... and actually they are just an average normal Rock'n'Roll Band, would there not be the fact, that they are on the run for the past 44 years, which is almost half of a century. They own a huge rooster of songs. And each of them sounds still up to date even after 4 decades. They have a tour production, which is so huge, that no other artist ever comes even close to it. The stadion stage is a true monster, and it takes up to 5 days to build it up. It is 204 feet wide, 100 feet deep and 92 feet  high, consists of an A and B stage,  and it the weight in total is 300 tons. Very impressing indeed. 800 stagehands are needed at a Rolling Stones tour and 126 trucks. 36 miles of cabel go along and 2 semi trailer generators with enough juice to power a small village. Compared with this, Bon Jovi is a provincial act. (Technical facts here) 
                                                                      
That's what's up to the technical facts. But all this is vanishing in the shade of the vision of those four slightly wrinkly looking silhouettes, who seem anything else than fresh youngsters. But believe me, they are still very lively indeed. Actually more than many of these kiddies nowadays. God himself sends a prayer to heaven concerning his heirs, and the holy spirit  is floading invisiblly over the scenery here. It's showtime freaks, and Mr. Jagger storms out in front like Napoleon did in Waterloo in ancient times. But this guy here is certainly gonna end up as the winner of the battle - compared with the past emporor of France.
                                                                                                     

And even it ain't really neccessary anmore to introduce the longtime collegues, old Micky still does though, even in an almost clear german accent. Sir Charlie, the grey eminence, Ronnie wrinklestone, everybody's buddy and Keith the mummy. And Mick announces him with the comment: 'and over here is the guy who uses to fall from palmtrees.... Yeah of course, the audiance loves him for that... I mean Keith..... 

And Keith takes things easy and proves straight away with funnymovements and jumps, that he is fit all over again...... what so ever the true reason was for his recent unpleasance, which had led to quite a few cancellations within the european tour. He is hard as old leather still showing his typical diabolic grin, which makes him so unique. 
Munich is the shoot off to the German leg of the tour. Everything is exactly calculated. No photopasses at Stones gigs for quite a few years. Don't need them because of the strict pre credits in advance for us photographers. The instructions include mainly advises how to shoot the pics, where to stand, and what lense would be the best. Or infos about light conditions. Respcet. That's what I call a real service. 
We got the time of two songs to take every shot we wanna take. And presslady Sherry gives us a even a few minutes of the third track. Just to make sure, we are getting everything we wanna get. Thanks for the help and cooperation. But that's it, - no more no less.  
And Keith still stands up there in polposition just a few steps away and smiles brightly into the cameras. No, to get it straight, he's never been the world's best guitarist. You can easily realize that again. But he and Mick belong to the best songwriters this business has ever brought along. And He is the ultimative expression of the wild Bad Boy of Rock'n'Roll image. Yeah, maybe he calmed down a bit over they years, unless he is fighting with palmtrees. :-)))
                                                      click setlist to read it

All together  including all those scandals, orgies, excesses and livestories in the past have given the Rolling Stones their cultstatus and have carried them above every clichee. One musical perl after the other rolls along on an almost endless string. Inbetween Ray Charles receives a dedication , and Keith smeters his two usual tunes into the microphone, while Mick is changing his outfit for the fifth time. Stage B seperates from stage A and carries the band on a catwalk through the whole arena to the other end, where even the last fan can experience them in a close up position, even it's just for about 3 songs. Otherwise they have to help themselves with the overdimensional stage monitor to get a further visiual impression. But getting back to stage B. That's when the band plays their funky stuff like 'Miss You' and 'Start Me Up'
                                        
And everybods is rocking, whether it's granny or grandchild and is dancing along with each other in the - unfortunately not sold out Olympicstadion here in Munich. It's a bit strange, because in the past the Stones always sold out munich. Not just, because there are so many fans in this town, but also Mick and Co. have a special relation to this city and always spend a few days longer , when they play here. Besides this, Mick's brother Chris is also in town and playing a free show on the other side of munich - coincidentally, as he said so. Shame, that I can't split myself into two halfs, because he's doing a great job as well as I checked out about six months ago, also in munich. 
Oh by they way, the true reason for all those european concert cancellations and also the not sold out shows, are not the Stones themselves having lost their popularity, or  Keith's apparent palmtree accident. To be honest, it's probably rather these astronomical ticket prices, which even frightens the hell even outta the biggest Die Hard Stones fan.

Back to the Big Bang here at the stadion, which lasts about two hours including a pyro show including exactly  470 pieces. Everything is calculated 'till the last little bit. - 
Sometimes I ask myself, whether these guys would still be able to play a smal clubshow, without a huge production and an even bigger bang. I doubt it. But the music, which has influenced some generations, the aura and a show leaving every dimension behind, gives the Rolling Stones the aura and sparkle to let 'em be so unique.  But I'm pretty much sure, whether Keith falls down another 10 times from a palmtree of whatever  height, or Ronnie Wood celebrates five more sessions at the anonymous alcolics club, these guys here will be still rocking in 10 years time and perform 'I Can't Get No Satisfaction' as the encore. And it still seems credible.

Why??? You can say whatever you wanna say about them. But they are still the greatest Rockband in the world and of all times. And that's an unbreakable fact my friends - amen. Mick, Keith, Ronnie and Charlie, four Oldies, who are still in  a better condition than some youngstern, are still obstinating every  outside influences for all those many years. Ladies and Gentlemen you first gotta look out for someone who can reach that goal. But you will hardly find anybody, will you...?!!

PS.: and like I mentioned in the beginning.... actually they are just an average normal Rock’n’Roll Band. And I still luv 'em so much......

                                                                          Further  Live Pics - here         The  Interview with  Mick & Keith according  to this Tour you find  -  here