In my opinion yes, for the next reasons:

1) They already had the experience of making a tour at a gigantic scale with Steel Wheels, but took it to a higher level.
2) They were mature, but could hardly be described as old. Much more movement on stage from Mick and especially from Keith.
3) 23 songs a night with a remarkable selection of warhorses.
4) Comprised five continents, mostly any fan in the world could see them.
5) Had in the middle of the tour and for the first time a South American leg which really revitalised the band.
6) Best stage ever. They really nicked the concept and the cobra was unbelievable. Compensated for the lack of B Stage.
7) Best visual Sympathy ever. It really looked as hell, didn't it?

that's a pretty good argument. I lean toward the NS tour...like the stripped down stage - and they ventured into unchartered waters on several classics for the first and last time....might have been KR's high-water mark of the latter-day era, too....

Of the tours I've seen ('89 to present) this has always been my favorite, for many of the reasons you've mentioned. The song selection just blew me away on that one, opening with Not Fade Away and doing songs like Rocks Off, All Down The Line, No Expectations, Stop Breaking Down, Who Do You Love, It's All Over Now,

No Security would definitely be a close number two for me. Great setlists on that one for sure. I still can't get over them playing Route 66.

That's a tough argument to beat. However, I guess the Licks tour might've had the best setlists in general, but the stages weren't as cool and there really was no new material to tour behind (besides don't stop) so it was more of a nostalgic tour, which really isn't that cool.
I personally liked the Bridges Tour. Which is semi-funny b/c I didn't even attend those shows. I was like 13 or so at the time. However, I bought the DVD as soon as it came out and I watched it all the time. I think the bridge is awesome, their first time with the bstage seemed exciting. Keith dressed very very cool and I personally really enjoy Bridges to Babylon the album. I just think the whole atmosphere of B2B was very badass and on the edge and awesome.

jumpinjackgreg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That's a tough argument to beat. However, I guess
> the Licks tour might've had the best setlists in
> general, but the stages weren't as cool and there
> really was no new material to tour behind (besides
> don't stop) so it was more of a nostalgic tour,
> which really isn't that cool.
> I personally liked the Bridges Tour. Which is
> semi-funny b/c I didn't even attend those shows. I
> was like 13 or so at the time. However, I bought
> the DVD as soon as it came out and I watched it
> all the time. I think the bridge is awesome, their
> first time with the bstage seemed exciting. Keith
> dressed very very cool and I personally really
> enjoy Bridges to Babylon the album. I just think
> the whole atmosphere of B2B was very badass and on
> the edge and awesome.

That was the best stage in my opinion. Hard to beat the excitement and surprise of seeing the bridge come out for the first time.

IMHO. It was not. Reasons;

The Cobra did nothing but spit a little fire. That Stage was the exact stage used for the Uban Jungle tour just reconfigured. My favorite stage was Indoor stage 81.

The best visual Sympathy was on the BTB Tour.

They pulled out some nice nuggets on that tour like Monkey Man and Its all over now. But no real Obscure tunes like on the Licks Tour. Even the BB tour with all the setlist moaning has Sway and Ain't to proud to Beg, Worried about you.

Licks.........and why?..because you could see them in 3 different venues and be blown away by them each time more than you thought was possible

Rip This Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Licks.........and why?..because you could see them
> in 3 different venues and be blown away by them
> each time more than you thought was possible


Very well said.

I agree with Voodoo. They sounded the best as well. It was clear. From the lyrics (no mush mouth) to the guitars. Everything was crystal clear. They looked good (age had not set in that much yet) and as was mentioned above, they moved a whole lot more and looked good doing it. Capped off with Stripped just made it all the better.

I agree hands down!

I feel that Voodoo was the Bands best tour, but let me explain.

I see it at 3 era's of touring:

1-Era 1-1962 until 1968 where the band could not be heard

2-Era 2-1969 until 1981: they were loud, some eye candy, daytime
stadium shows where the band members looked like ants for most
people, the low tones rumbled around the arena/stadium. Keith
called the shots onstage and they played a song as they wanted

