2014
With a smile on your face and a tear right in your eye
2014
With a smile on your face and a tear right in your eye
| Charlie Watts (January 2014): Getting in shape to tour I do mild exercises and I do play with a pair of sticks on my legs, but not very often ... just to keep my hands going. That's why I like rehearsing for a while before we go on tour, because it brings all the muscles and the calluses up for when you hit the stage. |
| Charlie Watts (January 2014): Half way through We've done half of this (tour) already. This is short compared to what we've done before, but it needs to be, I think, at our tender age. The thought of doing 50 shows, which was normal at one time for us to sign off on, that is quite daunting. Now we're doing that in little bits. If we don't do any more I'll be quite happy with that. |
| Charlie Watts (January 2014): Rehearsals for the Australasian tour Usually we would rehearse anything up to 100 songs for a tour. For this one there will be 60 songs. We've got about 600 without the new ones. We'll rehearse the 60 and then whittle that down to 20 or so. But you need to do the 60 to get your hands going and all of that. |
| Charlie Watts (January 2014): Is he likely the one who will call it quits for the Rolling Stones? Oh, that's not true. I mean, I've said that at the end of nearly every tour, because I don't really like touring to be honest. I don't like suitcases and moving around. I quite like being in different places, but getting there and packing up drives me up the wall. Famously, I've quit all through our career... but if you're a drummer what do you do? Sit at home practising? The drums particularly are a sociable instrument. When they are played properly they are for dancing and accompanying other instruments, so you can't just sit in your living room all your life. |
| Charlie Watts (January 2014): The audience The audience keeps you there because without their enthusiasm you soon start to wonder if it's worth it. That's not being egotistical about it. The best time is when you finish a show and they all applaud. It's the same if you're playing a club with just a bass player and drummer. If they all clap at the end it's gratifying. We've been lucky in the Rolling Stones that our audiences have grown from that to huge things and it continues. That's the glue that keeps it together. Of course we get on. I do like Mick and Keith and Ronnie, you know what I mean? It's not that that isn't there. But I think we'd still do it with two people in the audience. We have done that. |
| Ron Wood (February 2014): Onwards The Rolling Stones We just take it one leg of the tour at a time, you know... The band is getting better and better all the time. Like when we ended on a high in Hyde Park, the band's never sounded better and we've never had such a good thing going between us. So we hope to keep that going, and just develop on it, and go from strength to strength really. I don't know (about a new album), we've got to get these live gigs over with first... We're not getting off the bus anytime soon. |
| Keith Richards (February 2014): Fun rehearsing We’re kind of waltzing it. Rehearsing’s always great fun because you can ‘stop here’ and ‘check this out’ and it’s an interesting process. At the moment, everybody’s in top form and I’m amazed. I don’t know why by now but I’m always amazed at the Stones when I get back to playing with them at how damn good they are. (laughs) There’s always a point when you arrive at rehearsals on the first day, you’re always wondering is it all gonna click together. But the minute you’re in the room and Charlie Watts starts to hit the drums, it’s like breathing, man, it’s so natural. All we do in rehearsals is really try and improve on what we’ve done before and work out a few possible songs that we can throw in to just change up the set list here and there. Otherwise, it’s a doddle. (laughs) |
| Keith Richards (February 2014): Leaving the setlist to Mick Basically what I do is I listen to what Mick has to say, because it’s very important that the singer feels confident about what he’s going to start with. After that, it’s a matter of pacing. You know how many fast songs you want, how many slow ones, so it’s really a matter of trying to balance a set list so that it works throughout two hours. You have just the right amount of energy and the right amount of melodies and songs and then the final part which is obviously going to be all systems go and both barrels blasting. (laughs) |
| Keith Richards (February 2014): Playing the guitar every day Every day, man. I’ve got to keep my chops together. Also every day I get an idea. Sometimes it might be just for five minutes, but usually every day I play a little bit and if not, I go to the piano. |
