I wonder if anyone has dared mentioning to Keith that he's alarming everyone in the band and his fans with his performances as of late? Whatever the reason is that is causing such a radical decline in his performances--it is disturbing and incredibly hard to ignore. Why all of a sudden? What's happened between the last leg and this one that Keith is falling apart?

I dunno why...but I feel really helpless. I feel like there's something I or even WE could do...but of course, there isn't anything at all.

the decline isn't all of a sudden i'm afraid. Listen (or see) the Tokyo 2006 performance. This was BEFORE the tree accident.

To me, this downhill slope has been incredibly overwhelming from the start of this leg in June. The bum notes and shotty guitar playing took on another level.

People can knock Keith and claim his decline was earlier or whatever...but that's all based on your opinions and expectations on how well Keith is playing. This leg, it's apparent that something more noticeable is happening...not only his ABILITY to play is being distorted but his STAMINA is in question. That, to me, is a development that has only happened recently.

Pmcguire! Are you the Manchester City fan with whom I queued all day when the Stones played Helsinki in 1998? If you remember, I was the first in the queue that time. You and your friend (Phil?) came in second. Later your friends showed up. You recommended Exile as an older Stones record to get, and sure enough I bought it the next day. Is your hair shorter nowadays? I think I actually saw you and your tall, lanky friend (whose name escapes me) yesterday evening. =) I wasn´t sure if it was you guys, that´s why I didn´t approach you.

BTW, _what_ exactly did Keith say after being introduced? "Good to be back here, but it´s the" ...then what? Did he say "same old show" or something to that effect? Even "same old shit"??? I didn´t fully catch it. Guess I´m gonna have to listen wait for the bootleg to get that one.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-08-02 20:34 by Topi.

Hi Topi,

Long time no see May I say what a fantastic memory you have! Yes I am that Manchester City fan (also had a city top on yesterday) the lanky friend is one of a kind

I remember being screwed by YLE last time, they interviewed me and I gave (what I thought) was a very nice and "in control" interview. Then they caught me at a weak moment (the Bulgarian wine didn't help) and asked me to sing (badly).

Guess what part of the interview was broadcast on TV?

Topi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BTW, _what_ exactly did Keith say after being introduced?

I just heard "what are you all doing here?" then he laughed and mumbled something to himself that was inaudible.

Oh yes your TV interview! I don´t remember the contents, except the part where you told them you supposedly toured the world along with the band.

Oooooh I didn't say that did I? "slight" exaggeration there, let's call it artistic license

OK. Were you in the very first row yesterday?

Topi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi Wesley! Recovered yet? It´s funny, but I had
> Sweet Virginia ringing in my ears earlier today.
> =)
>
> Did you know that you can listen the YLE Radio
> Suomi Rolling Stones Night online at
> areena.yle.fi,
> [areena.yle.fi]. Holle
> Holopainen and Harri Saksala talking and playing
> Stones. Be sure to catch it if you didn´t.
>
> Good to meet you, your wife and Gooner!
>
> I´m off to a hockey game - yes, in August - now.



Hi Topi and Mr & Mrs Wesley! Unfortunately I did not find you after the concert, but hopefully we'll get a chance to meet someday and have a chat 'bout the band we love...
BTW. StonesViking Jokke Nurmi and musicjournalist Holle Holopainen were on "Aamu-TV" this morning at 7.52am. You'll find also this interview from Yle Areena!!
[areena.yle.fi]

Take care guys and keep on Rockin'

Sorry to say, but declines of these Gentlemen happended from 1962 to 2007. So either live with it or live without. Rather "live with me"....

Don't like some of the comments and theories from people who were not there about what state Keith was in last night. It was more than clear what it was. The interesting thing was that his playing (when he played) was somewhat better than on some of the first dates of the 2007 tour.

Last picture is Toots of Toots & The Maytals with daughter, myself with son.

latvianinexile Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't like some of the comments and theories from
> people who were not there about what state Keith
> was in last night. It was more than clear what it
> was.


Please elaborate. What was it?

donnywas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After reading all these reviews, you could get the
> impression that it's the end of the (Stones) world
> as we know it...
>
> Sure, I'm worried about some things going on
> myself, but sometimes I also get a bit angry when
> people call Keith "a drunk" or "totally pissed"
> etc.
> How do you know that he was drunk at all? I mean
> if you are drunk, you are drunk all the time and
> @#$%& up every solo and every song. But with Keith
> it seems to be merely dropouts, like a light bulb
> that goes black from time to time. And that is
> clearly a problem of the brain and not a state of
> drunkenness. Whatever this problem is caused by,
> we don't know exactly. We can only speculate. My
> guess is, that it has something to do with the
> accident and the brain surgery that followed it.
> And the medication thereafter. But that's also
> only speculation.
>
> A fact is though, that Keith has said many times:
> "I'll play until I drop". If we accept that, we
> also have to accept the state in which he is while
> playing. If you feel that this is "embarassing" or
> "not worth the money" or something similar, that's
> completely up to yourself. Apart from that, the
> Stones are still able to pull it off and play
> fantastically, as St. Petersburg reportedly
> proves.

That's how I feel as well. It doesn't sound like Keith was drunk at all to me, rather that maybe he was having problems balancing/dizzy spells which could very easily be attributed to his accident last year.

Be well Keith, gold rings on ya, always!

Then we should be very happy that Ronnie has become serious again - imagine Keith playing a his level like now and then having Ronnie as well playing (or not playing) like he did some years ago - that would have been the end of the Stones....

I wonder if Ronnie has stopped drinking etc. because of Keith's state, maybe Mick has told him so...???



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-08-02 23:15 by bumbum.

