Rolling Stones show this week another in a rock constellation
Over the past five decades, the Rolling Stones have been to Pittsburgh eight
times, beginning with a show at the West View Park Danceland on their first
United States tour.
In the meantime, here's a list of past Pittsburgh shows, with help from local
music historian Dave Goodrich.
June 17, 1964 - On its nine-date first U.S. tour, the Stones performed
at West View Park Danceland with Bobby Goldsboro, the Pixies 3 and Patti and
Emblems. It was a small crowd, as their only exposure had been "The Dean
Martin Show" and the single "Not Fade Away." If you weren't there,
the main thing you missed was the historical value. Goodrich says it was
"not a great show."
Nov. 24, 1965 - With "Get Off of My Cloud" on the top of the
charts, the Stones returned triumphantly to rock the Civic Arena for the KQV
Thanksgiving Shower of Stars. Opening acts were Simon & Garfunkel, the
Byrds, Paul Revere and the Raiders and We Five. They played to a wild crowd of
9,131 fans.
June 25, 1966 - The crowd was smaller (6,214) and the Stones' darker
"Aftermath" tour wasn't as well received, with the band focusing on
"downer" material like "Paint it, Black" and "Lady
Jane." The band, according to Goodrich, may have been worn out from playing
Cleveland earlier in the afternoon. Opening acts were the Standells and the
McCoys.
July 23, 1972 - This was the show to see. "The band was at the
height of its creative powers on the `Exile on Main Street' tour," Goodrich
says. "Diehard fans can recite the set list like a mantra: 'Brown Sugar,' `Tumbling
Dice,' `Bitch,' `All Down the Line' ..." The Stones also had more manpower,
backed by Nicky Hopkins, Bobby Keys and Jim Horn. The sell-out crowd of 13,845
paid a top price of $6.50 for tickets.
Sept. 6, 1989 - 63,000 fans packed Three Rivers Stadium as the Stones
finally returned with the giant spectacle of the "Steel Wheels" tour.
After opening act Living Colour, Jagger and company leaped onstage to an
explosion and the opening riff of "Start Me Up."
Sept. 29, 1994 - The Stones returned to Three Rivers Stadium with
Blind Melon for the "Voodoo Lounge" tour. It featured a set list even
more pleasing to old fans and another elaborate stage decked out with a lounge
motif, giant inflatables and the world's largest video screen.
March 11, 1999 - The Stones dispensed with the trappings of stadium
rock in their first Civic Arena appearance in 25 years. As expected, the set
list was full of greatest hits, but the highlights for serious fans were more
likely the treasures in lighter rotation - a gorgeous "Fool to Cry," a
raucous "Some Girls," Keith's "You Got the Silver." Jagger
devoted the lion's share of his energy to proving he could move around the stage
-- at 55.
Jan. 10, 2003 - Another "intimate" show at the Mellon Arena.
The set drew heavily on "Let It Bleed" and other mid-period classics
-- exactly the sort of material the band excels at. Jagger seemed a little stiff
at first, but by the time he got to "Midnight Rambler," it was on.
Ryan Adams made it worth people's while to show up early.
See the list on top of 10 best albums and the IQ (Great trivia)
© Pittsburgh Gazette, 2005
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