This may be wrong but here is my idea. The Stones, or people very close to them, read these message boards. there is no denying that. During the Licks Tour there were a lot of complaints about Chuck Leavell and how he was taking over the band by choosing setlists and being too loud in the mix.

Now, it seems the band has taken Chuck down a bit and given him less control. This would explain the somewhat boring setlists. In interviews, Chuck always said he encouraged the Stones to play the rarities. Which is evidenced by the songs on the Licks Tour.

So I think because of the complaints from previous tours, the result is that The Stones have stopped giving Leavell the freedom to direct the live show and that is why there aren't many obscure songs in the set.

If you check out Chuck's tour diary, you will find that he is still very much involved in the setlist process.

I just checked his site and tried to access his tour diary and it wassn't available.

But this awesome picture was

HAHAHAHAHA!! I think I just puked.. :-S

LOL, he's cool. Actually I think he's cool, I dont find Keiths posing with knives and rastathing very interesting.

I think I just found out what the word "opportunist" means.
But I find him cool too. As is Keith, less with switchblades than with
rasta vibration though.

It's Dr. Dude!

i made the same suggestion a few weeks ago. apparently, KR's man is Blondie, while MJ's man is Chuck.

they could get a another key board person in a jumping jack flash...i for one could care who plays the piano....its not like he is jerry lee lewis!!...shit my sister can play as good or better then he can.....

keith and ronnie are back with this tour so no need for chuck to be up front like the last tour.. boy are they back..thank god!

hot stuff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> keith and ronnie are back with this tour


back from where?

back from playing around...the guitars are far more up front on this tour...
i think ronnie is really playing and not playing around...
both keith and ronnie are far better than i have seen them...even better than in 1975....

T&A Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> hot stuff Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > keith and ronnie are back with this tour
>
>
> back from where?


the drinks cabinet, it seems...

hot stuff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> back from playing around...the guitars are far
> more up front on this tour...
> i think ronnie is really playing and not playing
> around...
> both keith and ronnie are far better than i have
> seen them...even better than in 1975....


I can only go by the half-dozen recordings I've heard (that's enough, IMO). Yes, it does appear the sound-folks are doing a better job, but I'm not hearing "improvement" on the part of either KR or RW...nor would I expect to. Guys this age don't suddenly find a new gear.