After more than 50 years in music, The Rolling Stones were back on tour on Saturday night, wowing a packed stadium of 82,000 fans in Hamburg, Germany.
Kicking off their STONES – NO FILTER tour Mick Jagger, 74, Keith Richards, 73, Ronnie Wood, 70, and Charlie Watts, 76, played to the Stadtpark venue and unveiled a spectacular new stage design for the first major live music event at the venue in 28 years.
To add to the joy, fans were left cheering as the boys declared they weren’t ever going to stop performing.
They’re off: The Rolling Stones kicked off their No Filter tour in Hamburg… with a nod to The Beatles and a promise to fans that they’re not slowing down any time soon
50 years later: The Rolling Stones were back on tour on Saturday night, wowing a packed stadium of 82,000 fans in Hamburg, Germany
Keith told fans: ‘We haven’t finished yet. It’s still too early for me to talk about the Stones’ legacy. There’s one thing that we haven’t yet achieved, and that’s to really find out how long you can do this.
‘It’s still such a joy to play with this band that you can’t really let go of it. I’m more interested in learning how far this bunch can take it.’
Sir Mick added: ‘It’s incredible to think about working with the same band for more than 50 years.
‘Of course, members have come and gone, but it is still the Rolling Stones. Inevitably it makes you think about the mortality of it. But here we are making plans.’
Kicking things off: Mick Jagger, 74, Keith Richards, 73, Ronnie Wood, 70, and Charlie Watts, 76, played to the Stadtpark venue and unveiled a spectacular new stage design for the first major live music event at the venue in 28 years
Lapping it up: To add to the joy, fans were left cheering as the boys declared they weren’t ever going to stop performing
Keith told fans: ‘We haven’t finished yet. It’s still too early for me to talk about the Stones’ legacy. There’s one thing that we haven’t yet achieved, and that’s to really find out how long you can do this’
Sir Mick added: ‘It’s incredible to think about working with the same band for more than 50 years. Of course, members have come and gone, but it is still the Rolling Stones. Inevitably it makes you think about the mortality of it. But here we are making plans’
Mick also made a nod to The Beatles, by saying: ‘We were told by our friends from Liverpool that Hamburg is a good place to make a start with your career!’
The band rocked the house, treating fans to a set list full of classics from their formidable arsenal of songs including ‘It’s Only Rock And Roll’, ‘Paint It Black’, ‘Start Me Up’ and ‘Brown Sugar’.
They belted out hits ‘Just Your Fool’ and ‘Ride ‘Em On Down’ from last year’s number one album ‘Blue and Lonesome’.
Chosen by the fans, the band performed ‘Under My Thumb’, and also pulled a few surprises with ‘Play With Fire’ from the early days and ‘Dancing With Mr D’ from ‘Goats Head Soup’.
Mick also made a nod to The Beatles, by saying: ‘We were told by our friends from Liverpool that Hamburg is a good place to make a start with your career’
Rocking out: The band rocked the house, treating fans to a set list full of classics from their formidable arsenal of songs including ‘It’s Only Rock And Roll’, ‘Paint It Black’, ‘Start Me Up’ and ‘Brown Sugar’
Not slowing down: They belted out hits ‘Just Your Fool’ and ‘Ride ‘Em On Down’ from last year’s number one album ‘Blue and Lonesome’
Chosen by the fans: The band performed ‘Under My Thumb’, and also pulled a few surprises with ‘Play With Fire’ from the early days and ‘Dancing With Mr D’ from ‘Goats Head Soup’
They brought the show to a thrilling close with ‘Satisfaction’, ‘Gimme Shelter’ and ‘Jumpin Jack Flash’.
Saturday marked the first stop of this fourteen date tour visiting twelve different venues across Europe in September & October – although the UK is not on that list.
The tour will now head for Munich (Germany), Spielberg (Austria), Zurich (Switzerland), Lucca (Italy) Barcelona (Spain), Amsterdam (Holland), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dusseldorf (Germany), Stockholm (Sweden), Arnhem (Holland) and rounds up with three shows in Paris (France) at the brand new U Arena, the first concerts to be staged at this venue.
Keith also declared to the audience: ‘We’ve had some near disasters, but I honestly don’t think we’ve ever played a bad show.
‘It’s an indescribable feeling to get out there and whack into “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” for starters. That rapport between the band and the fans – it’s like you’ve got these millions of friends.’
Closing the show: They brought the show to a thrilling close with ‘Satisfaction’, ‘Gimme Shelter’ and ‘Jumpin Jack Flash’
On tour: Saturday marked the first stop of this fourteen date tour visiting twelve different venues across Europe in September & October – although the UK is not on that list
Keith also declared to the audience: ‘We’ve had some near disasters, but I honestly don’t think we’ve ever played a bad show. That rapport between the band and the fans – it’s like you’ve got these millions of friends’
Announcing plans for the tour in May, frontman Mick said in a statement: ‘I’m so excited to be touring Europe this autumn and returning to some familiar places and some we’ve never done before.’
Guitarist Keith – whose tour will include such cities as Zurich, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Copenhagen – added: ‘Hey Guys, here we come. See you there!’
The tireless rockers recorded their comeback album, Blue And Lonesome, in just three days back in 2015.
Satisfaction! The Rolling Stones stars (L-R) Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts announced plans to embark on The Stones – No Filter European tour in May