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noughties
Speaking for myself, I thought they had to put up with being old school in the early 70s because of all the new bands at the time. 14 year olds wanted new bands, at first represented by the wide and loose "progressive music" concept.
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tatters
In 1978 I was nineteen. Mick and Keith were in their mid-30s and seemed ancient to me. I'm amazed now at how young they look in their 1978 photos. Mid-thirties? My wife's kids are that age now!
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noughties
Speaking for myself, I thought they had to put up with being old school in the early 70s because of all the new bands at the time. 14 year olds wanted new bands, at first represented by the wide and loose "progressive music" concept.
Same for Japan. The received wisdom now is that The Rolling Stones were on top of their game in the early 70’s, both in the studio and on stage. Back then, in real time, though, they were regarded as part of the “old school”, almost on the verge of falling behind the times. Music lovers went for Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Chicago, Santana, Pink Floyd, EL&P, T. Rex, Bowie etc...
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noughties
Speaking for myself, I thought they had to put up with being old school in the early 70s because of all the new bands at the time. 14 year olds wanted new bands, at first represented by the wide and loose "progressive music" concept.
Same for Japan. The received wisdom now is that The Rolling Stones were on top of their game in the early 70’s, both in the studio and on stage. Back then, in real time, though, they were regarded as part of the “old school”, almost on the verge of falling behind the times. Music lovers went for Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Chicago, Santana, Pink Floyd, EL&P, T. Rex, Bowie etc...
On top of their game? What happened to all the bands/acts you mention. When the "old" Rolling Stones finally performed in Japan in 1990, half a million fans came to see them in Tokyo (more than 2 million requests for tickets). Just to see some "old men" do their thing on stage? The 1980s (with gap) had proven they were still big, and in Japan they new. I saw the band many times over the past 5 decades. They evolved all the time and when you evolve, you don't talk about "top of their game". 14onFire tour! Zip tour USA, magnificant shows in Latin America (Argentina ... wow), Cuba ... wow. Europe, USA 2017/18/19 ... on top of their game? You're kidding me ...
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RisingStone
When The Rolling Stones’ first ever shows in Japan in January 1973 were announced — and they were later cancelled due to Mick’s prior drug bust — the reaction from some of the fans over there back in the day was like, “So they are coming to Japan at last. Too late.”
The Beatles had visited the country in 1966, beating them by seven years. The fans felt they were waiting for them for too long, and that the members were now getting old and beyond their prime. Looking back, the Pacific Tour 1973 was virtually an extension of the U.S. Tour 1972, which is regarded as their peak period as a live band by many. They were at the zenith of their performance then, and the Japanese missed a LOT.
Fast forward to 1989. The news came in — “The Rolling Stones will release a new album and start a U.S. tour after seven years’ hiatus from the road.” The members were all into their forties now, one even fifties. The 60’s being almost two decades behind, nobody said, “Don’t trust over thirty” anymore. Even so, the forty-something Stones looked way too old to rock ‘n roll in the eyes of the general public. Now, in 2021, I watch the recorded footage of their performance from the Steel Wheels Tour and think, “Look, how they were young and played well.”
Watching the visual recorded material of the performances of the Stones after turning 40, 50 or even 60, have you ever felt they were younger than you thought back then, and playing brilliantly?
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georgie48Quote
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noughties
Speaking for myself, I thought they had to put up with being old school in the early 70s because of all the new bands at the time. 14 year olds wanted new bands, at first represented by the wide and loose "progressive music" concept.
Same for Japan. The received wisdom now is that The Rolling Stones were on top of their game in the early 70’s, both in the studio and on stage. Back then, in real time, though, they were regarded as part of the “old school”, almost on the verge of falling behind the times. Music lovers went for Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Chicago, Santana, Pink Floyd, EL&P, T. Rex, Bowie etc...
On top of their game? What happened to all the bands/acts you mention. When the "old" Rolling Stones finally performed in Japan in 1990, half a million fans came to see them in Tokyo (more than 2 million requests for tickets). Just to see some "old men" do their thing on stage? The 1980s (with gap) had proven they were still big, and in Japan they new. I saw the band many times over the past 5 decades. They evolved all the time and when you evolve, you don't talk about "top of their game". 14onFire tour! Zip tour USA, magnificant shows in Latin America (Argentina ... wow), Cuba ... wow. Europe, USA 2017/18/19 ... on top of their game? You're kidding me ...
I kind of acknowledge your points. Somehow I feel we are discussing the matters on different grounds — especially regarding the phrase, “on top of their game”. In one way, as you say, they have been “on top of their game” all the time, since they rose to stardom in mid 60’s to the present. On the other hand, there have been some standout phases many a Stones aficionado recognizes where their musicianship shines through all the more gloriously than other occasions, and the Exile/U.S. Tour 1972 is without doubt one of them (and some say that’s “the one”). Here I’m talking in the latter sense.
And the irony, the point I try to make here, is that people thought the Stones were fading when they were actually in their prime, both creative and performance wise.
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rcfoxy
Ummm.... nope - no perception change for me. Still the Greatest Rock n Roll band in the world ever!!
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rcfoxy
Ummm.... nope - no perception change for me. Still the Greatest Rock n Roll band in the world ever!!
Yes, they definitely are, but it's hard to figure out what is most important to them at this point.