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wonderboy
I think at the beginning of the tour there was real fear that Keith might not be up for this, that he might fall apart before our eyes.
I think that fear has been dispelled and we can enjoy the show, the good and the bad.
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keefriff99
I don't understand why it's so hard to express a nuanced view around here. You're either pigeon-holed into expressing one of two thoughts:
"Keith can't play anymore and is at death's door."
or
"Keith is ripping it up like it's 1989 again."
It seems those of us trying to express a middle opinion automatically get shoved to one or the other extremes by angry people who don't want to understand where we're coming from.
Best post I read in ages
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wonderboy
I think at the beginning of the tour there was real fear that Keith might not be up for this, that he might fall apart before our eyes.
I think that fear has been dispelled and we can enjoy the show, the good and the bad.
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laertisflash
"I think the best would be if he went back to the ''clean'' sound he had on the licks-tour, then at least the mistakes wouldn't hurt everyone's ears so much"
What Blockbuster says is a stimulus for some thoughts and remembering...
Back in 2003 Keith did some mistakes which could be covered by no one and nothing - band's member or sound's type. And the reason was simple: He often screwed up the intro of Brown Sugar that was opener song, then. He messed up very badly the opening riffs at Stockholm Stadion, at Amsterdam Arena, at Stade de France and, if memory helps, in 3-4 additional cases. But we had NOT discussions about "Keith being unable to play guitar anymore", then.
On the current tour Keith botched once the intro of a song that is sporadically played, like "Beast Of Burden" and, for an week or so, we had serious bouts of hysteria here...
Back in 2003, in Prague, Keith started Midnight Rambler with the riff of Tumblin Dice. For everyone it was a funny fact. He just forgot the exact row of the songs.
Nothing less, nothing more. On the current tour, in Barcelona, he forgot that Mick had to introduced "Rocks Of" as the "vote/winner" song of the night and on IORR board some guys seemed prepared to convene an International Conference of Healthcare Professionals, so that we know how fast is Keith "losing his brain"...
Sometimes I think that many guys on the board burden Keith with their own agonies about life, aging, time going past in space.. Just a thought.
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laertisflash
You missed the point Blockbuster. I didn't compere Keith performances of today and of the past. I just noted the big difference between the criterion of some fans. As for his musical mistakes, as for other mistakes too (forgetting which song they have to play, etc). You say: "Yes he screwed up the Brown Sugar intro in 2003 but that's just stage nerves during the first song". And I say: You have right, but 10 years later, when he screwed up the SMU intro at Hyde Park, many fans considered the fact ITSELF as the end of the world. I hope is clear what I'm saying.
BTW, overall speaking, Keith was better in 2003, Ronnie is better now compered to his performances during the European leg of Licks Tour, but... But the particular leg did bequeath a needle to me, as for my Stones experiences. Amsterdam Arena, August 19... The weakest Stones gig I have attended in my life. The only Stones gig I would rate 5/10... All the others vary from "much more than decent" to "stellar".
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DandelionPowderman
I wonder what some of you mean with "messed up"?
In Amsterdam, Keith missed one hit in his riff after playing it flawlessly on the first round.
That's not to mess up a song.
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MileHigh
Well, I was blown away with that 1990 SFTD that someone linked to a page back. About half of the song was Keith soloing and completely dominating. It was amazing to listen to and to watch! Alas, 27 years later is a long time. In fact it's exactly half-way through the Stones career. It's funny because even in 89/90 they were "pretty old."
I saw an interview with Keith were he said in the 2007-2012 stretch he went for years without picking up a guitar. I know that there are some people that are "dazzled" for lack of a better term, but I think most of us are more realistic. The sun never sets on the British Empire but the Rolling Stones ain't the British Empire.
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DandelionPowderman
I wonder what some of you mean with "messed up"?
In Amsterdam, Keith missed one hit in his riff after playing it flawlessly on the first round.
That's not to mess up a song.
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laertisflash
You missed the point Blockbuster. I didn't compere Keith performances of today and of the past. I just noted the big difference between the criterion of some fans. As for his musical mistakes, as for other mistakes too (forgetting which song they have to play, etc). You say: "Yes he screwed up the Brown Sugar intro in 2003 but that's just stage nerves during the first song". And I say: You have right, but 10 years later, when he screwed up the SMU intro at Hyde Park, many fans considered the fact ITSELF as the end of the world. I hope is clear what I'm saying.