| Keith Richards (February 2014): Seeing the world again Every country is different and you do come away with distinct memories of different places, you know? I can’t say that everything isn’t a blur. That’s probably more my fault. (laughs) But I’m always incredibly interested in travelling and if you want a job, you can’t do better than the Royal Navy – you see the world, mate, and I’ve certainly seen it a few times. What’s interesting is the return to places, seeing what’s changed and what’s going on. Once you’ve been somewhere and worked there, they’re always somewhere in the back of your mind and in your heart. |
| Mick Jagger (March 2014): Third trip to China I mean there was no way that you thought that would ever happen. Was it Wham! that was the first band that played in China? When they played I thought, You never know, you know? Stranger things have happened. And it did in the end... I mean that is really... flattering, if you want (that the Stones have influenced Chinese music). That you figure in the history book of it. The odd thing is that rock 'n' roll has evolved its own canon. In the way that, say, white novelists have, or English poets. |
| Mick Jagger (March 2014): The rock and roll revolution has won (Rock and roll) was a "bad influence" in America mainly because it was, they thought, the music of black people. And they didn't - in the days of Elvis and so on - they didn't want their children to be influenced by this kind of music. Well that's obviously bollocks. Because the parents themselves had been dancing to jazz and so on, which is the same argument. But rock 'n' roll was not seen as a benign thing. It was repeated. Spain, for instance, banned rock 'n' roll in the Franco era. It had this representation of Western decadence and rebellion, I suppose. And on both sides of the political spectrum. In Eastern Europe it was banned a lot during the communist time. And of course in various Asian countries, China in particular. So it had this relic of... a sort of an anachronistic rebellion. Cultural boundaries should be always open and I think that has been proved over and over. And anyway what I'm talking is just nonsense these days. That's been broken years ago - 20 years ago or more as far as most countries are concerned. Nearly all culture crosses. Of course there are some things attempted to be stopped and some bits banned, but the majority of it gets through. |
| Mick Jagger & Keith Richards (March 2014): Europe '14 Mick: I can’t wait for the tour to hit Europe. It’s a great time of the year to be playing and the tour is a good mix of festivals, stadiums and arenas. See you there! Keith: Let’s keep this show on the road. The band are in top form, so I’m really looking forward to getting back to Europe. |
| Mick Jagger (March 18, 2014): L'Wren I am still struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way. We spent many wonderful years together and had made a great life for ourselves. She had great presence and her talent was much admired, not least by me. I have been touched by the tributes that people have paid to her, and also the personal messages of support that I have received. I will never forget her, Mick [mickjagger.com ] |
| Keith Richards, Charlie Watts & Ron Wood (March 19, 2014): We love you, Mick Keith: No one saw this coming. Mick's always been my soul brother and we love him. We're thick as thieves and we're all feeling for the man. We really hate to disappoint our fans but we'll see everyone really soon. Charlie: Needless to say we are all completely shocked but our first thought is to support Mick at this awful time. We intend to come back to Australia and New Zealand as soon as it proves possible... (Mick)'s holding up. He's OK. He's not really well. He's not really here. It was such a shock. Ron: This is such terrible news and right now the important thing is that we are all pulling together to offer Mick our support. Without a doubt we intend to be back out on that stage as soon as we can. |
| Ron Wood (March 20, 2014): A message from Ronnie Our thoughts and prayers are with Mick and L'Wren's family and friends at this incredibly devastating and difficult time. As a band we are one big family and we've all come together to support Mick, and will do everything we can to help him. We are currently rescheduling touring plans. We thank everyone for their understanding. We are so grateful for the messages of support at this sad time ~ while we take the time that is needed. XR |
| Ron Wood (June 27, 2014): Bobby Womack I'm so sad to hear about my friend Bobby Womack ~ the man who could make you cry when he sang has brought tears to my eyes with his passing. My heart goes out to his family & friends and everyone who loved his music. Bobby you will be greatly missed xx |
| Mick Jagger (July 2014): Getting through I'm doing OK. It was difficult, you know, a very hard year, but I got back into it by working on touring with the Stones in Europe, and doing other things, including this great movie. I've had a lot of support... and I appreciate that. |
