The Rolling Stones – 60th Band Anniversary

The Rolling Stones: The authentic heart of blues and rock

The Rolling Stones are repeatedly referred to by fans, critics and the media as “(…) the greatest rock band of all time”. One of the reasons is their musical and lifestyle authenticity. While there are plenty of acts who nail their sets with perfection night after night, the Stones are loose enough and composed enough to allow for mistakes. Suddenly one of the guitarists yells “I’ve got it”, throws himself into a solo and only later realizes that the other guitarist is also firing a solo. Anyone who hasn’t experienced that once or twice in the evening hasn’t been to a Stones concert.

Stones play on and with the emotions of their fans

The Stones sense the audience’s emotions, seize on expectations, and then go for their throats. The fans feel that the musicians are right there with them, even though they are performing in front of hundreds of thousands to millions at the same time. The concerts have the character of exorbitant family celebrations. This is probably also a quality that they can implement due to their organised team’s routine, which doesn’t allow the musicians to get lost in the technical side of things. Basically, you always have the feeling that the music is down-to-earth, handmade, with both feet firmly on the ground, and in connection with a brilliant show.

How it all began – Alexis Korner in a bind

The year is 1962, there is a small music club in the basement of a cinema in London’s Soho district: The Marquee Club, where the music and especially blues greats of the time, such as Muddy Waters and numerous others, hang out. One of the hottest musicians was Alexis Korner, who performed regularly on Thursdays with his band Blues Incorporated, which included a certain Brian Jones. When Korner got an offer from the BBC at the same time, he set up a ragtag band of characters that didn’t even have a name at the time. It was the starting shot for the incredible career of the “Rolling Stones.”

The Rolling Stones: First million seller with “Satisfaction” 

After a number of notable successes with cover songs, they released their first number in June 1964 with “Tell Me (You’ve Coming Back)”. Not only would it be their first top 40 hit in the US, but it was also a statement that they have found their style with the compositions of Jagger and Richards. More successful singles followed, culminating in the first million-seller “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” in 1965. By now, at the latest, the scandalous British musicians were considered superstars with a bad-boy image. And as a result, there were a number of records, unforgettable songs and a rock CV that couldn’t be more impressive.

Most successful concert tour of all time

With the “Bigger Bang” tour between June 2006 and June 2007, the Stones once again made it into the Guinness Book of Records. A record grossing of US$437 million is performed, making the tour the most financially successful of all time. It’s easy to understand that the Stones are among the absolute top earners in the music business. Fans criticize the ticket prices, but still come to experience the iconic gigs. Who knows how long the band will be around?

The Rolling Stones: And again we leaf through the Guinness Book of Records

The 2006 Copacabana open-air concert is considered by many to be the greatest concert of all time. An estimated 1.2 to 1.5 million fans are said to have seen the concert, which was probably a record. However, whether it was the biggest concert ever is not entirely certain. After all, Rod Stewart is mentioned in the Guinness Book with as many as 4.2 million spectators. However, the concert was on New Year’s Eve, and it is not known how many spectators came specifically to see Stewart and which ones simply came to the millennium celebration. But honestly: 1.5 million viewers – wow!

https://youtu.be/24uY_Afrfnk

Oldest artists to ever top the charts

In 2020, the Stones released the song “Living In A Ghost Town” and made it to the top of the German single charts again. This made the rebellious teenagers from 1962 the oldest artists ever to top the charts, a whopping 58 years after their first appearance. And in covid-19 times, when most bands were pretty much on the ground due to the pandemic.

The Rolling Stones: Biggest gap between two #1 hits

But that’s not all, especially since there were 52 years between the success of “Living In A Ghost Town” and their first number 1 hit, it was also the longest span of time that could ever be recorded. A song that set two records at the same time.

After 60 years still rollin’

The Stones can look back on a mega career filled with incredible successes, unforgettable hits and gigantic live shows. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are now 78 years old and still don’t think about rock retirement. But on the contrary. Instead, they criss-cross Europe with their “Sixty Tour” and have a lot of fun in the process. As to be expected for the 60th anniversary, the Stones spoil their fans with the classics and many surprise songs from their endless material. Congratulations on the impressive anniversary!

Your favorite Rolling Stones songs?

What are your favorite Rolling Stones songs? What do you remember most about their hits and/or their concerts? We would be happy to read your comments!