BTW, overall speaking, Keith was better in 2003, Ronnie is better now compered to his performances during the European leg of Licks Tour, but... But the particular leg did bequeath a needle to me, as for my Stones experiences. Amsterdam Arena, August 19... The weakest Stones gig I have attended in my life. The only Stones gig I would rate 5/10... All the others vary from "much more than decent" to "stellar".
You have a point about the Amsterdam show, it really was a mess even though I didn't attend it (just listened to the bootleg). Keith messed up Brown Sugar and not long after Mick started to get problems with his voice and couldn't hit any high notes at all. It was filmed and meant to be televised later on all over Europe but that never happened.
Keith is not as terrible these days as some say, he does just enough for the most part, but it's very evident that's he's making a LOT of mistakes every show and I think it's mostly because of him never practicing guitar anymore.
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MileHigh
Well, I was blown away with that 1990 SFTD that someone linked to a page back. About half of the song was Keith soloing and completely dominating. It was amazing to listen to and to watch! Alas, 27 years later is a long time. In fact it's exactly half-way through the Stones career. It's funny because even in 89/90 they were "pretty old."
I saw an interview with Keith were he said in the 2007-2012 stretch he went for years without picking up a guitar. I know that there are some people that are "dazzled" for lack of a better term, but I think most of us are more realistic. The sun never sets on the British Empire but the Rolling Stones ain't the British Empire.
It was me mile high, this one from 89' is just as good. He hit this sort of level in his playing regularly at this point.
[www.youtube.com]
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DandelionPowderman
I wonder what some of you mean with "messed up"?
In Amsterdam, Keith missed one hit in his riff after playing it flawlessly on the first round.
That's not to mess up a song.
Aren't you thinking about Amsterdam 2017 now? I was talking about the Amsterdam concert in 2003.
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Hairball
Not to take sides, but I fully agree with you TheBlockbuster - 14 years has made a huge difference in his overall playing.
I can't surf with the same style and grace as I did 14 years ago, but I'm still out there doing my best and having fun. If you asked any of my friends, they would say "yeah hairball used to fearlessly shred with the best of them, but today he goes just with the flow in a more casual manner...he plays it safe and get's wiped out more often...more power to him though - he's still out there doing it" And I guarantee that 14 years from now my abilities will have suffered even more, but I'll still be out there doing the best I can (God willing), and my friends will still be cheering me on regardless of the decline in skills - although some will critique me and make sure they're heard loud and clear when I have a nasty wipeout. Cowabunga.
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Hairball
Not to take sides, but I fully agree with you TheBlockbuster - 14 years has made a huge difference in his overall playing.
I can't surf with the same style and grace as I did 14 years ago, but I'm still out there doing my best and having fun. If you asked any of my friends, they would say "yeah hairball used to fearlessly shred with the best of them, but today he goes just with the flow in a more casual manner...he plays it safe and get's wiped out more often...more power to him though - he's still out there doing it" And I guarantee that 14 years from now my abilities will have suffered even more, but I'll still be out there doing the best I can (God willing), and my friends will still be cheering me on regardless of the decline in skills - although some will critique me and make sure they're heard loud and clear when I have a nasty wipeout. Cowabunga.
At least no one would notice you pissing your bathing suit.
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DandelionPowderman
I wonder what some of you mean with "messed up"?
In Amsterdam, Keith missed one hit in his riff after playing it flawlessly on the first round.
That's not to mess up a song.
Bound for earning the title "Keith's Main Defender", right?
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MizzAmandaJonez
Spot on:
"it's mostly because of him never practicing guitar anymore"
Adding age and a few other variables...
Its gets better every show, with some changes show by show more subtle, but if this was a 40 show tour, he'd be in prime shape by show #30...
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MizzAmandaJonez
Spot on:
"it's mostly because of him never practicing guitar anymore"
Adding age and a few other variables...
Its gets better every show, with some changes show by show more subtle, but if this was a 40 show tour, he'd be in prime shape by show #30...
This.
Plus of course don't forget the Stones only play an average of 2 shows a week now. That makes it more difficult for a player like Keith to become fluent and practiced. I am confident that by Paris we will have a passable performance from Keith, meaning the show will be more comfortable and enjoyable to watch and hear.
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Eleanor Rigby
Spot on: He is Keith Richards afterall...the greatest...He knows it - the diehards love him regardless.