| Mick Jagger (July 2014): Passionate about touring I enjoy touring. It’s a very energising thing. You never get bored. It’s very irresponsible because you don’t have to worry. You get to one place and you know you’re not going to stay there more than a couple of days. Good, bad or indifferent, you’re on to the next place. I get very emotionally involved with the whole thing. I’m very passionate about touring. Every time you go onstage it’s a very exiting moment because you never know what’s going to happen. It’s always different. A lot of unexpected things happen. Each show is a new event. You’re in a different place with a different audience. It’s a very exciting couple of hours and it’s a very intense relationship with the audience. Physicality is a big part of performing and I try to keep it going as long as I possibly can. |
| Keith Richards (September 2014): Gus & Me My publishers first came up with this idea. They said, There's certain chapters about your grandfather that could make a great children's book. Children's book? This is not my line (laughs). ... And just about that same time my eldest daughter ... she said, Guess what? And I know that look in a woman's eyes. Don't tell me you're pregnant, which means fifth grandchild... The initial idea did come from the publishers, so you know, Maybe Keith can sell a few more books. That's their business after all. Nine times out of 10 I would have said forget about it. I'm not going there. But because of the circumstances and having another grandchild, everything was sort of falling into place. I said, Damn it. Go for it. |
| Keith Richards (September 2014): Getting ready for Australia The first thing is the jetlag. I figured it out, I'm going to go via Fiji, where I'm going to chop down the tree that I fell out of the last time I was there and spend a few days getting rid of the jetlag, and then I can pop down to Australia. Because the jetlag is the hardest thing around trips like that. Everybody's waking up and tripping over each other and falling asleep in rehearsals. |
| Keith Richards (September 2014): A new solo album I have a solo record finished, but I don't want to put it out while the Stones are working, so I'm thinking next June. |
| Keith Richards (September 2014): The Rolling Stones to roll on in 2015 They've got South America lined up in February, Buenos Aires, Peru. And after that, I know what the Stones tours are like, they tend to get extended. |
| Mick Jagger (September 2014): From Europe to Australia We're gonna be rehearsing in Australia. The recent European shows were really good. They were big outdoor shows with a festival atmosphere. The Rolling Stones are good in any kind of venue, but they really shine in these situations. I enjoyed doing Worried about You. We did Streets of Love in Italy. It was a big hit there, and they loved that. It's quite interesting now. People vote online for songs they want, which gives us a challenge. And you can see what people are buying on iTunes and watching on YouTube - I didn't know they liked that one. We should try that. (Laughs) I don't put things in the voting we can't do. But it's good to mix it up. You have to keep yourself interested. |
| Mick Jagger (September 2014): Future deluxe reissues? I think Sticky Fingers is the next one. I don't know how much is there in terms of other songs or outtakes. Part of what was done then became Exile On Main Street. But I haven't immersed myself in it. I've got to do that, I guess. |
November 3, 2014: The Rolling Stones' Hampton Coliseum - Live in 1981 concert film is 
November 17, 2014: The Rolling Stones' L.A. Forum - Live in 1975 concert film, their| Keith Richards (December 2014): Bobby Keys I have lost the largest pal in the world and I can't express the sense of sadness I feel, although Bobby would tell me to cheer up. My condolences to all that knew him and his love of music. He was the epitome of the rock & roll sax-playing man. He used to tell me about listening to Buddy Holly rehearse in his garage just down the road from his house. That's one of the reasons he wanted to get into music. That's pretty early rock & roll, so he was right in there at the very beginning. He was playing on the road by the time he was 15. He was a piece of history in himself, and had a deep knowledge of it... I think he must have turned on millions of people, even though a lot of them don't know who he was. He's one of those hidden geniuses, 10 feet from stardom and all of that. Bobby took everybody as they came. He wouldn't be weary of people. He had a large heart. He told me, I got a heart as big as Texas and I said, Bobby, I think it's a bit larger. He was just a barrel of laughs to be around. I very rarely saw him down, and if I did, it was usually about a young lady who dumped him or something. And he soon got over that, you know. He probably wouldn't want us to be too solemn right now. Basically when it's all said and done, I'm looking upon this now as a celebration of life rather than a memorial for his death. He'd like a big wake. It's a sad thing, but not totally unexpected. I've been speaking to him for the last couple of weeks and he was still laughing, but he was getting weak. I just wanted to cheer him up. As Bob said, It's time for the last roundup. |
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