The Rolling Stones Fan Club of Europe It's Only Rock'n Roll

The set list: Brown Sugar It's Only Rock'n Roll Start Me Up Don't Stop All Down The Line Sweet Virginia Angie You Can't Always Get What You Want Midnight Rambler Tumbling Dice --- Introductions The Worst Happy Sympathy For The Devil (with Remy Kabaka on drum) When The Whip Comes Down (B-stage) Little Red Rooster (B-stage) Like A Rolling Stone (B-stage) Gimme Shelter Honky Tonk Women (with Sheryl Crow on vocals) Street Fighting Man Jumping Jack Flash You Got Me Rocking (encore a la Angels) Satisfaction (encore) Show start : 9:10 p.m. Show finish : 11:25 p.m.

Review by Dean Goodman

The Edison crowd was more lively than the Staples people, and maybe it helped that the Stones came on relatively early at 9:10, thirty minutes earlier than they started at Staples. The fans wanted a good time. Clues: they stood up for "Angie" and there didn't seem to be a mass exodus during the Keith segment. The band responded in kind, and Mick congratulated the fans for being "a fuckin' great audience here in Anaheim." Someone on the floor let off a firecracker during "Start Me Up," the third song. It was a good idea to move this song up the set list. When they played it at Staples, the show was almost over, and the tired crowd got up to dance more out of obligation than desire.

The Stones went to a little extra trouble this time, bringing out an African fellow dressed in ceremonial garb to beat a drum for "Sympathy for the Devil," adding a menacing dimension to a tune that has arguably lost it edge. Inevitably, opening act Sheryl Crow came out to duet on "Honky Tonk Women." She looked a little more busty than usual, and Mick seemed to notice. He lifted his shirt and suggested she do the same. Alas, she only pretended.

At Staples the Stones spotlighted four tracks from "Exile On Main Street," and it killed the momentum; at Edison, they scattered "All Down the Line," "Sweet Virginia," "Tumbling Dice" and "Happy" throughout the set. The arena album spotlights on "Exile," "Let It Bleed" etc. are a bit unnecessary, in my opinion. I'm waiting for the "Undercover" or "Emotional Rescue" spotlights. Now that would be fun.

The recent World Series baseball win by the Anaheim Angels, who are based at Edison, drew an acknowledgement from Mick after "All Down the Line." He said, "You've gotta wait sometimes for things to come to people." During "You Got Me Rocking," a rather unremarkable song that never seems to go away and got itself promoted to encore status tonight, the video screen replayed the Angels' Series winning catch. The crowd typically went wild, perhaps more out of surprise that the Stones were acknowledging the victory, than out of any real mass love for the team itself. Mick also recalled that the Stones had played here before (twice in 1978), when it was Anaheim Stadium. Of course, they played twice across the road at the Arrowhead Pond during the No Security Tour in 1999.

"Midnight Rambler" was a personal highlight. Before anyone knows what the song is, the band is kinda jamming loosely getting a structure into place before Keith launches into those scary riffs. Mick had fun stretching the song out, really savoring each line. Which reminds me, the sound from my floor seat was great -- much better than the muddy mix on offer at Staples. Anyone guessing I hate that place?!

I hadn't heard "The Worst" since the Voodoo Lounge tour, and I was thrilled to read that Keith had resurrected it in Florida. The lyrics are pretty deep; perhaps more importantly, it's a short song -- though I'd love a 10-minute version. For the purposes of a live show, it's a better choice than "Slipping Away" or "Thru and Thru" did. As at Staples, Keith was quite chatty. He started laughing at the end of "The Worst," and when it was over he commented, "Don't say I didn't warn you." OK, Keith, how about "Sleep Tonight" ??

I managed to get to Ronnie's side of the small stage, and he spent half the time goofing around with a buddy of his who was standing just in front. "Stones Doug" handed Ronnie a "Shidoobee" sticker, which he held in his teeth. The sound from this vantage point is pretty hopeless, but it doesn't matter.

