tough call......but we'll always have Buffalo 75!....honestly with Ronnie looking in good shape I think there is a better than 50/50 for next year but can't see it being the global juggernaut of previous tours though. More dates in fewer cities perhaps?..or maybe at their age now its a been there done that kinda thing.

I think it will happen next year.

maybe, maybe not........

Assuming health is satisfactory, next year is a sure thing. At the last "summit" Mick decided to punt because of the still-soft global economy and, even more important, the availability of pegging a tour next year to a 50th anniversary and possibly the London Olympic Games.

I THINK IT'S OVER.DUDES ARE OLD.

Charlie in recent interviews has mentioned there will be future activity.  So, that makes me hopeful.

I'm with you LJ, I don't think they'll let the 50th go by without touring.
But the more I thought about it  I wonder if they'll use the term '50th'?

We were all sure they were going to tour last year.  All things pointed that way.
At the time it looked like Ronnie was the cause of the band's inactivity and look at him go now!

I wonder if the real 800lb gorilla isn't the Cohl/Live Nation lawsuit.
It would have been know to the Stones and others involved that was coming long before the 'official' documentation was made public.
Official denials of tour rumors?  The Stones don't do that.  At least they haven't in the past. 
That, in particular, makes me wonder.

Unless there is something going on that no one outside of the inner circle of the band could possibly know -
I think they will tour again.

No way it's over. I was sure they would announce a tour around this time of the year, but sadly I was wrong. However now I'm convinced they will start a new tour next year, and then, then it's OVER! They will not announce the end, there's no reason to do so. Mick will do films and another solo record, Charlie will be involved in jazz music, Ronnie will play alot of guest appearences, and knowing it's all over now, start drinking again, and Keith, poor Keith, I really don't know. And then, a few years after that last tour, they will be around 75 years old. I know, it sounds terrible, but that's life! But I feel priviliged that I have lived it from the beginning to the end. That is, if I don't drop dead in the next 3 years.

LadyJane wrote on Apr 15^th, 2011 at 7:51am:


'Todgergate' is certainly a sore point. As one contact told me at the end of last year, he didnt know if a tour in the near future was likely because 'its a bit like World War III at the minute'.  However, its nothing that cant or wont be overcome by a promoter dangling a cheque in front of them for about $300 million.

The Great Unknown issue to me is Keith. For the man who's traditionally harped on down the years about living to perform, he's been pretty much retired since the last tour ended. A low-key 3-song guest appearance with the Crickets is (I think) his only live performance and he's hardly done any studio work.  I really doubt that he's fallen out of love with music THAT much so it strikes me that its more of an 'enforced' lay off. Granted, we're aware that Patti's illness sidelined him as did a broken finger, but I doubt that those have been enough on their own to warrant nearly four years of almost total inactivity. I'd also seriously doubt that when the Stones left the stage on 26th August 2007 they intended to a) retire or b) be inactive for so long before working again. Taking years off in your mid 60s doesnt augur well for the quality of your performances whenever you choose to start things up again.

IF Keith is capable of performing again, I've little doubt that the Stones will tour in 2012. Too much significance around the anniversary and too many opportunities to be passed up. I DONT think they'll perform at the Olympics (thank God). From what I understand, the organisers are probably going to focus more on younger acts anyway.  

I also dont think that a tour will be a long one. Going by the time off they need on a tour between shows (the last European tour had 30 shows and took them 12 weeks!) and their age, I seriously doubt they're going to want to spend a year or two on the road. It's also my own belief that the next tour (and it'll be their last - anyone who thinks there'll be another one after it is delusional) will pretty much be concentrated on 'A' markets - Bigger Bang was pretty much a farewell tour to all the lesser markets. I'd be surprised if they play more than about 80 shows and that there will be anything outside North America, Europe (by that I mean western Europe) and Japan (and even Japan must be a doubt after recent events). Maybe Australia.

Another major issue is how they're going to equate being the most expensive concert ticket in rock music with doing a tour in the middle of a world recession. This could also have been a major reason why they havent toured at all in recent years. This will be the first Stones tour since the economic crash and considering theyve toured so much in recent years with basically the same show - whilst NOT attracting new fans - its going to be a hard sell unless they absolutely blatantly bill it as a farewell tour. U2 managed to put on the most lucrative tour ever DESPITE the recession- but their business model was far superior to the often shambolic way the last Stones tour was promoted. - ie, top priced ticket $250,  General admission tickets instead of all-seated,  10,000 tickets per venue priced $30., Field tickets for $55. Certainly a better way of attracting younger fans than the humiliating firesales that Cohl dreamed up to shift thousands of unsold seats in tarped off stadiums on the last American tour the Stones did. Thankfully, I don't think Cohl will be on board for the next tour.

In short (!), I think they'll tour - but they're going to have to learn a few lessons from the U2 tour and make some significant changes to their current M.O. to maintain the success levels of previous tours.

Unfortunately, I'm much less confident about their ability to perform at a consistent level for a prolonged period of time after what will be a five year lay off.  Age, inactivity, ill-health and lifestyles are four factors whose combined signifance can't really be disregarded. Naturally, as a fan, I'd want to see them tour again - but the longer they choose to leave it, the less I think it's a good idea from the perspective of musical quality and what it will do to their reputation.

Gazza's post is as informative as ever, but here's this Englishman's take :-

I think they’ll be back with a tour next year, though perhaps not on the scale we have been accustomed to post-Steel Wheels. Gazza has said here and elsewhere that the Bigger Bang Tour acted as a farewell to some of the smaller markets and I am inclined to agree. I believe it’ll be the biggest cities across North America, Europe and perhaps a handful of shows in Australia or Japan. As for here in the UK, I think they’ll finally perform the new – well, it’s not anymore! – Wembley Stadium, a show in Manchester, Birmingham or Sheffield and a show-or-two in Scotland. I’m sure Ireland will get another performance and I dearly hope our Belfast buddy well get see the boys in his hometown… at last!

As previously stated, all Stones (except KR) have demonstrated they are more than road ready.  He is indeed the 800 lb gorilla.  If they do tour, I think guest guitarists should be hired for each leg of the tour to take the mental and physical pressure off Keith.  My fingers ache just looking at his poor knuckles.  IF Mick can overlook Keith's bitchery in "Life" and perform with him again, Keith should make sure his shoulders are chip-free as well and welcome Mick Taylor and other well-known guest guitarists with open arms.  And if the wonderful Mr Perks could join them for a few - fantastic.

If touring means compromising any member's health or sobriety, I'd rather they didn't.  If it's going to be war horses and more hard looks (or no looks) between Mick and Keith, I won't be there.  The Boogie 4 Stu clips show what can result when people love what they are playing and like and respect the people sharing the stage.  That would be a nice last memory.

To answer your question LJ - start saving your money.  I think there will be a tour.

Pdog wrote on Apr 15^th, 2011 at 3:36pm:



Rock is dead they say..........

Will we ever see the Stones on tour again?

The truth?

Probably not!

That was it!

Good Times!

Cherish the memories!