The Wick wrote on Mar 9
th, 2011 at 8:30pm:
Mick and Keith are dicks. It shows that they have more in common with each other than the rest of the band. That bullshit speech of Keith at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where he said I work for Ian Stewart was shown for what it was, empty words. These guys are swimming in money and the idea that they couldn't fly to their home country (not some far off place) even for one night is utter crap. People with far less means attend all types of things on the other side of the world. The only way I can see this as forgivable is if either or both of them had a serious reason for not attending. Not liking each other is not a serious reason.
Agree completely - and no doubt the tabloids will have a field day with it. And with good reason.
So, Mick can fly 6,000 miles to do a tribute to Solomon Burke, but he can't do a tribute to Ian Stewart in his hometown? Why not? Well, I suppose the ego factor of his performance being seen by 400 million people instead of 400 in a club may JUST have something to do with it? And Keith can fly all the way to London to sign a few books but he can't do the same to even make a cameo appearance as a tribute to the guy who, according to his autobiography, was mainly responsible for bringing the band together in the first place?
They could put aside their differences in 1986 when they performed together as a tribute to Stu. But they cant in 2011? Speaks volumes for what they've both become since Stu died, unfortunately. Fuck me, how difficult could it have been? What a pair of classless prima donnas.
The Stones as a live band basically dont and wont exist unless there's some promoter out there willing to stump up a nine figure sum to entice Mick and Keith to tolerate each other being in the same room for months on end.
I know the show wasn't ABOUT the Stones, and Stu wasn't JUST the band's piano player, so it was good that the music reflected different aspects opf his career. The Stones WERE a part of that and there's really no excuse for them getting together and playing even a couple of songs together as a band.
It sounds like it was still a great night without them and everyone seems to have enjoyed it which is the main thing. I'd have loved to have been able to go. Great to see four of the six surviving band members together, but there'll always be an element of 'what should have been' that will overshadow a memorable evening, unfortunately.
A huge 'well done' to Ben Waters for bringing everyone together and to all the musicians who gave their time to perform.