So, the great show wrapped about 11:20 after a smokin' version of "Satisfaction" -- a word that sums up the state of mind of a fan whose theme song is usually "I Can't Be Satisfield." Thanks to the most important people in my life -- Ian Stewart and his Rolling Stones -- for a dizzying 100 shows in 15 countries. Looking forward to the next hundred.

Review by Robert Bagel This excellent evening in Anaheim started with a cold dreary day in Chicago, as I just wondered what kind of single seats were available for Edison Field. For most of the day there were 3rd deck side view seats, but then after lunch up popped a seat in Row 18, Section A7, not far from Keith! It was time to burn some United frequent flyer miles while they are still worth something, and it was off to Los Angeles. This seemed somewhat insane, and I myself questioned the trip, but as it always happens the spectacular show the Stones put on made it all perfectly sensible. Sheryl Crow had a great opening set, strong with both new and old material. There was the sound of a revving engine, and then the lights went up to reveal Sheryl looking great in her white Evel Knievel suit playing the song Steve McQueen , America's newest car culture anthem. She later returned to join the Stones on Honky Tonk Women, like she did at Wembley in 1999. Her clowning and singing with Mick was extraordinary, as this was the loud Sheryl Crow, belting out the vocals so she sounds similar to Aretha Franklin. The Stones song selection made the show fresh and surprising even if one has seen several LICKS shows. Don' Stop is a stomper, with Mick's Telecaster making the song a 3 guitar relentless rhythm attack. While I hope that Stealing My Heart may be added at some point, I hope it is not at the expense of Don't Stop , which is far too good to stop playing. All Down the Line was a treat, sounding better than ever. The Exile theme continued with Sweet Virginia , which for me was the highlight of the show. When the crowd loudly responded to the "Thank you for your wine, California" line, it was goose bump stuff. Tumbling Dice had an especially entertaining drama, as Mick was out on the right wing of the stage for longer than usual while picking up some flowers thrown to him. Before he came running back to center, the band had lost the plot a bit at which time Keith started laughing and yelling at Mick. Mick responded by throwing the flowers that he picked up at Keith. When Mick then danced past, Keith directed a kicking motion toward Mick's butt. This good natured tension on display made for a fine example of the personalities which have kept this band so interesting for 40 years! Sympathy for the Devil had an extra percussion player, a dark skinned man in a hat and white robe-like attire playing really cool rhythms that gave the song extra texture. When Keith played his lead, he went over to this man. When the song ended, Mick ran to the mike to say something about the by now mysterious percussionist, but unfortunately the mike was off by then. Please, someone fill us in! For the first song of the encore, the Stones came out with You Got Me Rocking. When Mick sang the "I was a pitcher..." line, the large video screen on stage showed the final out of the World Series which made the Anaheim Angels world champions, the play that took place 6 days earlier on the very field from which we were watching tonight's show. The crowd went crazy, though I strongly suspect we will not see this dramatic effect implemented next weekend at Pacific Bell Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, the team that the Angels defeated. In conclusion, it was another extraordinary evening with the Stones, where a spur of the moment 4000 mile overnighter proves to be the completely rational thing to do.

Review by Frank, Hollywood, CA Well, what can I say? Tonight I was lucky enough to witness another great Stones concert. My third show on this tour. My 13th since 1989. I saw the Hartford & Staple Center shows & I'm going to the Wiltern & San Diego concerts. Tonight was chalk full of hits as you can see by the set list. I played musical chairs tonight & I managed to get a birds eye view from Start Me Up thru Sympathy. Either the acoustics of Edison Field were rough or I was too wasted but I heard a lot of echoes thru the first half of the concert. When the Stones made their break to the B-Stage I followed and told my buddy to run. It was crazy! About 100 or more fans ran towards the B-Stage. The security guards were overwhelmed. "he he he" I jumped up on a vacant seat and I was about eight rows from the B-Stage. The girl next to me was flashing her factory made tits to the band thru the three song set. Worked for me & Mick too as he seem to pointing in our direction often with a smile. I liked the timing of the B-Stage break better tonight from the other shows because it wasn't at the end of the concert. The Stones played two encores which made my night. I was disappointed that they didn't do an encore after JJF at Staples. Tonight, they made up for it with You Got Rocking & Satisfaction as encores. World Series highlights were played on the jumbo tron thru "You Got Me Rocking". "I was a Pitcher Down in a Slump" The timing of the video was perfect! Right on que and the crowd ate it up. I'm really enjoying the diversity of the shows. I love hearing Stone songs live for the first time and for me tonight my virginity was broken when they played "When The Whip Comes Down" The shows have been amazing and unpredictable. I'm looking forward to the Wiltern show. By the way, the L.A crowds have been really good thus far. The crowds here have a reputation for being aloof however the Stones have a way with bringing out the best in people!

