I have often wondered why the Stones often choose to perform 14 shows in a tour rather than say 15 (divisible by 5), or 12 (a dozen)? 14 seems to be an unusual number.

If they chose to perform only 11 shows per tour I would think that would be a nod to Spinal Tap! LOL!

Seriously, why 14?

What's your deal with math?

It's zero to do with math - read up about promoters and guarantees.

How do you not know that?

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GasLightStreet
What's your deal with math?

It's zero to do with math - read up about promoters and guarantees.

How do you not know that?

Not everyone is very familiar with promoters and guarantees

Why not, not why!

14 is divisible by 7

Think the model was first used in the year 2014 for the 14 On Fire tour although the planning was two tours in the year, 14 shows for Asia/Oceania and another 14 for Europe.

It ended up as 3 legs though (you know the reason).

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wiredallnight
14 is divisible by 7

And 1

because 13 are not enough and 15 are too many…

Insurance plus they not young. Enjoy while we can

Why specifically 14, I couldn't say; but as others have mentioned; they're elderly, and can no-longer perform every other night, let along consecutive evenings.

RisingStone is right. It originated with the 14 on Fire Tour and they continued to use it in Europe. In the States they always did more shows.

14 is just a number between 10 and 20. If 20 if too much, and 10 is too little, then 14 is a great number.

"Even numbers" - a mathematical term - may be divided by two. 7 is a number with lots of positive energy, just search for it. So you get 2 x lucky 7 = 14.

If you multiply 14 shows by 3 days, you get 42 days, with the breaks. Add a resting week and you get 49 days. Then add one month of rehearsals needed ahead of any tour, and you get approx 3 months, which is a lot for anyone age 70 or 80.

I am sure Mick, Keith, Ronnie, Charlie, and their lawyers, and their management, discussed this way back in 2013. They had just finished the 21+1 shows tour in USA, and they were planning the European tour 2014, after the Far East tour Spring 2014. I heard about the European tour early March, then they had decided about the 14 concept long time before, probably in 2013

Bjornulf



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-01-18 16:37 by bv.

Yet they just did 20 shows in North America. Maybe they thought that was a half dozen too many.

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kovach
Yet they just did 20 shows in North America. Maybe they thought that was a half dozen too many.

That 2024 tour in USA & Canada was originally planned for 14 shows in 2023. Then they pulled out just a couple of days before announcement day. I assume the cost of the booked venues, promotion work, all costs involved ina last minute change, added up a large cost, picked up by more shows the next year (2024).

If you went to some of the late shows of that tour, you may have noticed they were tired. Even the fans were tired...

Bjornulf



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025-01-18 18:03 by bv.

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bv

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kovach
Yet they just did 20 shows in North America. Maybe they thought that was a half dozen too many.

That 2024 tour in USA & Canada was originally planned for 14 shows in 2023. Then they pulled out just a couple of days before announcement day. I assume the cost of the booked venues, promotion work, all costs involved ina last minute change, added up a large cost, picked up by more shows the next year (2024).

If you went to some of the late shows of that tour, you may have noticed they were tired. Even the fans were tired...

Yes I was tired after Ridgedale and I'm 20+ years younger than the Glimmer Twins.

What am I missing? Thought the tour schedule was just rumor to this point? Anyway if it’s accurate I think it’s not too bad. I would suspect when the end comes it’s going to happen in England. My guess.

Everybody knows that 14 shows is perfect for a tour. You can’t have a tour with 13 shows. 13 shows won’t work. 14 is the number. (A little Something About Mary reference).

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keefmick
Everybody knows that 14 shows is perfect for a tour. You can’t have a tour with 13 shows. 13 shows won’t work. 14 is the number. (A little Something About Mary reference).

Sure! Many times no row 13 on airplanes. No floor 13 in hotels. I always take it easy on Friday 13th. So 14 is much better.

Bjornulf

Bjornulf's explanations and reasoning make the most sense. Thank you!

A baker's dozen is 13, and 13 being unlucky + 1 = 14. Started with 14 On Fire Tour.

Who gives a rats ass about the number 14? Let them do whatever number they want to do. Or get promotional interest in. Maybe someone in there LIKES the number. Maybe BW has nailed it in his answer. Maybe it is because 4+5+4+1 = 14. And no, 4+5+4+1 has no significance whatsoever for me. Or for anyone I know. Or for The Stones.

Maybe because 14 is Johan Cruyff's number, best football player of all times

If I remember well wasn't there discussion about a european fall arena tour in 2013, that disappeared pretty quickly?
It must have been around that time when they decided on the new 14-date concept. Maybe the 21 shows in 2013 were too much for them?

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Glimmerest

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GasLightStreet
What's your deal with math?

It's zero to do with math - read up about promoters and guarantees.

How do you not know that?

Not everyone is very familiar with promoters and guarantees

OK.

You're right.

Sorry. I guess I figured you knew that. Or at least about it.

It's a weird business. In comparison to basically any other business. Movies being at least one exception.

As early as the Licks tour Mick was saying that might be the last big tour with shorter tours but more often.

I notice some of the new directions the Stones have taken in touring were previously considered and sidelined for later like the 1996 arena tour for Stripped. In the end they decided not to do it but resurrected the idea in 1999 for No Security.

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saintmick
Maybe because 14 is Johan Cruyff's number, best football player of all times

14

I was also thinking at Johan Cruijff (not Cruyff ) He had also something with the number 14. He always made things up to come to those numbers

2 weeks work.

Maybe inspired by this... John Phillips backed up by Mick and Keith...

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GasLightStreet
What's your deal with math?

It's zero to do with math - read up about promoters and guarantees.

How do you not know that?

Is it possible to be anymore supercilious.

by the way, they did:

17 shows in 2015.
19 shows in 2016.
14 shows in 2017.
14 shows in 2018.
17 shows in 2019.
15 shows in 2021.
14 shows in 2022.
20 shows in 2024.

so...

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superglen
by the way, they did:

17 shows in 2015.
19 shows in 2016.
14 shows in 2017.
14 shows in 2018.
17 shows in 2019.
15 shows in 2021.
14 shows in 2022.
20 shows in 2024.

so...

Always 14 when they have toured Europe/UK since Year 2014 that is not mentioned in the list. So…

Wait. There is a new factor this time. The new (or latest, at this timing over a year after its release) album — Hackney Diamonds. They played 20 shows in the US behind it. So…