4 As I write these words, the Stones are going into their encore.
5 This is the first time I’ve missed them in years.
6 I had already written an entire DN when I just thought of Ruby Tuesday.
7 That’s a song by the Stones.
8 I decided to lay down a piece about the Rolling Stones, the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the history of the world.
9 They’re old. They’re ugly. They’re made fun of. And they kick ass.
10 To this day, they are the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the history of the world.
11 I don’t remember a year when they haven’t been touring somewhere. They know more about touring and rocking live than anybody. They are the only rock band to age and to still put on an evolving, amazingly spectacular show.
12 I remember around five or six years ago they toured and I thought it would be there last time.
The late Brian Jones playing the recorder
during the original taping of Ruby Tuesday.
13 Well, I’ve been thinking that for the last twelve shows. I always cheered as though these truest of all rock stars might never be back.
14 And I never wanted to miss a show because of that.
15 It’s around 10:30 as I write this. They have usually played their last song right about now. But the concert will go for another half-hour, and this is when they just churn it and burn it.
16 They are the best.
17 They came out during the same period of rock that the Beatles did. And the Beatles have always been considered the greatest by most serious fans of rock.
18 But the Stones are not only still touring, their show isn’t just an elderly cover of their past glories, but it is a vibrant, electric, loud, sensual, in-yer-face smashdown with roses and benediction, and with everyone going home exhausted with pure energy and good feelings.
19 The news just flashed a peek. Mick was singin’ “I was raised, by a toothless, bearded hag!”
20 But it’s all right, now in fact it’s a gas.
21 How you feelin’, you feelin’ all rahhht?
22 But it’s all right.
23 Jumpin’ Jack Flash it’s a gas gas gas.
24 Jumpin’ Jack Flash, it’s a gas.
25 Jumpin’ Jack Flash, it’s a gas.
26 Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones.
27 Peace.
7 That’s a song by the Stones.
8 I decided to lay down a piece about the Rolling Stones, the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the history of the world.
The late Brian Jones playing the recorder
17 They came out during the same period of rock that the Beatles did. And the Beatles have always been considered the greatest by most serious fans of rock.