3-Era 3-1989 to the Present:The spectacle stadium show. In 89 The
stage was Massive, back-up singers, a horn section and multiple
video screens that really did not work
1994-Voodoo. Great Stage, Played the new album, ressurected Monkey
Man, Street Fighting Man. Setlist was very good. Gigantic video
That was crystal clear. The band was cooking
1997-Bridges: The stage was over the top, thankfully the light tower
in the middle of the stadium was gone. Sound really improved. Ron
out of it on a lot of shows. Eye Candy, Eye Candy Eye Candy.
1999-No Security: A short Arena tour, jumbled around the setlist
2002-LICKS: Stripped down stage (where other direction could they
after Bridges?) rotating setlists, ressurected many great songs.
Ronnies guitar buried in the mix a lot because he was out of it.
20 songs. Good shows, some great depending on setlist
2005-BANG:Gigantic stage with fan seating (that never really caught
on....originally was to be called "ONSTAGE TOUR") Flying B=stage,
first half of setlist 3 or 4 surprises song wise, after Keith's
songs...warhorse to the end. Ronnie alert and playing like he can
Guitars way up in mix. No posing, giant video screen that does
not change angles every 3 seconds. Main complaint: did not play
enough of new album.

All said and done I would have to say Voodoo was the King of the
Era 3 shows

Milo, NYC
She smiled sweetly

Licks for sure, because of the smaller venues. Was at Krone and Cirkus Stockholm, Stones heaven of all time for me.
Followed by No Security, B2B (loved the stage and the energy).
Then VL, Bigger Bang, and last Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle

Voodoo was probobly my favourite tour from 89 onwards. Licks Tour close second.

But I'm pretty tired of all the Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour. Yes it was a spectacle with a big band, the guitars too low in the mix, a cold keyboard dominated sound.

But at the time it was great. And I've never seen Mick so focused. He wanted to show he was no 1. Great energy. And Bills basslines. And they got a massive attention from the media.

My ranking

1. Voodoo Lounge
2. Licks Tour
3. Steel Wheels Tour
4. ABB Tour
5. BTB Tour

All the recent tours had ups and downs, but SW:UJ is my least favorite.
It is hard to make a classification, but here's mine

1. No security : great stage and setlists
2. Licks : 3 kind of venues/setlists
3. Voodoo Lounge : nice stage
4. BtB : web choices, B stage, bridge
5. SW/UJ : too many keyboards, but Bill W

[doctorstonesblog.blogspot.com]

besides set lists,to me licks was the worst.Awful guitar playing.Also same
goes along with the ABB,the longer tour lasts,worse it gets.
Voodoo was the best of the new era stones,BTB close.
1.Better set lists(even i don´t give a @#$%& bout set lists)
2.Stage was wonderfull,presenst the stones as they should be,as an stadium band,
they kinda invented it,with Pink floyd,some 30years ago.
3.Keith&Ronnie were still capable for good soloing,without using back mucisians
too much,like they do now.They come in,when boys really starts to play.
4.First tour with darryl,Bill wasn´t missed/needed at the time.But now?
we need him more than never.
5.They had a better album behind,voodoo was and is more a BAND album,abb isn´t.

yes, it was

virgil Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> IMHO. It was not. Reasons;
>
> The Cobra did nothing but spit a little fire. That
> Stage was the exact stage used for the Uban Jungle
> tour just reconfigured. My favorite stage was
> Indoor stage 81.
>
> The best visual Sympathy was on the BTB Tour.
>
> They pulled out some nice nuggets on that tour
> like Monkey Man and Its all over now. But no real
> Obscure tunes like on the Licks Tour. Even the BB
> tour with all the setlist moaning has Sway and
> Ain't to proud to Beg, Worried about you.

Don't forget that the Voodoo Lounge tour had Heartbreaker,Connection,Far Away Eyes,Fool To Cry,Imagination,and Shine A Light in stadiums + the European club shows that featured even more rarities and obscurities.Unlike now,pretty much every show had a decent # of songs that either had never been played or had not been played for years at that point.










Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-03-26 23:19 by Theif in the Night.

what does a "visual" sympathy matter? what matters is the way they play it - and "new-age style" sympathy has sucked from '89 onwards. the only warhorse that's just embarassing.

Licks was the best becouse of theater shows and many songs they didnt pay until then. CYHMK , loving Cup, Worried about you. also idea of playing few numbers from the same record in the middle of the show was cool ( i thing they hang it up later).

thrak Wrote:
also idea of
> playing few numbers from the same record in the
> middle of the show was cool ( i thing they hang it
> up later).


agree that it was a cool idea, but i wish they had been more ballsy in their selection of albums. How cool would a Dirty Work or Black and Blue miniset have been?!

