The Rolling Stones are a band that never dies, always stays relevant and certainly never stops partying. For the half-century plus the four-piece band has been together, the guys have experienced a series of highs and lows. But the Stones are doing it up big in 2014 and are currently taking a short break from their worldwide 14 on Fire tour.
So far the “Wild Horses” singers have skedaddled throughout Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and Germany, among other European nations this summer. But a half century of touring, singing and strumming takes its toll, so The Rolling Stones has to give themselves a break. The Stones last show before the respite occurred on July 3. Naturally, in typical Stones fashion, all the shows were sold out . But were the concert’s noteworthy for all the right reasons?
Mostly. The music was great according the critics, but the Israeli show was plagued with the typical drama that comes with entering the perpetually on edge Middle East.
France 24 , a global breaking new outlet based in Paris, reported that the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) committee asked the Stones to avoid entering big, bad Israel. Here’s what the BDS had to say :
“Palestinian organisations urge the Rolling Stones to refrain from playing in apartheid Israel and not to condone Israel’s violations of international law and human rights against the Palestinian people.”
Interestingly enough, the founding members of fellow British band Pink Floyd were in agreement with the Palestinians. Craziness aside, the Stones kept on rolling.
The latest, and last, leg of the 14 on Fire tour will take the band to the edge of the world: the isolated continent of Oceania. Beginning in October, the Stones will play in Adelaide, Australia than head on over to Perth and Melbourne, among others. New Zealand isn’t left out in the cold though.
The Stones land on the island on November 22 and play one precious show. Fans in Wellington, one of New Zealand’s largest cities, may feel miffed as Auckland, the country’s former capital, is playing host to The Rolling Stones. Interested in attending the last leg of the tour? Checkout the complete listing of dates and cities here .
But besides touring, what’s next for rock and roll’s elder statesmen? Beyond 2014, it’s tough to say. With a successful tour ending and no new album on the horizon, it’s easy to think that The Stones are finally letting their old age catch up to them. Even if these the quartet has brittle bones, you’d be mistaken for thinking that would do them in.
The Stones’ latest album Hyde Park Live was recorded over a two day period in July 2013. The awe-inspiring CD is packaged with a super high quality Blu-ray disc that looks nearly as good as if you were there in person. Hyde Park Live features The Rolling Stones trademark high energy performances. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, alongside drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Ronnie Wood, play to the crowd. Needless to say, with no new album announced, this is a great way to get your Stones fix.
Keep on playing guys! Oh, and Keith, please act in another movie again sometime soon, we can’t wait for the latest entry in The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise anymore.
[Photo courtesy of Rollingstones.com ]