Mick Jagger - vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica
Keith Richards - guitars, vocals
Ron Wood - guitars, vocals
Bill Wyman - bass
Charlie Watts - drums
Ian McLagen - keyboards, vocals
Ian Stewart - keyboards
Ernie Watts - saxophone
There is no denying the impact of a great Stones show, as demonstrated by this two-hour concert at Hampton Coliseum. After a warm introduction, The Rolling Stones take the stage for what was to be one of the final shows on the band's 1981 Tattoo You tour, and one of six of those tour dates taped for the King Biscuit Flower Hour. Opening with their classic 1966 single, "Under My Thumb" then blasting into "When the Whip Comes Down," followed by the always controversial "Let's Spend the Night Together," the group delivers a riveting 22-song set.
The band is in fine form, and Jagger leads a rousing sing-along during "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and injects humor when he informs the audience that saxophonist Ernie Watts is no relation to Stones drummer, Charlie Watts. "You Can't Always Get What You Want," "Time Is on My Side," "Miss You," "Honky Tonk Women" and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," which closes out the set, are the best songs and remind us why the Stones are the greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world, still crankin' it out after four decades on the scene.
The groundbreaking rock band from London had been together since 1962, and as with their other shows, the Stones play this concert with fire, passion, and the bravado of a talk-of-the-town arrogant, young band that knows they are simply the best there is.
Originally formed with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and Brian Jones as a blues pub band (with the blessing and guidance of UK blues legend, Alexis Korner), The Rolling Stones quickly moved into the spot of being the "street-wise and gritty" alternative to the four-headed pop music monster The Beatles had become. They followed the Fab Four into the U.S. with the British Invasion, and quickly established their own musical credibility with a string of brilliant pop singles that included "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "Time Is on My Side," "The Last Time," "19th Nervous Breakdown," "Ruby Tuesday," and "Paint It Black." By the early '70s, the Stones took over as the premier British rock 'n' roll band, and continued their streak of hits with songs like "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Brown Sugar," and "Start Me Up."
Although Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have often gotten the most attention, people should never mistake the fact that the Stones are a band in every sense of the word. Bassist Bill Wyman (prior to his departure in the early 1990s) and drummer Charlie Watts were just as important to the music as the Glimmer Twins; and Ron Wood, who had been in the band several years at this point, provides a strong counterpoint to the sloppy but soulful guitar licks of Keith Richards.
Despite ups and downs, drug busts, countless sold-out tours, great and poor LP releases, personnel changes, illnesses, and even deaths, the Stones have endured, decades after their formation. Jagger, Richards, and Watts remain from the original line-up and they continue to record and tour to this day.
Read more about the Rolling Stones in Crawdaddy!:
"Rolling Stone Oldham: Talented, Insulting, Outrageous"
Live interview "Jagger-meister"
"Chuck Leavell: Wrapped Up in Trees"
Read "Andy Topeka: The Rolling Stones Technician"
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