In the past 20 years I had the opportunity to attend Stones's gigs in three out of four continents where they regularly performed during their world tours, but what about Africa?
Apart from Johannesburg concert in Feb 1995 I have no other track of official Stones performances in the black continent and this has been always hard for me to understand ... Africa should have a strong appeal on the guys since Brian's age.
Business reasons? Security reasons? Political constraints? All of them?

What's your opinion?

Profitability

Since 1975 Keith's not real keen on elephants.......



ROCKMAN

... [shrug] good health to you then



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-16 00:19 by with sssoul.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-16 00:09 by Keef Rider.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-16 00:12 by NICOS.

You have listed most of the obvious reasons for not touring that often. Economy, security etc. It does not make sense to tour extensively in a part of the world where the cost of the concert ticket is more than most people can afford. And if it was possible, it would probably be a bit unsafe. Even in Europe they can't tour every single country at all times, since the political or economical or promoter situation is not ideal. For many many years they did not go to Italy. Greece was off this year. Also, this year they had to call of Ukraina, a market that is like 10% of Africa people wise. There are more than 130 countries in the world and if they were to perform in all these countries on every tour there would not be many shows in their prime markets like USA and Germany. But... I think there is a chance they might do something in Africa soon, if they get an organizer that can take care of their business. Mind you they don't do shows for free, at least they need to cover parts of the running cost.

Bjornulf

They are alone there...up there with Muhammad Ali who also only went once there...they refused to play in south Africa when ''apartheid''reared his ugly face

And while we're on this subject, What about Antarctica !?! Penquins need rock-n-roll too ya know !

they can Rock .......





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I'm honoured for your analysis bv,it's surely market-wise correct, but I was looking to the topic from others points of view. The band never renounced to perform either in fascinating places or in countries where it was possible (necessary?) to send strong political messages also disregarding the business ... I was Shanghai the past year (they had there Deutsche Bank as a sponsor this is true ...) but It was a gig just for 8000 people ... but Mick sung Wild Horses with a Chinese legend of Tienanmen days. They regularly toured to India that is not really a country (continent?) where most people can afford actual Stones's ticket prices ...
So ... this remain a question I would like to put to Mick as well, but by the time is great to share opinions with other Stones' friends

> There are more than 130 countries in
> the world

Yes - many more. The United Nations membership is now over 190 countries.

Guess they'll never play Georgian Island or San Marino anyhow.

Duane in Houston Wrote:
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> And while we're on this subject, What about
> Antarctica !?! Penquins need rock-n-roll too ya
> know !


An Antartic explorer said to a penguin "Gee, for a minute there I thought you were wearing a tuxedo."

The penguin replied, "Who's to say that I'm not?"

San Borgia Ampitheater

i think they would love to play in Morocco,they have been there before...

Keef Rider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm honoured for your analysis bv,it's surely
> market-wise correct, but I was looking to the
> topic from others points of view. The band never
> renounced to perform either in fascinating places
> or in countries where it was possible (necessary?)
> to send strong political messages also
> disregarding the business ... I was Shanghai the
> past year (they had there Deutsche Bank as a
> sponsor this is true ...) but It was a gig just
> for 8000 people ... but Mick sung Wild Horses with
> a Chinese legend of Tienanmen days. They regularly
> toured to India that is not really a country
> (continent?) where most people can afford actual
> Stones's ticket prices ...
> So ... this remain a question I would like to put
> to Mick as well, but by the time is great to share
> opinions with other Stones' friends


Nothing to do with 'sending strong political messages'

There simply isnt any money in it, insufficient infrastructure for a large scale rock concert (even getting the electricity required to power a Stones show would be a big deal in some places), and it would be a logistical and organisational nightmare. They're also pretty much unknown in those countries.

they havent 'regularly toured India'. they played 2 shows there on one tour - 2003. They were supposed to play there in 1996 but plans were scrapped for several reasons, similar to the ones I've just outlined above (lack of electrical power etc).

Significant difference between the likes of India and places like Shanghai/Hong Kong is that there IS a certain % of the population with a reasonable amount of income. Thats less apparent for most of Africa.

The Stones are driven by commercial and not political reasons.
They work where people are willing to pay for them, like the rest of us.
Don't expect them to work for free or to save the world.
Leave that up to other groups, if they are around some place.

