Just *one* studio album; one solo album; one "EP."

Nearly a billion dollars' worth of touring.

Shall we call it the Lost or Lopsided Decade?

Mel Belli wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2009 at 7:42pm:



One solo album???

Tsk tsk. Be fair. Mick released two (Goddess and Alfie) and Ronnie released one.

So little to choose from, but at least they played a lot of shows.  From my POV:

Best new song: Oh No Not You Again
Worst new song: Sweet Neocon
Best instrumental performance: Rock Me Baby (Ronnie)
Best live guest: Buddy Guy (Champagne and Reefer or Night Time) and AC/DC
Worst live guest: Chui San or whoever on Wild Horses
Best vocal performance:  That's How Strong My Love Is
Best live rarity: Learning the Game
Warhorse you never want again: It's Only Rock and Roll
Favorite live moment at a show you attended: 11/17/06, AC NJ, Loving Cup

Oh Mel..you are killing me! 

Hey you know you'll go see these old farts if they get off their lazy asses  to perform for their loyal subjects -even if Ronnie is out there trying to remember what song he is suppose to be playing and Keith is posing while Blondie plays his classic riffs. 

Seriously, we are all crazy to be so in love with a band that hasn't produced much in the way of really good new shit in YEARS!!( typing this as Dead Flowers is playing in the background) ...

Bring on the tour ...

They Aught to fucking tour

Throwaway wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2009 at 8:41am:


Ah, yes, the fabled "Best Weekend Ever"
for those of us lucky enough to be there. 

LadyJane wrote on Dec 26^th, 2009 at 12:16am:



Yep. This time NEXT decade its highly unlikely we'll be having this debate.

We should make the most of it.

A GREAT decade from the perspective of getting the opportunity to see lots of shows around the world (even though they only played shows in 5 out of the 10 years) and making and sustaining friendships. Wouldnt have missed all that for anything. I got to see the Stones perform 26 times in England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and the US in this decade alone - which included two trips to New York and one to Los Angeles, three trips which would not have been possible without the kindness and generosity of fellow fans.  I'll even forgive the band for not having played my home city since 1965....

On the down side, the band have definitely coasted towards retirement for the entire decade and the cost incurred to fans of padding that retirement fund is getting more and more prohibitive whilst the Stones milk their tax-free wealth - plus its a bit frustrating from the POV of someone who unconditionally loves their music that while the band like to publicly insist that they're a living, breathing, current act and who wont open their archives as a result, at the same time they're not making any new music either and insist on tailoring their show and any releases to the sort of fans for whom '40 Licks' is the extent of their interest.

Unfortunately if they leave it much longer to treat their archives with the respect it deserves, there wont be enough of their true fanbase left to be interested.

It's all very depressing when you think of it. But we are not alone. No one really gives a stuff about a Macca or Neil Young album. Even U2's sales are down. I think the final nail is in for the so-called "heritage" acts.

Sure, some may have a lauded album that might dent the charts, but mainly it's all over for everyone. No matter what anyone does, it wont match what they've already achieved decades ago. And that goes for U2, Greenday anyone else you wanna name. It's all just nostalgia for most, and trying to live up to hype for others. As most of the important people smack into 70, there is a massive gap. This is all off the top of my head, but maybe only Springsteen is a going concern.

And lets not even mention Dylan's Christmas album!

Quickly looking back, we've seen the demise as major recording acts like REM, The Cure, Stones, Young, all the old metal bands, geez, there's so many. And the ones people were talking about only a year or two ago that were to carry the torch have all gone bust. Jet, Hives, White Stripes etc - all gone or going. Shit, Aussie's own "next big thing", WOlfmother, lasted all of 1 album!

Rock as we know it, is long dead. Who the hell knows what will spring up in 5-10 years. Whatever it is, we will have to realise that the Stones etc are as relevant to anyone like Al Jolson was to kids in 1969.

I've been on the Stones train since 1963...I'm riding it to the last stop Streets of Love be damned!

People have been saying rock & roll is dead for the last 40 years.But Macca,Neil,Springsteen,Dylan and others continue to tour regularly and fairly succefully. As far as making quality new music. Their aren't many acts,old or new making good new music.IMHO. Live music will continue to thrive as a form of entertainment. But,recording new music may soon be dead. Or available in far different ways then we've ever known it.....Bunch of old fucking geezers that we are. So I'm ready for the Stones victory lap tour.

It pains me to say this but I think I've paid to see my last Stones show.  Especially if Ronnie (scuffed up but insurable) is still in the lineup.  If Ronnie is replaced by someone whose presence and abilities can shake up the standard setlist it will be a different story.  I'll never get better seats than I had last time (meaning being able to see the B stage with the naked eye).  Money is too tight for another rerun.

GotToRollMe wrote on Dec 27^th, 2009 at 5:51pm:

How many shows did that take you?

GotToRollMe wrote on Dec 26^th, 2009 at 11:37am:

Yes I COMPLETELY AGREE and I told Gazza he should send a resume to APPLY FOR THE JOB ~ invent the job, dammit! Gazza knows more about how to best manage the Stones material then they do themselves!