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John Aizlewood's rating
No slip-ups from Mick's panto crew
By
John Aizlewood
21 Aug 2006
Moments before The Rolling Stones began their first British performance since 2003, platoons of sweepers were struggling to clear the stage of rain.
But when Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts and their nine helpers emerged, it was onto a surface so slippery Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean would have struggled to stay upright.
Happily there were no mishaps. A fall was the last thing these elderly gentlemen needed on a tour bedevilled by troubles ranging from Jagger's laryngitis to Richards's tumble from a tree, via Wood's rehab stint.
Miraculously, the monsoon ended just as Richards opened proceedings with the almighty Jumping Jack Flash riff and the 55,000 sodden faithful who had paid up to £195 had a sodden ball.
In effect, this was a pantomime, by a quartet who should sing about Brown Liver Spots rather than Brown Sugar, where Richards's hideously croaking backing vocals evoked only Albert Steptoe trying to embarrass Mick-cum-Harold.
The Stones 2006 is the Mick Jagger Show. All lissom, faux-Cockney swagger, he apologised for not playing Wembley: "It'll be ready for the Arctic Monkeys' farewell tour."
He pranced around in tight-buttocked fashion, embarrassed himself by singing the worst-ever Stones couplet ("The moon is yellow but I'm like jello/Staring down your tits") on the dismal new Oh No Not You Again and the voice held up. He seemed relieved to exhume rarely played tracks such as Sticky Fingers's febrile Sway. He played guitar during Miss You and the new, otherwise splendid Streets Of Love: he should never play guitar again.
Whilst it remains unclear what Wood does, Watts is a great drummer. Perched behind a tiny kit, he may be unshowy, but without him as anchor, the Stones would sink. Richards cut an unsettling, hunched figure. Sometimes - a robust It's Only Rock'n'Roll - he was possessed by the spirit of his younger self. At others - the Jagger showcase Tumbling Dice - it seemed all too much for him. He sang Slipping Away and Before They Make Me Run: he should never sing again.
Once Jagger returned, it was mostly joyous hits (Brown Sugar sizzled), although things went awry at the death: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction was an unsatisfactory one-song encore and the weedy fireworks began when most of the crowd were braving the transport hell outside. At least it wasn't raining.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (10)
I sat at my bedroom window on Sunday night, the sight of the Stadium flushing a blood red for Sympathy for the Devil was amazing, I can only imagine what the gig was like inside the Stadium! Mick and Co sounded fantastic for free.. Fab!
- Deb C, St Margaret's, 24/08/2006 13:58
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Went to see stones on 22nd - travelled from north east... total cost about £800 and it was worth every penny.
- Louis Ennis, sunderland, 24/08/2006 12:19
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We saw The Stones last night, they were Awesome. Totally blown away by the sheer power of the whole band. The whole stadium was heaving with dancing fans. One complaint... wish they played for 5 hours!
- Lyn and Andy Reynolds, Colchester, United Kingdom, 23/08/2006 14:06
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I saw the Stones on Sunday and they were brilliant as always!
- Anne Dewar, Stamford, Lincolnshire, 23/08/2006 12:38
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John Aizlewood's comments dont come close to matching my experience of a fantastic evening's entertainment and dont even start to describe a great show and a great atmosphere generated by a remarkable band. Whether he likes them or not he hasnt started to acknowledge their mastery and remarkable repetoire.
- Ianr, Dorset, 23/08/2006 10:31
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I saw the Stones last night & they were fantastic. They put on a better show now than when I first saw them in '76. Who cares if most of their songs are 30 years old? They are timeless classics which will still sound good in 30 years time!
- John Batten, London United Kingdom, 23/08/2006 10:30
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I could hear the concert from where I live and it was loud -
nice to hear the Stones for free.
- Mark Simmons, Isleworth, 23/08/2006 10:03
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I'm 37 but I'm not an ardent Rolling Stones fan. In fact I've only gotten into the Stones over the past few years but I have to say after seeing the Stones at Twickenham on Sunday I regret not getting into them earlier. I attend many concerts a year and this was one of the best i've seen in ages. As a radio presenter on a certain national radio station said - your reviewer has 'a ridiculous idea of what constitutes a good live rock show'. He's either old and trying to be 'hip' or young and just naive.
- Craig Pinner, Birmingham England, 22/08/2006 23:15
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I can't stand critics. The Rolling Stones are one of the most sucessful bands in the history of music and you get the John Aizlewood whoever he is taking shots at them.
- William Irons, London, England, 22/08/2006 10:23
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Your John Aizlewood obviously didn't appreciate his free ticket and hospitality. The Rolling Stones may be old, they may be less energetic than before, they may look ridiculous, but they can certainly entertain. The atmosphere in the crowd was great, really friendly and full of life. That is more than can be said about your reporter's comments - maybe he was too busy trying to come up with clever put downs instead of enjoying the show.
Before the gig I heard a lot of the V festival on the radio at the weekend. The quality of performances there was abysmal with off key singing and scrappy music. The Stones have shown yet again that they can out perform the younger generation by a mile!
- Dannyp, Egham, 22/08/2006 09:09
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