The Stones today (left to right): Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood
While their contemporaries The Who have (unofficially) announced that they will be settling in for a two-year Las Vegas residency, the Rolling Stones are keeping their 2018 live performance plans to themselves—for now. However, a couple of articles in the British press strongly suggest that fans in the Stones’ birthplace may be getting a return visit from the band—all of whose core members are now in their 70s—some time next year.
[On Feb. 26, the Stones finally announced their 2018 tour dates.]
And on New Year’s Eve, the Stones teased fans further. (See below.)
NME, England’s long-standing music publication, stated back on Sept. 12 that rumors were afoot that Mick, Keith and the boys would be headlining this year’s Knebworth festival. “AEG [concert promoter] have refused to comment on the speculation, but the company are currently promoting the Stones’ European tour, having previously been behind their appearances at Desert Trip last year and British Summer Time 2013—the band’s last U.K. appearance,” said the NME report.
“Sorry to our U.K. fans there are no U.K. dates on this run, due to lack of available venues because of sporting fixtures,” the Stones said on Twitter at the time. “Hope to be here in 2018.”
The Stones’ 14 dates on their 2017 #NoFilter European stadium tour were big enough to rank #10 for the year in terms of concert revenues.
And now that seems to be more that a “hope.” The British newspaper The Sun is singing a different, more positive tune. “Rolling Stones set to play U.K. gigs in summer 2018,” said the more definitive headline on the paper’s website last week. Mick Jagger, the report said, “is currently meeting with promoters to secure dates in 2018 which are likely to feature a number of huge stadium shows. Speaking exclusively, Mick said, ‘We were disappointed not to perform in the U.K. on our recent jaunt and we’re looking forward to getting plans in place to do so next year.’”
On New Year’s Eve, the Stones tweeted an “unofficial confirmation.”
Wishing everyone a rockin’ NYE and we’ll see you in 2018! #HappyNewYear pic.twitter.com/v1CmxMHr02
— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) December 31, 2017
No formal announcement has yet been made, nor has there been any word of a return trip to the States or elsewhere, but fans in the U.K. have strong reason to expect dates.
BCB will, of course, bring you updates as we learn of them.
Watch the Stones play “Sympathy for the Devil” in Paris in October
23 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI’m making these comments with the high probability of being crucified, but that being said, please Rolling Stones, bow out gracefully, you’ve more than done your part. With all due respect, to the second best group of all time (The Beatles being the greatest), bow out and let your musical legacy speak for you from this point forward.
They are no longer the Stones of “Sticky Fingers”, “Exile on Main Street”, “Some Girls, or the other classic albums they released in their earlier years. I fear that to continue to mount these geriatric tours is only going to chip away at what is one of the greatest stories in Rock ‘n Roll history.
I know I’m going to receive a lot of backlash for my comments, but please understand that these are not comments born of disrespect, but rather of honoring one of the great bands of our lifetime.
If The Stones were playing to half empty stadiums it would be agreeable. All shows on their tours have sold out and the studies show 70 % are first time atendees. Plumbers plum doctors doc and The Stones deliver Satisfaction. Bless you and remember It’s Only Rock n Roll -:)
I agree 100%.
Don’t go. If people want to see that never have, it’s a great experience.
yes go there shows are amazing
I respectfully, yet strongly, disagree. Although it will be time to dismantle in the near future, they have been playing well since they got moving on the slow roll of annual tours beginning in ’12. Mick and Ronnie are surprisingly full of energy and performing very well. Charlie is still putting out a solid beat, and while Keith now leaves the “heavy lifting” to Ronnie, he’s doing fine. I look forward to at least one more year of shows. Maybe you haven’t actually been to any of the shows and are solely basing your opinions on their ages or poor quality YouTube videos?
First off my friend the Beatles were not a rock n roll band there for stones are the all time greatest and they still can rock, so why not, their icons. When they quit, many of us long time followers will have a big void in our lives that could never be replaced.
YES. !!!!
What an idiot you are
I have never seen the Stones play. I’m not a concert guy, I’ve attended two concerts in my life and for one of those I was given a free ticket. The Rolling Stones are the ONLY band I want to see in concert and I would fly to Europe to see it(I live in Canada). They are legends. So, if they can play until they are 100, and still want to, they should for fans like me who weren’t around in their glory days. Annnd, they’re better than the Beatles lol
Well said, and Amen!!!
come on keith bow down i am getting tired of a chuck berry copy cat
Hey man, don’t go. Maybe I can get a better seat They’re the best and always will be.
The Rolling Stones still seem to be making a lot of people happy by continuing to play shows, so they might just as well keep on doing it, while they more or less can. While they appear to me to have pretty much lost their songwriting mojo, their most recent studio album seems to suggest a continuing capacity to perform well. Long ago they started out as a band that didn’t write much material of their own, but could cover things quite well. I guess they’ll end that way.
i am tired of the stones
chuck berry is dead
I thought I would get some push-back, and I did. The comments have given me much to reconsider. I guess I was coming at it from a songwriting aspect, and on that you have to agree, they are riding on albums they wrote 30-50 yrs ago. That being said, there are very rock solid reasons for them to continue to tour. The biggest reason being that they still bring enjoyment to a lot of people. I haven’t seen them since the “Steel Wheels” tour, however, prior to that, I had seen them in ‘75, ‘78, ‘81, and one other time in the early to mid 80s. To me, and it’s just my opinion, they seemed to slow a bit. Perhaps i’m wrong.
There is one comment I must address and unfortunately we could debate until both of us are worm food, and not come up with a definitive answer, that is Nick’s comment about The Beatles not being a rock and roll band. Nick, i’m not sure why you believe that, but “my friend”, just let me say that the Rock ‘n Roll landscape would look a lot different had it not been for that night in 1964 on the Ed Sillivan Show. Further, had it not been for “Rubber Soul”, “Revolver”, Sgt. Pepper, and “Abbey Road”, R’nR would sound a lot different.
Exactly!! The Beatles are definitely the birth of rock n roll
We please pray they come back to the States again. Saw them 2 years ago for the first time. Had wanted to see them since the 60’s and had to wait a long time, They were fantastic. I live in South Carolina but will go anywhere in the states to see them again. If they do not come to the US, then my husband and I have always wanted to visit Britain since my ancestry is English and Irish!!
I first saw the Stones in ’72 in Charlotte, NC. I can still recall almost every detail about the show. It was kick-ass & awesome for me because I crushed my way to the front of center stage, just a few feet from Jagger. The band was very close to each other, so I could see them all like they were playing my house. Saw them 17 years later on the Steel Wheels tour from the 10th row & it was another classic. Don’t give up the chance to see these legends no matter their age. I was only 18 when I saw Count Basie & Duke Ellington (not long before they died). I was not their generation but I’m so grateful I got to them. Great! Forget the Stones’ age & go. You will NOT regret it.
I saw the Stones in Toronto a few years ago. Three things that stood out, one, they are the loudest band I ever saw and I have seen every major headlining act. Two they are the loosest playing band I ever saw and three,Jagger cannot sing. This band is definitely long past it’s best before date and are only out there for the money. Too bad.
you said there can not sing , dude you are so wrong , like Robert Daltry of the who said once , ” if my voice cracks that’s fine , we creating our own form of music , its not opera , its raw and its only rock n roll , rock on guys , you the best “
Hell Yes! }~^>