Stones Turns On The Lights At Edison.........
Just My Observations by Little Paul Body

Anyway the Stones came a little after nine with "Brown Sugar" and they killed it, the MICK sounded like he did oh so many years ago. Then they went into "It's Only Rock and Roll" and at that point they were hitting that note, I can always tell a good concert for me because after the second song, I am ready to leave (not really) because the stuff on stage is so hot. I have to say this, the Stones are the only band when on a good night in a stadium, they can turn it into a night club. Welcome to the Big Ed Funky Joint.

"Start Me Up" was cooking and "Don't Stop" sounded great live, They slowed things down with "Angie" and "Sweet Virginia". By "You Can't Always Get........", they were into overdive and it was fat burning time. It got real scary on "Midnight Rambler", it was the best time I had ever heard them playing and that goes back to '69. As long as the warhouses sound this good, might as well keep playing them. "Tumbling Dice" was sexy as usual, what can I say I love this song.

MR. WATTS got the biggest cheer because everyone knows that he is the glue that hold the band together and makes them swing. Keith was in good voice and as he was smiling and singing "The Worst" and "Happy". After Keith's set thing got ominous with a evil version of "Sympathy For The Devil" with Remy Kabaka the original cat on percussion.

The sound was kind of odd on the B stage but since I was right there, just a few feet away I didn't mind. Great song selection though. As they were walking back to the main stage I could hear something that sounded like something that I had been hearing for almost a lifetime, turned out to be "Gimme Shelter", oh Lisa Fisher so damn fine in the micro mini and singer her ass off with the MICK...... rape, murder is just a shot away. That song still sounds fresh. "Honky Tonk Women" with Sheryl Crow, "Street Fighting Man", "Jumping Jack Flash all followed. Then the show was over.

They came back for a great version of "You Got Me Rocking" and a superefine version of "Satifaction" which they took through Memphis with horn sections, props to Otis Redding. All I can say, people can laugh at the wrinkles, the combined age and all that other stuff but when the Stones are on stage the blood of Muddy Waters, the Wolf, Sam Cooke, Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, Bob Marley and all the rest is flowing through them. So like they say if the Stones can't rock you, GOOD GOD NOBODY CAN.

Review by Marlon Nowe, Los Angeles

It's Only Rock'n Roll: Keith kicked in Chuck Berry style and Charlie picked up flawless and off went the Stones locomotive.

Start Me Up: good version. Reminded me a little bit of the Steel Wheels Tour version. A little faster and less choppy then the recent versions.

Don't Stop: although I appriciate new songs, this song simply doesn't cut it for me. Sorry Glimmer Twins, no sale.

All Down The Line: first suprise for the evening. It took me a couple of chords to figure out what song it was, but once I knew I was in extacy. By then everyone was standing up and singing along. great rocking version with Ronnie in full effect on slide.

Sweet Virginia: second suprise for me. Never heard this one live before. When Mick sang: "Thank you for your wine California", the crowd cheered. Also on the big screen there was a cool edit of the Stones appearing on a big billboard standing next to a congested freeway. I'm sure everyone living in and around LA could relate to that! Funny thing is that Edison Field is right next to the freeway, so you saw the freeway on the big screen and the real freeway behind the stage, that was kinda cool. I guess you had to be there to really understand what I'm trying to say here :)

Angie: I like this song live. Mick sang it more true to the original. I don't like it when he sings "low" when he should strike the high notes. I guess his voice isn't what it used to be. But in Angie when he came to "You can't say where satisfied", he struck the high notes. Good one Mick!!!

