Most-anticipated tours of 2012

By Darryl Sterdan, QMI Agency


Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones performs during the Rolling Stones' "A Bigger Bang" free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro February 18, 2006. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes)

Are you ready to rock? Well, you'd better be. It sounds like 2012 is going to be a busy year for live music, with everyone from classic rockers to contemporary popsters hitting the road. Here are 12 big-time rockstravaganzas -- from sure things to rumoured reunions -- that could be comin' to your town to help you party down in '12. Start cashing in your annuities now.

1 | The Rolling Stones

It will be their 50th anniversary. They haven't toured in five years. They've refurbished their rep with reissues of Exile on Main St. and Some Girls. And with the core trio well into their golden years -- Charlie Watts turned 70 in June, while Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are 68 -- time won't be on their side much longer. So a 2012 tour by the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band seems like a no-brainer. Granted, the Glimmer Twins appear to be feuding right now. But something tells me Mick will put up with a few more 'tiny todger' cracks in exchange for some major fiscal satisfaction. Sometimes you can get what you want.

2 | The Beach Boys

Speaking of 50th-anniversary tours by feuding legends: Brian Wilson and his ex-bandmates have agreed to bury the hatchet long enough to get up on the boards again for one more tour and album. Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks will kick off a 50-show trek in New Orleans in April. No word yet on whether they'll get around 'round 'round to Canada.

3 | Bruce Springsteen  
 

The Boss is back in business. Springsteen has a new album on the way and will hit the road in spring with his E Street Band. European dates have been announced; a North American trek is being finalized. On the downside, he'll be without the services of sax colossus Clarence Clemons, who passed away after a stroke in the summer. Rumour is he'll recruit a horn section.

4 | Black Sabbath

As Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward announced on Nigel Tufnel Day -- 11/11/11 -- they're working on their first album since 1978's fittingly titled Never Say Die, and kicking off a reunion tour with a British festival show in June. Stay tuned for North American dates.

5 | Coldplay

Chris Martin and co. have already announced they'll kick off their Mylo Xyloto world tour in April with a series of Western Canada shows, starting in Edmonton. Of course, they said that about their Viva la Vida tour -- only to push those dates to the end of the tour due to production delays. Either way, expect some massive spectacle to go with Martin's earnest arena-rock.

6 | Roger Waters

The former Pink Floyd singer-bassist keeps building his Wall. He's already played more than 120 shows with his long-running production of Floyd's classic; next summer he'll do another three dozen or so, including a run of several Canadian dates. All in all, probably your last chance to see one of the greatest rock operas performed live.

7 | The Who

Guitarist Pete Townshend says he wants to take Quadrophenia on the road. In September, singer Roger Daltrey told me he's happy to tour with Towser anyway, anyhow, anywhere -- provided the guitarist doesn't deafen himself in the process. Given that, along with Townshend's mercurial nature, who knows how this will go. Either way, is it really a Who tour without Moon and the Ox?

8 | Van Halen

Shortly after Christmas, the reunited California rockers posted a video on their web site confirming that they're returning to the road with flamboyant frontman David Lee Roth, and with tickets going on sale as early as Jan. 10. Granted, anything can happen between now and then with these guys -- but still, that's got to be a good sign..

9 | Madonna

After her upcoming Super Bowl gig -- which will undoubtedly feature some carefully crafted spectacle designed to shock viewers and snag headlines -- Madge is expected to hit the road. Here's hoping she doesn't break a hip out there.

10 | Lady Gaga

Gaga never really seems to stop touring, and claims she has already designed a "bigger and better" stage for her next jaunt. Paws up, monsters.

11 | Fleetwood Mac

In the fall, guitarist Lindsey Buckingham told me he "would be shocked" if something didn't happen on the Mac front next year. He thinks making a new album might be nice; I'd wager another tour is far more likely (and profitable).

12 | Rush

Yes, their new album Clockwork Angels should be ready. But if the Toronto prog trio's 2011 Time Machine: Moving Pictures tour wasn't a precursor to a 2112 trek in 2012, then I'm high priest of the temple of Syrinx -- and these guys aren't nearly as sharp as I've always thought.

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Agree, Bruce is very overrated.

What!! No Eagles?

sweetcharmedlife wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2012 at 1:38pm:

I think God moonlights as Stones Security.

god wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2012 at 11:59am:


You make Bono cry

"I think God moonlights as Stones Security."

Incorrect.
Pick up your Turtle Wax on the way out, sicko....

Hope: According to the rumor mill, Bill Wyman is back in the band and the Rolling Stones are going to tour to celebrate their 50th anniversary. We hope they leave the horns, back-up singers and extra musicians at home. A stripped down show – featuring Mick Taylor on the 1970s material – could be absolutely sensational. We've all heard "Brown Sugar" and "Satisfaction" with fireworks and back-up singers a million times. This time we're hoping they mix in some deep cuts with the hits and skip the stadiums. We also hope they charge something resembling a reasonable ticket price.

Fear: The biggest fear is that Jagger ultimately decides not to tour, or opts for a stadium bonanza barely distinguishable from the Stones' previous 10 trips around the globe. From everything we're hearing, however, that isn't the plan.



Not so sure they're right about Wyman (and I don't think there's a prayer of Taylor rejoining the band), but I'd agree with the rest (although the 'stripped down show' thing might be a case of 'be careful what you wish for').

I'm VERY encouraged by the last sentence, though!

Gazza wrote on Jan 4^th, 2012 at 7:52pm:

Wyman still does not like flying, right?

Nellcote wrote on Jan 6^th, 2012 at 9:15am:



He flew to the US for some shows in 2001.

To the best of my knowledge thats the only time he's flown since he last toured with the Stones in 1990. It was on the final (European) leg of the tour that year where he started travelling between tour stops by road.

His Rhythm Kings tours always seem to be confined to the north-west of Europe, removing the need to travel by air.

Possible album title:  "Who's Left?"
Joey wrote on Jan 6^th, 2012 at 8:46am:

"Possible album title:  "Who's Left?" "

That's freakin' funny!