PS. I am looking forward to the show in Nauru.

Bjornulf

Nauru?
that's hard to believe - but if you're looking forward to it, I can only say "WOW!"


[en.wikipedia.org]
from wikipedia:
Of the island's 13,048 residents, 58% are Nauruan, 26% other Pacific Islanders, 8% Chinese and 8% Europeans.[1] The official language of Nauru is Nauruan, a distinct Pacific island language. English is widely spoken and is the language of government and commerce.

Keith and Jagger care about Africa....but that is another case,,,they care about the music to i guess

It is not true they only care about money...we got a thinkin R&R band here....we like suprises

Well guys, you almost convinced me .... business is driving everythink nowadays, no space for dreamers, but I'm sure in each Stones fan's soul there is still a small space for illusion ...

So, I know I'm surely wrong, but I still prefer to believe in my heart that the Copacabana BB free gig was a way the band chose to compensate the countervalue of 25 payed gigs ... Is just an illusion (I well remember FOS ticket prices we criticized and finally payed) but it makes me feel better...

Keef Rider Wrote:
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> Well guys, you almost convinced me .... business
> is driving everythink nowadays, no space for
> dreamers, but I'm sure in each Stones fan's soul
> there is still a small space for illusion ...
>
> So, I know I'm surely wrong, but I still prefer to
> believe in my heart that the Copacabana BB free
> gig was a way the band chose to compensate the
> countervalue of 25 payed gigs ... Is just an
> illusion (I well remember FOS ticket prices we
> criticized and finally payed) but it makes me feel
> better...

agree and cheers...next time sheveningen!!

Keef Rider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well guys, you almost convinced me .... business
> is driving everythink nowadays, no space for
> dreamers, but I'm sure in each Stones fan's soul
> there is still a small space for illusion ...
>
> So, I know I'm surely wrong, but I still prefer to
> believe in my heart that the Copacabana BB free
> gig was a way the band chose to compensate the
> countervalue of 25 payed gigs ... Is just an
> illusion (I well remember FOS ticket prices we
> criticized and finally payed) but it makes me feel
> better...


The Copacabana wasnt a 'free' gig. They were paid millions by the city council to put the show on. They made a better profit out of it that way than they would have done by transporting all that equipment down there to play a regular 'stadium' show there.

Plus all the financial spin offs from the webcast, theatre sales and DVD profits.

The public may have got in for free but the Stones made a huge profit from it.

open-g Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Nauru?
> that's hard to believe - but if you're looking
> forward to it, I can only say "WOW!"

I think bv is taking the piss.......!

Gazza Wrote:
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> open-g Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Nauru?
> > that's hard to believe - but if you're looking
> > forward to it, I can only say "WOW!"
>
> I think bv is taking the piss.......!

Or perhaps something else - bearing in mind that Nauru is entirely dependent (as far as I know, anyway) on GUANO....!!

Thanks Gazza, I knew I was wrong (and I wrote it), but i feel me as a part of the public and my illusion is therefore still alive ... good for the guys to have gained some pound in Brasil as well, caipirinhas are to be payed cash ...

The main income source for the Rio Copacabana show was the cellphone i.e. mobile phone companies and providers. Claro and Motorola had their logos all over the stage and the concert area. Also they had put up dozens of extra mobile cellphone transmitters. Two million people sending 10-20 messages and doing plenty of phone calls is great business, like with any major event. Also they owned the entire front section with space for may be 5,000 people first section on the Copacabana in front of the B-stage and all the way to the stage. Further, when you have two million people showing up as customers, they need food and drinks for hours. A great market so you sell that license. As far as I remember there was a special beer can with Stones print. Free show but great business... Still, I don't think they made that much money. They god material for a DVD, they got a great record, they might do the same in Africa, but they would not do it for the income. To get extra income they would play Boston, Chicago, LA, LV or NYC a few more times.

Bjornulf

Agreed. The Stones are way too greedy to play in Africa.

Maybe so, but in fairness I dont exactly see too many other acts rushing to play there either - for similar reasons.

If youre going to play a market where youre not going to make money (or even lose it) you need to balance that by playing shows in other profitable regions to finance it.