Why do the Rolling Stones always insist on dragging an opening act on tour with them? You know that they can easily play an entire evening just by themselves? Has anybody ever seen the stones without an opening act???

they would not play longer if they had no opening band

Why do women like foreplay?

ROCKMAN

I beg to differ Donkey.

Opening acts give extra value for $$$ if any good - Ike & Tina, Standells, Stevie Wonder, Meters, Peter Tosh, Living Colour, Ryan Adams, Garland Jeffreys. But not the Black Eyed Peas - can't believe I showed up 20 minutes before the end of their set a second conecutive night - having been vividly forwarned. Wouldn't mind seeing Pearl Jam open.

There was a time when the Stones chose opening acts with an eye to putting on the best possible show for their fans. Now the opening acts are carefully chosen for their ability to make the Stones look good. The Stones would never, EVER put someone up there now who they could not easily blow off the stage. It's like an old boxer coming out of retirement. He wants his comeback fight to be against a bum, someone who will make him look good, someone he can KO in the first round. Show business.

Metallica, Pearl Jam, AC/DC, Beck, Buddy Guy, etc - I don't think that's much of a concern.

No I think tatters is absolutely right. Those shows from 69-Seventies were attempting to provide an overall tight shopw. They were trying to promote hot artists. Maybe also to educate us to new styles. Lately I think on;y the pairing of AC/DC was a real joining of talents. Must have been the Keithian input at work there.

ROCKMAN, that's the answer really, isn't it? (Not sure why you limit it to one gender. lol)

Yeah Bigbang ....I guess we also need our rods cranked ....!!!!

ROCKMAN

I think also they used to choose opening acts that they just liked, B.B. King, Ike and Tina, etc,..I saw The Stones twice on the '72' tour and Stevie Wonder, (who was great!) was the opening act both times, and yes, The Stones blew him away! That was another time though.

I ain't stupid, I'm just guitarded.

Sure, the show's longer that way. But seriously, it's looked to me the last few tours to be an ego thing - look how many hot/up and coming/classic acts in their own right want to OPEN for us! Hell yeah!

Simple - the show is longer with an opening act which gives them more time to sell beer and merchandise.

I'm seeing the show with Pearl Jam opening...not sure that would help ticket sales since Pearl Jam fans make about $300 a month.

I think they have no idea who half of these people are anyway. I always crack up when I think of Ronnie Wood talking about the opening acts for the B2B tour (at least I think it was that tour). He was saying "oh yeah, we have this one called "The Blues something", "The Blues something" and he's making the little motions with his fingers for each word. He didn't even know their name, I'm sure he probably didn't know their music either. It was Blues Traveller in case you didn't figure that one out, btw.

Anyway, I always thought that clip was really funny.

You know what else was funny, the one where Kurt Loder asks Keith...

"you've been sending a barrage of zingers to Mick through the media, have you had any response..."

Keith: Yeah, he's pissed!!!! (followed by loud cackling laughs by Keith and off-camera crew)

ChelseaDrugstore Wrote:
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> No I think tatters is absolutely right. Those
> shows from 69-Seventies were attempting to provide
> an overall tight shopw. They were trying to
> promote hot artists. Maybe also to educate us to
> new styles. Lately I think on;y the pairing of
> AC/DC was a real joining of talents. Must have
> been the Keithian input at work there.


the reason why they used AC DC in 2003 was more obvious and less musically-minded than that.

The ticket sales had been very slow for those shows and they added them to the bill to sell a few thousand more...

Beats me. Wings in '76, Bette Midler NEVER have opening acts. I certainly wouldn't mind the Stones coming on at 2000, playing for 90 minutes, then pissing off. I've got a life too, you know...

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

Menace of Mayfair - I've never heard that quote about the scarf before. Can you tell me about that one? Thanks!

Lets look at the history and some Stones quotes (paraphrased).

a) History of R&R shows was numerous bands, more than two, everyone played just a few songs, the Beatles never played more than 35 minutes (once popular) but were fronted by many bands on any given day, the Stones likewise.....so history says more than one band.

b) more bands started to have a history, more songs to play. Now they had something to offer for an hour maybe two. Still have the expectation of more than one band. I think two bands makes a nice evening.

c) it is tough to play and sit through more that 2 1/2 hours of what I will call 'one sound', I'm not talking song types, I'm talking the overall sound of a band. A well thought out double show will have complimenting 'sounds' or at least non combating sounds. I am not happy having to see Motley Crue and the Stones...two much heavy sound. I sat through a 5 hour Greatfull Dead show once and they thought they were doing the fans a favour...what a bust....you think you want to hear the Stones for 5 hours...the smoke and booze will wear off and you will be left with a hangover for the last two hours and you can bet the band will be slowing down around hour three.

d) I believe Keith and Mick have said it well in that the show must have pacing, this is why the intro's are where they are, Keith's songs, the ballads, et. This would apply to a backup band and their place in the overall evening.

e) with ticket prices the way there are I better get something more.

Summary...history of croud expectations, rounding out the entertainment, keep the headliners work to a length of time that works.

I'm looking forward to Maroon 5 and The Tragically Hip in Moncton - and I know a niece is stoked to see Our Lady Peace. I'm just going to enjoy the experience - I don't think The Rolling Stones have played a GA gig in North America for some time (Anybody know when the last GA concert was?) so the 5 hours of beer time before the stones come on should be great. Beer Sales will stop at 8:15 when the RS com on.

CindyC Wrote:
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> Menace of Mayfair - I've never heard that quote
> about the scarf before. Can you tell me about
> that one? Thanks!

It's on the Seattle '75 boot, Cindy.



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

I am no expert,but I believe the SARS concert in Toronto was GA

Doin' heroin with the president