Mick spotted at Stones concert

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http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/news...LINGSTONES.xml

Stones perform historic show
Mon Nov 7, 2005 10:48 AM GMT

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones returned to the Hollywood Bowl for the first time since 1966 on Sunday, playing for about 18,000 fans at the historic venue including U2 guitarist the Edge, actor Tom Hanks and cycling champion Lance Armstrong.

The two-hour set was the first of a pair of sold-out performances at the 83-year-old hillside arena as part of the rock band's "A Bigger Bang" world tour: a second show will take place on Tuesday.

Two days after the band played a spotty show at the vast Angel Stadium in Anaheim, south of Los Angeles, the Stones had to adjust to a no-frills set-up on a relatively tiny stage. At times, hyperactive frontman Mick Jagger could barely contain himself within the tight confines.

In a rare nostalgic mood, he told the crowd that a lot had changed since 1966, noting that tickets were $4 (2 pounds) back then. This time, the top price was $479.50, although some seats in the front were set aside for hardcore fans at $122.50 each.

"The only thing that's a bit similar is the set list," Jagger added, jokingly, although in truth the only songs that dated from that era were "Get Off Of My Cloud" and the encore tune "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

Clearly on a roll, Jagger later commented that every time he turns on the television, "what you get is Arnold propositioning you, y'know," a reference to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to win support for four ballot initiatives ahead of election day on Tuesday.

But Jagger, guitarists Keith Richards and Ron Wood, and drummer Charlie Watts largely let the songs speak for themselves. Despite the historic nature of the show, the Stones did not unearth any rarities, opting for a stable lineup of tried-and-tested tunes that have been played multiple times since the tour began on August 21 in Boston.

The show kicked off in top gear with such chestnuts as "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "It's Only Rock'n Roll" and "Tumbling Dice," and detoured into country ("Dead Flowers"), and epic blues ("Midnight Rambler"). Jagger kept his gaze on the TelePrompTer during the brass-heavy stomper "All Down the Line," successfully avoiding a repeat of last Tuesday's performance in Portland, Or., when he forgot the words.

He also strapped on a guitar for several tunes, including the bottleneck blues of "Back of My Hand," one of three from the band's new album, also titled "A Bigger Bang."

Besides a delirious Hanks, a low-key Edge and Armstrong, the celebrity quotient also included actor James Spader, who reverentially shook his head throughout the show, his "Boston Legal" co-star William Shatner, Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood, comic Garry Shandling, baseball slugger Barry Bonds, actress Meg Ryan, and liberal activist Steve Bing.

Reuters/VNU



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