For a while they were doing well with the album section but,by the end they were just putting three songs that they always play anyway next to each other.Tumbling Dice was always in the slot before Richards two lead vocals on the Licks tour arena shows.For the Exile On Main Street shows at the end of the tour they would just add Rocks Off or All Down The Line plus Sweet Virginia before Tumbling Dice and that would be it.The only songs that could be considered deep album tracks that appeared in the highlighted album section towards the end of the tour were Love In Vain & Loving Cup every so often.Sometime in 2003 was when I feel that set list creativity started to become poor most of the time.I did think it was cool when in Durham 2005 they played Wild Horses,Dead Flowers,and Bitch all in a row & all played extremely well.Everyone seems to love the Houston 2005 version of Dead Flowers largely because of the great sound quality of the recording but,the Durham version was at least just as good in my opinion.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-03-27 05:21 by Theif in the Night.

Voodoo Lounge was great, but I would trade the Snake for the B-Stage in two seconds, so Licks tour gets my vote. The moving stage on this tour is a winner, but the negative is that the ramp takes up so much damn space, that there are very few floor seats left in an arena these days!

since 1989 it's LICKS...period.........that tour was not only diverse and imaginative it was electric.........it is perhaps the biggest reason why the present tour has some fans and critics underwhelmed regarding the set lists.....and also why many people didn't go back to see them this last time.....(unfair certainly, but a valid argument that's been discussed on these boards).......if you saw 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 3 in LA, NYC, Paris, Munich, London, or wherever.....well...........it was a rock and roll epiphany.........and if anyone has forgotten then I suggest they throw on the Licks DVD....edited and all.....drunk or sober......they were worth every @#$%& penny

drbryant Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
The moving stage on this tour
> is a winner, but the negative is that the ramp
> takes up so much damn space, that there are very
> few floor seats left in an arena these days!

plus it makes them play Miss You and HTW every night!

Voodoo Lounge was an incredible tour in it's own way... Opening with Not Fade Away and featuring an incredible new bassist... for sheer "stadium thunder" it could be the best big-venue tour they ever did...

On the other hand, for complete musicianship I don't think any tour they ever did comes close to Forty Licks, including even the Mick Taylor tours of the early 70's (which, yes, I did see several of those shows).

As for the other gigs, No Security seemed like an after-thought, B2B was pretty solid though for whatever reason I don't remember it as fondly as VooDoo. What I recall most of B2B were those great b-stage numbers... I think B2B was the first to use the b-stage regularly, correct ? Great versions of Like a Rolling Stone, The Last Time, etc.... thought Satisfaction was sort of wasted as an opener.

ABB is it's own enigma... points of incredible brilliance, with alot of jagged edges. The high points being alot of their core rockers: JJF and Satisfaction most notably, a great tribute (Night Time), a perfect As Tears Go By, and if nothing else, the first tour Sway was ever played...

Final Rankings: Forty Licks, VooDoo Lounge, B2B & ABB about a tie, No Security.

"It's just that demon life has got me in it's sway..."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-03-27 20:33 by BornOnTheBayou.

Okay, I'm confused. Could have sworn I through in a Voodoo VHS recently and there was B stage action. Am I dreaming? Was there no smaller stage ever used on Voodoo at any of the shows? Someone Please help.

In the Miami show, there was a small B-stage that came out. But this was special for the pay-per-view show. The other shows of the tour (at least in the US) did not have the B-stage.

1. Licks
2. Voodoo
3. Bigger Bang
4. No Security
5. Bridges
6. Steel Wheels

BornOnTheBayou Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> On the other hand, for complete musicianship I
> don't think any tour they ever did comes close to
> Forty Licks, including even the Mick Taylor tours
> of the early 70's (which, yes, I did see several
> of those shows).

Many people have taken this position, but I just cannot understand it. I have heard the boots and they are just amazing. Perhaps the overall musicianship is better (more polished?) for Licks, but can ANYTHING replace Mick Taylor's fills and Keith's vocals? Not for me, anyway.

sixesandsevensandnines Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In my opinion yes, for the next reasons:
>
> 1) They already had the experience of making a
> tour at a gigantic scale with Steel Wheels, but
> took it to a higher level.
> 2) They were mature, but could hardly be described
> as old. Much more movement on stage from Mick and
> especially from Keith.
> 3) 23 songs a night with a remarkable selection of
> warhorses.
> 4) Comprised five continents, mostly any fan in
> the world could see them.
> 5) Had in the middle of the tour and for the first
> time a South American leg which really revitalised
> the band.
> 6) Best stage ever. They really nicked the concept
> and the cobra was unbelievable. Compensated for
> the lack of B Stage.
> 7) Best visual Sympathy ever. It really looked as
> hell, didn't it?
>

I fully agree with you except that I'd add the folllowing:

8) They showcased a great new album.
9) They performed a few rarities.