MegaWatts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm wondering why Keith cannot be sober for these
> two hours only when he's on stage? It's total lack
> of respect for people who come to see him.It's
> like saying "F..k you all" to his audience.


That would certainly be the case if we knew it to be correct. We just dont know.

Personally, I'd find it hard to believe Jagger would tolerate it if Keith was showing up drunk every night. Just because he's Keith doesnt mean he wouldnt be hearing about it from the rest of the band if his problems were due to his own over-indulgence.

As I have written before in St Peterburg Keith was fantastic. His playing and performance were just great.

Topi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OK. Were you in the very first row yesterday?



Yep that was me, I cut my hair off a couple of years ago.

You can never be sure about routined people like this. Is what we see sincere emotions? One can only hope they feel special for certain places. Let`s hope the best for Oslo!

Ok. I have gone through a METAMORPHOSIS since 1998 as well - I have lost 33 kg´s of weight. So you would not have recognized me yesterday either

And hey, Pmcguire, in 1998 the City were in 2nd division - now they are back in the Premiership.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-08-03 05:19 by Topi.

I have to point out something very important: the RS gig last night was very very good.

The thing is to put it in right order. I had a pleasure to participate in the Who gig here in Helsinki: Roger totally lost his voice, and the gig was nevertheless awesome!!!

Yesterday 10 out of 12 musicians had a great night, the only obscure one had some difficulties.. So???

wesley calling from an Irish pub in Tallin

Good Night!!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-08-03 00:57 by wesley.

wesley Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have to point out something very important: the
> RS gig last night was very very good.
>
> The thing is to put it in right order. I had a
> pleasure to participate in the Who gig here in
> Helsinki: Roger totally lost his voice, and the
> gig was nevertheless awesome!!!
>
> Yesterday 10 out of 12 musicians had a great
> night, the only obscure one had some
> difficulties.. So???
>
> wesley calling from an Irish pub in Tallin
>
> Good Night!!

Was nice meeting you at the Tim Ries gig. But why do you think only 10 out of 13 actually had a great night? I even think they all had good night just one of them didn't notice that some 35000 people were a little concerned

Irish pub in Tallinn sounds good. We are in Riga where beer is at least 2 times cheaper than in Helsinki

Lorenz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Guess sssoul was talking about me.
> I'm not bitching about this setlist. Still
> bitching about the ones I got

but that belgrade show was brilliant!

Just read the Helsingin Sanomat (biggest newspaper in Finland) review. The first thing the reporter mentions is Keith falling during SSC, and Charlie laughing about it after the song was over while Mick looked angrily. HOWEVER, the setlist is praised in detail. Mick and Charlie also get positive remarks. This guy wasn´t low blowing the Stones like the Aftonbladet writer. "At least the Rolling Stones are not boring", he constates. He also goes on about the band really belonging to an intime club and not a 36-000 seater stadium. (Amen to that.)



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-08-03 05:34 by Topi.

dont read,go se the boys-who @#$%& are the reporters,might cannt say @#$%&,but what can a poor boy do?

Hi guys,

i am a brazlian fan. great pictures, great concert....

I saw the stones in lisbon (2007) and buenos aires (2206). Great concerts,too!!!

Take care...

the rolling stones - greatest rock and roll band in the world!!!

Topi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just read the Helsingin Sanomat (biggest newspaper
> in Finland) review. The first thing the reporter
> mentions is Keith falling during SSC, and Charlie
> laughing about it after the song was over while
> Mick looked angrily. HOWEVER, the setlist is
> praised in detail. Mick and Charlie also get
> positive remarks. This guy wasn´t low blowing the
> Stones like the Aftonbladet writer. "At least the
> Rolling Stones are not boring", he constates. He
> also goes on about the band really belonging to an
> intime club and not a 36-000 seater stadium. (Amen
> to that.)

This Helsingin Sanomat guy is a musician (albeit part of the annoyingly inbred Finnish scene), so he probably has better perspective than the Swedish hack.

Topi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just read the Helsingin Sanomat (biggest newspaper
> in Finland) review. The first thing the reporter
> mentions is Keith falling during SSC, and Charlie
> laughing about it after the song was over while
> Mick looked angrily. HOWEVER, the setlist is
> praised in detail. Mick and Charlie also get
> positive remarks. This guy wasn´t low blowing the
> Stones like the Aftonbladet writer. "At least the
> Rolling Stones are not boring", he constates. He
> also goes on about the band really belonging to an
> intime club and not a 36-000 seater stadium. (Amen
> to that.)


Yeah amen to that, and they are good in that format, the club format. Probably could be a real vitamin boost. I was surprised when I finally heard the indoor gig from 1997, it's good sometimes even great (the last time to name one).

[www.iltasanomat.fi]

comments after Helsinki

A short and late review:

Great show in every aspect, Mick and Ron were especially impressive. They all seemed determined to make it a good show and have fun at the same time. Excellent sound. The horns and the piano were just background musicians while the guitars and the drums carried the sound. Rons slide sound was the best possible.

Whatever the case is with Keith he certainly did not ruin the show. He was in a good mood and charmed the whole stadium with his solo numbers. Just a few blackouts that probably only some "experts" noticed. It was strange that he had major problems walking to the end of the right wing during TD, but when he finally got there he played a great solo without any problems.

All the warhorses were highlights. SFTD, PIB, HTW and JJF was particularly energetic and BS got the whole stadium to feel like a big family. Besides the warhorses we got an extremely good version of CYHMK.

All in all this was a completely different show than the last one in Finland 2003. It was a serious and powerful performance with an exciting set list. Mick seemed to really enjoy himself and you got adrenaline kicks by just watching him run all around the stage.