Dear fellas,

Ever since I became a disciple in the 1970s, I have worked tirelessly to enlighten others to the pure magic that is the Rolling Stones.  And over the years, I am certain I have helped bring a few dozen into the fold.

Recently, I was delving into your blues roots again, scouring your catalog to introduce a newbie who loves the blues but had little idea what amazing things you guys have done.

(PS, I closed the deal last Friday when in a drunken, weedy haze, I played Gimme Shelter at 1am - he had never seen it before!  He's hooked).

The funny thing is, in doing so, I have gotten myself into a Stonesian lather thinking about the fact that you are rapidly approaching your 50th anniversary.

Wow - simply amazing.

And I don't think it is too early to start putting certain ideas out there in preparation for this milestone.

First, you really REALLY need to think about opening your next concert tour with Sympathy for the Devil.
Think about it - one of your best known songs by almost anyone with functioning ears.
The song begins with that amazing rhythm not unlike the explosive opening in 1994 with Not Fade Away.
It has perhaps the most appropriate opening line in your history and is custom made for you Mick.
It also accentuates the naughty, dark Stones that so many of us truly need!
And it just plain rocks.
Throw in lots of fire, and red smoke, and devil heads.
I think I made my point.
You have never opened with it.
This is the time to do it.

Second, while I realize that you feel that the masses need the hits, you need to find a way to put in some blues.
It doesn't have to be much, but how about 2 slots in the set list with a rotation of some of your best.
Love in Vain
Down in the Hole
Lil Red Rooster
I've Got the Blues
Two Trains
Parachute Woman
You want to blow it up - do it on a B-stage, do an accoustic set, something.
I mean seriously guys, throw us blues retards a bone, eh?
Even those in the audience that may not know the songs will look back one day and realize that they were treated to the essence of the Stones - hell it is good business -- I didn't know Down the Road A Piece when you played it in Buffalo in '81, but it had me so intrigued that I bought all of your early 60s releases to find more of those gems!

Third, and this may be a bit of a stretch, but if you could, I think it would be cool if you titled your next release "Weeding."
Just an idea - I am an idea guy.

Thanks for reading.
Hope all is well with everyone.
Tell everyone nanker says "hey"

Sincerely,

nankerphelge
 

awhh, Nanky..

Does my heart good to read your letter
You can add my name to the signature..

I would just add 2 P.S.'s

Get rid of the Vegas glitz..it doesn't go with the music...
Make the tickets affordable so that I can go to more than one show and party with my RO friends!

Nice idea, but unfortunately their target audience in 2008 wouldnt know the blues if it jumped up and bit them on the arse (and many of them are probably oblivious to the band's roots anyway)...and the almost total absence of that type of music on the last tour would suggest that the band are happy enough with this piece of revisionism

Mick probably is too afraid of departing from the 'big stadium anthems' theme for more than a few minutes per show in case the audience loses interest. Chuck Leavell is on record as saying that he is reluctant to sing more than one ballad per show these days, so that doesnt augur well for 10 minutes of slow blues or even acoustic music.

Even the b-stage now - which used to be where you'd get this sort of departure from the hits and a chance of hearing something bluesy - has been reduced to a warhorse-fest. A shocking waste.

Nankerphelge, have you ever considered being the Stones new publicist??????

Oh, I know it would NEVER happen. And as a fan from the early 60's, I am in AWE of the boys blues roots---the tunes that MADE them the Stones, IMO. The nitty gritty Stones. Those will ALWAYS be the Stones to me.

Anyhoo......brilliant ideas! Just brilliant. Gazza is right---it would NEVER work. But can you imagine if it WOULD....

{Only in my head}

SIGH.

Pdog wrote on Sep 4^th, 2008 at 10:41am:



the smoker you drink the player you get........

GotToRollMe wrote on Sep 4^th, 2008 at 1:54pm:


They played Mon in Philly right before the Buffalo show.

Good letter, Nanky. I echo the plea for lower prices/less glitz. And no more shows where the players have to wear ski clothes!

"Nice idea, but unfortunately their target audience in 2008 wouldnt know the blues if it jumped up and bit them on the arse (and many of them are probably oblivious to the band's roots anyway)...and the almost total absence of that type of music on the last tour would suggest that the band are happy enough with this piece of revisionism"

Now now.
Let's think positively here Gazza.

FACT:  Rocks Off was listed on the Rolling Stones webpage, so we can reasonably surmise that someone in the Stones camp checks us out

FACT:  This will likely be their last tour, if it even happens, so they can take some chances and please us hardcores without worrying that they have alienated anyone. 

FACT:   It would be a very marketable gimmick - a back to basics hook that would fit nicely in the set and provide variety not unlike their webpick from B2B.

PURE SUPPOSITION:  Mick has read this and is already making arrangements.

Greetings Mick, Keith and Charlie.
Ronald, you and I need to talk privately. I have some concerns.

My friend Nankerphelge brings up many good points.

May I address ticket prices. You see it is becoming VERY difficult for we, the Stonesian Mutants, to bring new, young blood into the fold when they can't afford the price of a ticket. Now I know you have very high overhead and I understand the necessity to "win gross", but I would like to point out that once you get them in the door they are HOOKED FOR LIFE. I've seen it with my own eyes many times. Nothing like seeing a Virgin become entranced by the Band. They leave the venue wanting to get their hands on EVERYTHING in your long and distinguished catalogue. So a 75.00 ticket could yield hundreds, maybe THOUSANDS of dollars...AND the legacy of the Stones will continue for many generations.

Thank you for your time and I hope all is well with you and yours.

Looking forward to seeing you next Tour.

sincerely,
LadyJane

If the band does tour again, I think it would be better to see them early in the tour. The set lists definitely get MaineMotels-ish after about ten shows in.

Over on Shiidddobbbbbbee there's a thread about Mick having an LA lunch & all the stalkers who follow him around. Scary stuff. I thought he'd be too old for the paparazzi.

Is "shaky" doing his anti-Bush rants still?

I got an idea, Rolling Stones: WRITE SONGS AT LEAST AS GOOD AS THOSE ON GOATS HEAD SOUP, IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N' ROLL, AND BLACK AND BLUE.

THEN YOU'LL HAVE MODERN CLASSICS AS GOOD AS THE ONES THAT YOU GAVE US IN THE 70S.  THEN YOU'LL HAVE A HOT MODERN ALBUM.

JESUS H. CHRIST, BOB DYLAN DOES THIS AT LEAST TWICE A DECADE.  THE CLOSEST YOU'VE COME SINCE 1989 IS VOODOO LOUNGE.  THE LAST TIME YOU DID THIS WAS SOME GIRLS.

SIT DOWN AND WRITE AN ALBUM ABOUT SAYING GOODBYE.