You Can't Always Get What You Want : cool to hear that one again. The stadium went crazy when the song accelerated at the end. Everyone was clapping to the beat. Felt like Edison Field was a gosple church choir for a couple of minutes. I was expecting Aretha Franklin any minute!

Midnight Rambler : this was my favourite! This songs holds everything the Stones are good at: raw rock 'n roll, blues, viscious lyrics, diesel motor rythm section. Keith and Chuck started the intro which went on for a while. You saw Keith holding out, waiting until he would release The Rambler on the crowd. Then he looked at the audience and "licked" the first raw notes and off they went again. A super finale with Mick on harmonica. Good job guys.

Tumbling Dice: I've seen this live four times and everytime something went "wrong". But those are the moments I love. This time a while into the song after Keith's solo, Mick forgot to pick up singing. Instead he was busy receiving flowers from some chick in the crowd. But no worries, he waited a couple of chords and then jump back into the songs. The previous tour in Holland, during Tumbling Dice Charlie actually stopped drumming and Keith walked up to him and like a conductor waived his arms to the beat and Charlie kicked back in... hilarious moment. Anyway, back to Anaheim.

--- Introductions

The Worst: great version.

Happy: I wish Keith would play something different by now. He has so many great songs. I think it would be great if he did a song the normally has Mick on vocals. Like his rendition of any of their great likcs. But Happy is and always will be a great rock song.

Sympathy For The Devil (with Remy Kabaka on drum): this was entertainment-wise the best song. The lightshow was awesome, pyro technics went crazy. The coolest thing was that on top of the stage they had flamethrowers that breath fire into the air. They used in a very clever way. It would release fire on the beat of the music!! And then when Mick sang: " Please to meet you", two huge bursts of fire would light up the stadium. Amazing effect and it gave a very devilish twist to the song. The big screen's graphics where all bloody red. Beautiful lightshow!

When The Whip Comes Down (B-stage): great suprise and superb rocking version. I love this song live!

Little Red Rooster (B-stage): bluesy intermezzo, I wishs Howling Wolf could hear this one!

Like A Rolling Stone (B-stage): I'm kind of tired of this live song. Something different please. I was hoping for Beast of burden or Miss You... Anyways, Bob Dylan was in the house once again.

Gimme Shelter: I was looking forward to this one, because I read so many good reviews on it, but I was dissapointed. It started out really messy and it took all the way to the end to get them into gear. But the finale of this song with Lisa was great.

Honky Tonk Women (with Sheryl Crow on vocals): always a crowd pleaser. Another anectode from a previous concert in Holland: a some point in the song Mick went off stage to the front row and drank from someone's beer! He was just sitting there while the band kept playing. You could see Keith's reaction on the big screen... really funny.

Street Fighting Man: great, solid version.

Jumping Jack Flash: this one always does it for me! Great.

You Got Me Rocking (encore a la Angels): cool suprise when Mick sang: " I am a pitcher down in the slumb". At that moment on the big screen they showed clips of the Anaheim Angels pitching the winning ball, making them world champions. The crowd went nuts! Great timing!

Satisfaction (encore): great encore... no more commments

Review by Ravi

Keith nailed Happy, and I was so glad to hear it since I never had before. Ronnie played some great lap steel on this tune also. Sympathy was just evil, with all the lights going red and some cool flame effects. It featured a cool african drummer also. The bstage set was cool too, Little Red Rooster reminded me of the show I have when they played with Muddy Waters, very bluesy. When Mick announced they were doing a Bob Dylan number I just couldn't believe it. The crowd sang along the entire time to Like a Rollin' Stone. Gimme Shelter was great as always, and the message hits home in these times especially. Another surprise was when Sheryl Crow came out to duet on Honky Tonk and did a great job on that too. It was funny to see her dancing around with Mick, I think he tried to get her to take off her shirt!!

The energy level continued until the end when they played a video montage of the Angels during You Got me Rockin', a nice touch. When they were bowing at the end, Keith was messing around and he kissed Ronnie which was pretty funny and then he tried to dance with him! After the last song there was a cool fireworks display. You can't really top that!

