ROLLING STONES TO GATHER
U.S. AUDIENCE
Making an entrance that only the airship-loving Virgin founder himself could have thought of first, The Rolling Stones landed a custom blimp in New York City’s Van Cortland Park to announce their World Tour 2002/2003.
Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie will gather their sidemen and play 32 U.S. and Canadian dates, currently slated from September through February 2003, with additional dates to be announced. After that, it’s off to Europe, Australia, Mexico and Asia—and possibly the Stones’ first concerts in China.
As expected, the band will play stadiums, arenas and theaters/clubs—sometimes one of each in the same market—with set lists and staging tailored to each type of venue. Ticket prices will range from $50 to $150, though anybody caught actually paying that little will probably be detained by the International Brotherhood of Scalpers.
In New York, The Stones will play Giants Stadium (9/28), Madison Square Garden (9/26) and the Roseland Balroom (9/30). In L.A., they’ll hit Edison Field (11/2), Staples Center (10/31) and the Wiltern Theatre (11/4).
"Only The Rolling Stones would dare to come up with a concept so ambitious," said Micahel Cohl, whose Grand Entertainment Touring is presenting the tour in conjunction with Clear Channel Entertainment. "Three different shows in three different venues—it will be a spectacular musical event."
CCE has launched a joint promotion with Sam Goody, whereby fans can purchase tickets to Stones shows before they go on sale to the public if they join Sam Goody’s getAccess online concert club. In addition, each ticket sold on the tour will include membership the official Rolling Stones fan club, which will launch at www.RollingStones.com.
In addition, a new book of band interviews and rare photos is planned, to be published by Chronicle Books in Sept. 2003.
The tour, which will be sponsored by E*TRADE Financial, will kick off Sept. 5 at Boston’s CMGI Field—a name, by the way, which was bought for millions by an Internet incubator now trading at less than 1/100th of its January 2000 share price. New economy loser, meet one of the old economy’s biggest winners.
