Rolling Stones in Concert

Now billed as “the greatest rock and roll band ever”, my love of this group dates back to seeing the Rolling Stones on the Ed Sullivan Show. Keith Richards had the cutest, most innocent-looking face (you read that right). And, I remember thinking that Mick Jagger had the biggest lips on a white guy I had ever seen. Mick Jagger’s moves and facial expressions were simply mesmerizing. I was determined to see this group in concert. What is a Rolling Stones concert like, you ask? It is unlike any rock concert you will ever see.

My first Rolling Stones concert was during 1973 with their ‘Goat’s Head Soup’ album release. (They had albums back then.) There were no big screens in the basketball arena, but Jagger’s performance made up for it. Plus, the stage props were bigger than life. I was in a Bob Euecker seat (the faraway rafters), but who cared?! I still saw Mick Jagger swing on a rope across the audience floor. I still saw Jagger straddle a huge phallic symbol balloon. This balloon (the best I can describe it) stemmed from the stage to cover over one-half the floor. He sure was having fun with it! The audience was loving every moment of it.

Keith Richards was in his standard ripped t-shirt and torn jeans. True to form, the entire concert saw a cigarette dangling from his lips. Mick Jagger was wearing a tank top with loose fitting pants with ribbons tying it around his ankles. He needed the loose fitting pants for the high jumps he would make during the Rolling Stones concert. The other band members were wearing t-shirts and were nondescript. Bill Wyman was on bass with the band then. Mick Taylor replaced Brian Jones on guitar. Of course, Charlie Watts was on drums. Good old Charlie.

“Honky Tonk Woman”, “Midnight Rambler”, and “Gimme Shelter” were all simply superb. During this Rolling Stones concert, the band did “Fingertips” as an encore. Mick Jagger played it to a tee. There is something about hearing Mick Jagger whisper into a microphone that sends my heart a-flutter.