Hard-to-find 28-minute ITV documentary from the 1976 tour
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Search for 'Stones on the Road' and watch ...Synopsis :
27th May, 1976
Rolling Stones tour of the UK.
“I put a notice up on my bathroom mirror, and it said ‘Brussels Hilton’, so that when I woke up, I knew that I was in the Brussels Hilton.’ (Mick Jagger, vocalist).
Thursday is the climax of the rolling stones tour of Britain – the last of six performances at Earls Court packed with 100,000 Stones fans. A This Week crew has spent the last fortnight with the band, on-stage and back-stage, on the road from Glasgow to Stafford to Leicester to London, and the British end is only part of a European tour embracing Belgium, Germany, Holland, France and Sweden.
“They’re the greatest rock and roll band in the world.” (Stones fan)
“A band isn’t a band if it doesn’t play in front of people.” (Keith Richards, Lead Guitar)
“He’s the sexiest man on earth.” (Stones fan)
More than a million people applied for tickets for the British concerts. Only one in ten actually managed to get in to see Mick Jagger leap around the stage, swing on a rope, strip off most of his clothes, pour buckets of water over the fans and or himself, and lead his band through two hours of deafeningly-amplified rock and roll.
“I went through customs in London about a month ago, and the guy who checked my baggage said: “Didn’t you used to be in that group that used to be called the Rolling Stones?” (Bill Wyman, bass guitarist).
“What’s changed in the Stones’ music over the last ten years? Not a thing.” (Billy Preston, back-up musician.
The Stones have been on the road for nearly fourteen years. From being symbols of rebellion, they have come to be almost accepted, their anarchy institutionalised. Traditional features of the tour have included a drugs charge, a visit from Princess Margaret, and countless “exclusive interviews” with Mick Jagger. But for how long can they and their road crew continue the exhausting annual ritual of touring, transporting tons of equipment for hundreds of miles? Why do they all do it?
“I’ve packed up four times-to myself. But I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what I’d enjoy as much. I wish I was a writer or a painter.” (Charlie Watts, drums).
“Whether it appears I’ve got six months to live or not, who knows? Six months is a long time. I should be so lucky.” (Keith Richards)
“I’ve got about two years left in me I suppose. I’m surprised I’m here now. It’s a miracle. Never thought I’d make it this morning.” (Peter Price, Roadie).
“I just get fed up with gardening.” (Bill Wyman)
Paradoxically, the tour itself will not make money for the Stones. Production expenses are very high, and taxes on their British earnings even higher. But it’s a useful promotion for their new record.
“It’s a living, that’s all. We have to give all the money to the Revenue, bless ‘em. They should really be promoting the tour.” (Peter Rudge, Tour Manager).
John Fielding has interviewed all the Rolling Stones, their Manager, their Roadies, their fans for ‘Stones on the Road’. His film report also includes three numbers from the Stones concert.
Footage includes; The Rolling Stones about to go on stage, Ronnie Wood seen briefly, followed by Mick Jagger. Fans give a vox pops about the band and how much they love them and Mick Jagger. Ollie Brown interview, Ian Stuart interview (Roadie, and a founding member of the Rolling Stones). GVs of them on stage performing to a large audience. Mick Jagger moving around the stage in the spotlight, he throws buckets of water and confetti onto the crowd and bandmates. Lorries driving along the road. Ronnie Wood interviewed. Mick Jagger comments how he has to put a note on his mirror to remind him what town he is in when on tour.
Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts jamming backstage with The Meters, funk band. Fans running into the auditorium. Ronnie and Mick talking backstage, Charlie Watts talks about his love for the Rolling Stones and his wife coming on tour and how he likes to shut the door but doesn’t like being alone, he also talks about drinking, fame and being able to get whatever you wanted, people pandering to you but also stabbing you in the back. Bill Wyman talks about being on tour, not being able to get a decent meal and talks about his wife, he also talks about the band’s fans. Mick Jagger in the dressing room, putting on his stage outfit and fluffing up his hair. Shots of Keith Richards, Marlon Richards (Keith’s son), Krissy Wood in the dressing room.
Female stylist interviewed, saying what Mick Jagger is like, and discusses the warnings her friends gave her about going on tour with the Rolling Stones, she gets embaressed and laughs as she ends up revealing a bit too much information! Keith Richards seen putting on his eyeliner and smudging it. GVs of Bianca Jagger backstage drinking Champagne from a bottle and pouring it into glasses, celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary. Mick and others sitting watching football on TV backstage. Keith Richards sitting in front of a make up mirror with lightbulbs around the edges. Ronnie Woods comments on how he hopes the Rolling Stones will carry on for a long time, just like Howlin’ Wolf did.
Mick Jagger drinks Champagne from the bottle, Keith Richards talks about what it is to be in a band and go on the road, he sits in front of a mirror whilst talking, a boom microphone to one side of him and an opened bottle of milk in front of him, he takes a pill which he explains is a salt tablet, he comments that a band is not a proper band unless they play in front of people. He says that he has never had to worry about his body, that he is used to punishing it. He also talks about the venues and preferring it to be too hot so that he comes off stage drenched and feels more like he has performed.
Mick Jagger wearing a fur jacket, he talks about how hot it gets when performing and how long it takes him to recover afterwards, physically and mentally. Keith and Ronnie both make comments to the Reporter about drugs and joke about them not having any.
Mick, Keith and Ronnie backstage doing a tune up session, the Thames Television clapperboard is snapped shut, Ronnie jokes that his nose got caught in it. Interview with Billy Preston on how long he has known the band, interview with Peter Rudge, the Manager of the band at the time, Marlon Richards is seen next to him, joking around putting coins on Peter’s head. The Stones on stage performing. Peter Price interview (Pricey). Mick Jagger and the band on stage, he swings from a rope, sings with Ronnie Wood, pushes Keith Richards, dances across the stage, dances energetically bare chested to the crowd.