, then, kindled so enthusiasm in Greece, but... I remember the date "August, 29". Was the day they played Netherlands...

..and I was there....

ouch! sorry...

Gggggrrrrrrr....

Yes, Wilco. That's how Mick called Schüttdorf when they played there ;-)

The Stones could play three concerts in Athens. One big size at the Olympic stadium, one medium size at the Lykavittos theater, and one small size at the Acropolis odeion.

I would love to see the Stone performing a show dressed as the ancient Greeks, with with dresses and sandal. We owe so much to Greece.

Dressed for war as hoplites with Chuck as king Leonidas of Sparta.

The Joker says: "I would love to see the Stone performing a show dressed as the ancient Greeks"

What do you think Mick was dressed in on Hyde Park's stage, in 1969??? Not an ancient Greek's item of clothing, of course, but a traditional Greek garment! Honestlty...

Bars says: "Dressed for war as hoplites with Chuck as king Leonidas of Sparta."

Remember the "monster" on the stage of the 1990 tour (Live at the MAX), when the band was playing "SFM". Mick was "fighting" like king Leonidas number 2...

I think they will have to be this time "fair" to a lot of countries :
a) due to the Soccer Worldcup in Germany
b) it's akind of Goodbye Tour
c) show they can outsell groups like U2

Why not play Bucharest and Sofia? I remember a few yaars back watching a TV show of a Michael Jackson concert in Bucharest. There were tens of thousands in atendance. I really believe the Stones have a base of fans in both Romania and Bulgaria that, unfortunately, have to travel to Western Europe in order to see them.

Yes DaveG, but if they play Romania and Bulgaria the ticket there must be prices very, very low...

during licks tour, belgrade(serbia) was in stones calendar for lowest ticket price on earth thanks to personal effort and connections of prime minister Zoran Djindjic at the time , everything was prepared....but our prime minister was murdered ,and the stones canceled...

The problem is that wherever they go to play, the tour crew is paid according to US/UK standarts. They have to earn at least enough money to pay the promoter, the local crew, their own tour personal (and themselves). Putting this altogether makes it hard to go to emerging countries, unless they sell massively (100,000 ?) cheap tickets for each show.


[doctorstonesblog.blogspot.com]

And in Sweden too. Swedes give their income to the Socialist Government. We need money for concerts!

LA FORUM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And in Sweden too. Swedes give their income to the
> Socialist Government. We need money for concerts!
>
>
> and Ay ay baby it hurts


What do you mean?

Cheers,
Wuudy

What LA means is tax...

Vilhelm
Nordic Stones Vikings