Review by Mark Roberts

The first 4 songs were really great then came All Down the Line. To me, they kicked it up another level right there. Unbelieveable!!. Midnight Rambler was stellar as others have mentioned. When the Whip Comes Down was another highlight for me. I've always thought the live version on Sucking in the 70s was a bit more compelling than the studio version.

I saw Bob Dylan 2 weeks ago in Phoenix and he did Brown Sugar and Like a Rolling Stone. I prefer the Jagger vocal style to the Dylan style, but each song held up well in the hands of a different artist.

I could feel the heat of the flames on Sympathy. Was a hell of a spectacle on that song. I do like the way they play that song these days. Like the version on Flashpoint. Kinda more danceable or something.

Anyway, a fabulous show and a great day as my friend said, "That one goes down as a win".

Review by Alan Bravin, Lake Forest, CA

I went to the Staples center show on Thursday, Halloween night. And while I had a good seat and the sound was quite good, it was not a great show. A good show, and a very good show indeed, but not a great show. The energy level from the band and the crowd was so-so, and I didn't care for the setlist. I really don't care to ever hear 'Love-Train' again. It may have been a great song in it's day, but in the context of a Rolling Stones show it held absolutely no interest for me.

Now on to the Edison Field show. I am surprised to admit, but I enjoyed this show much more than the Staples Center show. The band was looser, the sound was great and the setlist was fantastic. We got a bunch of gems not played that often, and then of course the standards which were played with a tremendous enthusiasm. The crowd around me, and from what I could hear, the entire stadium in general was rocking and singing along with most of the songs.

BROWN SUGAR sounded great as the opening, and the version of IORR was the best I've think I've ever heard. I thought it was a good idea to move START ME UP to the beginning of the set. DON'T STOP is an okay song, but it was played with passion last night and the crowd seemed to like it. Then the show got REALLY good. There was no time to catch your breath once ALL DOWN THE LINE STARTED. Great versions of ADTL, a fabulous SWEET VIRGINIA, and even ANGIE sounded tremendous. The entire stadium was rocking and rolling!!!

Then, just flat out incredible versions of YCAGWYY, MIDNIGHT RAMBLER and TUMBLING DICE. I thought it was brilliant to put these songs in the middle of the set instead of at the end, and also one after the other. The version of MR was probably the best I have heard. The band was incredibly animated and really having a great time I could have gone home right then and been happy with no regrets.

For the intros, as happens so many times in the past (with good reason), Charlie Watts got the biggest ovation. The other band members payed homage to Charlie and bowed to him. Charlie - YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

I liked hearing THE WORST and the Keith did a great version of HAPPY. Then another great move...putting SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL in the middle of the set. And what a great version. Everyone singing along as they did for so many of the songs.

The B-stage songs were tremendous, and the sound was just as good as from the main stage, unlike at Staples Center where the sound suffered on the B-stage songs. Loved hearing great versions of WHEN THE WHIP COMES DOWN, LITTLE RED ROOSTER and even LIKE A ROLLING STONE sounded fresh and new.

Then the boys headed back to the main stage for the classics, delivered with an intensity that was off the charts. GIMME SHELTER, HONKY TONK WOMEN (with Sheryl Crow joining in), and then blistering versions of STREET FIGHTING MAN and JUMPING JACK FLASH.

The Stones came back on for an encore after a short delay. YOU GOT ME ROCKING was a surprise in the encore spot. But during the song, images of the Anaheim Angels winning the World Series earlier in the week at that stadium were played throughout the song. The crowd ate it up. And then SATISFACTION, a long version that ended the night on an incredible note.

This was definitely my favorite stadium show of all time, and one of my favorite concerts ever. From start to finish, I loved everything about this show. The staging and the set were visually stunning, and added to the music, rather than detract from it. The use of images on the big screens completely enhanced the experience, and made the stadium feel much smaller. I was completely sucked in from the opening notes to the ending fireworks. In general, I really don't care for stadium shows, but this was one for the ages.

In the press:

• Bigger and even better by The Orange County Register

Thanks to Thomas Kindschi for news link!

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