Keith Richards: Rolling Stones are 'rehearsing'

The Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards says the band have met up for "a couple of rehearsals" as they mark 50 years together.

Rumours of a tour to celebrate the band's golden anniversary have been circulating for a number of years.

However, Richards would not go so far as to say when the quartet would be performing in public again.

"There's things in the works - I think it's definitely happening," he told the BBC. "But when? I can't say yet."

"We're playing around with the idea and had a couple of rehearsals - we've got together and it feels so good."

Richards was speaking to BBC arts editor Will Gompertz the day before the band turns 50.

They played their first gig at London's Marquee Club on 12 July, 1962; and had their first hit, a cover of Chuck Berry's Come On, 12 months later.

'We'll die gracefully'

A photography exhibition marking the band's long career will be launched London's Somerset House on Thursday.

Talking about the pictures, which include reportage, live concert and studio images, the guitarist said he felt "weird" looking back at the group's early days.

"It's amazing - most of these pictures I think, 'where was the cameraman?' I don't remember them being there," he said.

He added he would like the band to continue for as long as possible, saying: "There might be life in the old dog yet - we'll die gracefully, elegantly wasted.

"Sometimes its hard work and you wonder why you're doing it, but apart from those few moments it's been an incredible adventure."

The Stones last world tour, A Bigger Bang, played to 4.5m people in 32 countries over two years before it finished in London in 2007.

With ticket sales of $558m (£360m), it was the most profitable tour of all time, until it was eclipsed by U2's 360 tour last year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18796964

Some Guy wrote on Jul 11^th, 2012 at 1:30pm:


Mick said something about Some Guys todger but it was bannned from here......

Please let them get back to doing what they do best-releasing kick ass rock and roll records and putting on awesome shows.

Edith Grove wrote on Jul 11^th, 2012 at 1:20pm:



Think he's saying they HAVE done a couple of rehearsals (which they have) rather than they 'are' rehearsing, as the title implies.

It'd be nice if they keep this going at some point over the next few days.

gimmekeef wrote on Jul 11^th, 2012 at 1:37pm:

Mick will not tour until the Van Halen thread is closed!

If Ronnie was to be in that photo, Wyman and Taylor should have been, too.

Mick did not Comment on the impending tour  because he was recounting the over 4000 female conquest he was reported to have had as reported on "Inside Editon' last Night. They of course also reported on the supposed Bowie Jagger "fling"
Now let the beatings begin, As I figure this lastest news was some type of starting salvo for the band to announce something soon, sure, as if they announce on "Outside Redenition"