Gazza wrote on Sep 11
th, 2011 at 1:47pm:
Tall order, Ian.
2012 will see UMG release the Some Girls Deluxe AND a career-spanning retrospective. Both of those will be at least double-disc releases. That doesn't leave a lot of room for a release that not only would mean the most work but which there isn't exactly much demand for.
Mick and Keith parroting the usual party line about being a current band means nothing. The lack of new output since 1997 tells you everything you need to know. Why by this time people continue to take that at face value never ceases to amaze.
What do you expect them to say? Admit that they've little urge to create new material, that they've little interest in performing it, and acknowledge that they're a nostalgia act?
Don't see that anyone's stated anything to suggest they'll repeat the Licks tour 'concept'. If, by that you mean the three types of shows with three types of setlists theme.
If you mean the 'greatest hits' sets however that they did on the Licks stadium shows, then they've already repeated it. They called it the 'Bigger Bang' tour.
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It "is" a tall order... however, a meeting this soon would easily mean they are setting dates and a time scale. If it was simply to state the obvious, that of touring next year, there would be absolutely no need to fly to London and "meet" this early. They could easily agree to that by phone. Keith has been in London for a while... he lives in Connecticut. What is the guy doing there lately?.. .. .. Something is going on fo-sho.
The reason they all met, openly, front door entrance and all is to start the hype a brewing. They are not stupid, and as well they have met several times in the past and nobody photographed a thing and many times we had absolutely no idea until weeks/months after the fact. This so called meeting of them was quite purposeful in letting us know they are doing something.
There is no reason to "tease" a waiting fan-base, and draw media attention this early if it were only concerning a tour next summer or fall. It is their way of saying... "we got something cooking". That something, by this time frame, is most likely plans to record an album... otherwise there would be no reason to tease us this early. Remember the tour is next summer at the earliest and most likely a year away next fall...
Remember, take note of their history, they only give us a spotting of all of them together at a meeting, if they are working on something major. If it were only a tour next year this meeting would be far too early to prompt that. If it were about a Some Girls re-issue... there would be no need to have public meeting over it. If it were concerning a greatest hits package there would be no need for a meeting.
They were "purposefully letting us know" they have/or are planning on starting something major quite soon. That something, based on their recent comments and the earliness of this meeting, would almost certainly mean it has to be an album... Otherwise, what do you equate the openess of the meeting for. It sure as shinola wasn't one of their top secret affairs...
Ian