Fifty years. Twenty-nine studio albums. One band.
The legendary Rolling Stones are coming to Abu Dhabi, and ahead of the epic gig, Abu Dhabi Week talked to the men that make sure everything runs smoothly as Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie take to the stage. The Stones’ production manager Dale Skjerseth and lighting director Patrick Woodroffe took time out from their hectic schedules to give us the low-down on the upcoming show – one of the biggest ever held in the UAE, with more than 30,000 fans expected.
How long does a concert like this take to plan?
Patrick Woodroffe: Perhaps six months of pre-production and then three weeks of rehearsals.
Dale Skjerseth: Every tour is different. Some shows take a long time to plan. Some come together quickly. This one came together very quickly. We were looking at venues at the end of 2013.
How many people are involved?
PW: Around 200 personnel.
DS: Lots. We carry crew, and we work with local production people. Carpenters; riggers; sound; lights; video; catering, etc. It takes a lot of people to put these shows on.
What equipment are you bringing over… and how long will it take to set up and dismantle?
PW: We bring some of our own gear – wardrobe, instruments, amplifiers and custom scenery – and then we pick up the sound, lighting and video equipment in each territory.
DS: It takes about a day to set up… and about four hours to load it out.
What’s needed to transport the equipment and stage?
DS: We have a 747 and 18 sea containers.
Do you use local crew… or do you fly in everyone?
PW: We take a large crew of our own to every show and then use local stagehands in quite large numbers.
What’s the theme of the gig?
PW: Rock The Trucials!
What can fans expect to see?
PW: Drama, excitement, great music, visceral performances and the chance to see one of the greatest bands of all time performing at the very best.
DS: A spectacular event… by one of the world’s great rock and roll bands.
Pyrotechnics?
PW: Yes – both on and off the stage.
DS: Yes, there will be pyro… but I’m not going to spoil any show surprises.
Any innovations in this show?
PW: Technology is improving and surprising every day, but it’s how we use it that is much more important.
DS: The shows has a huge look. But I’m not going to give any surprises away… you’ll have to come and see it for yourself.
Does the Middle East pose any particular problems for a concert like this?
PW: Might be a bit hot…
DS: No. In fact, the people we’ve worked with so far have been great. The venue has everything we need to do our show… and more.
How do you think this gig would compare to the Stones’ first-ever gig?
PW: Bigger, louder, more people, but no doubt the same energy.
Where did you look for inspiration for the design of this tour?
PW: My inspiration comes not from other shows but from discovering and re-discovering light in all its other beautiful and diverse forms. Street lights, old films, desert sunsets – they all have something to offer when you are looking for new ideas.
How are the Stones to work with?
PW: Wonderful people and now after 30 years the band, their families and the people around them, are old friends.
DS: Fantastic. Couldn’t ask for better bosses. I started working for them on the Voodoo Lounge Tour in 1994…
How long are you on the road for?
PW: I’m on the tour for a week or two until it settles.
DS: We started rehearsals for the tour on 3rd February… this leg will go through until 6th April.
What’s the best aspect of the job?
PW: Travel, good food, interesting people.
DS: Don’t misunderstand me… but my favourite moment in the show is the last chord. It’s the moment when I know everything has gone off great… that everybody’s happy. I can relax and enjoy the load-out.
What’s the worst aspect of the job?
PW: Being away from home, being tired, bad food…
DS: Honestly… for me, there isn’t one.
Are you going to get time to see much of Abu Dhabi?
PW: I’ll have a few days before our rehearsals begin.
DS: Unfortunately no. But I will see a lot of du Arena and a bit of Yas Island.
Finally, do you have any career highlights?
PW: The London Opening and Closing Ceremonies, working with Stevie Wonder, The Stones on Copacabana Beach playing to one and half million people.
The Rolling Stones are undoubtedly one of the biggest names in music history. As part of their ‘14 On Fire’ tour, the tongue-wagging troupe is making its capital debut this month. Celebrating a whopping five decades together, the live show at du Arena will treat the capital’s rock fans to the greatest hits… from ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ and ‘Paint it Black’, to lesser-known tracks and a few unexpected cover versions.
Original members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood will be joined by former member Mick Taylor for an explosive live show.
Rising to fame during one of the most significant eras in music history, no one ever thought a rock’n’roll band would make it for five years, let alone fifty. But as popular music became more entrenched in culture, the Rolling Stones became part of a global phenomenon breaking down the boundaries between fashion, film and pop music.
Famed for their mixture of genres from blues and R&B to rock and pop, the Rolling Stones carved out a niche for themselves and never looked back.
Formed in the 1960s, and sparked by a common interest in the blues, childhood friends Jagger and Richards started a garage band under the moniker the Blue Boys. They soon began jamming with future Rolling Stones members Stewart and Watts. By 1962 Jagger, Richards, Stewart, Brian Jones, Dick Taylor and drummer Tony Chapman formed the Rollin’ Stones. The boys began performing with a weekly residency at London’s Crawdaddy Club, triggering an international blues renaissance. The band name was then changed to the more pop-friendly The Rolling Stones and were billed as the polar opposites to the clean-cut Beatles.
The band’s first single ‘Come On’ was released in 1963 and rose to No. 21 on the UK singles charts.
The band’s early career was dominated by covers. Their first No. 1 hits included a cover version of Bobby and Shirley Womack’s ‘It’s All Over Now’ and Willie Dixon’s ‘Little Red Rooster’.
After the success of the band’s second album and sell-out performances overseas, ‘Satisfaction’ was recorded in 1965 and established the Rolling Stones as a top international act.
The next few years were marked by one success after another as the band scored their first trans-Atlantic hit with ‘Paint it Black’ and introduced the first purpose-made music video.
Bandmate Jones died in 1969, and in the 1970s the band formed their own record company Rolling Stones Records. ‘Sticky Fingers’, the band’s first album produced on this label, featured a cover designed by esteemed artist Andy Warhol as well as the debut of the band’s signature lips and tongue logo.
The boys then released the double album ‘Exile on Main St.’, widely considered to be one of their best albums ever released. Sporadic moves around the world caused guitarist Taylor to quit the Rolling Stones in 1974 and he was soon succeeded by Ronnie Wood.
The 80s got off to a flying start with a slew of commendable live albums and billboard hits. But the success was overshadowed by the death of band co-founder and pianist Ian Stewart.
In 1989, the Rolling Stones – including Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Ian Stewart (posthumously) – cemented their place in music history as they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in case there was any doubt about the influence of the band, the music troupe was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
‘A Bigger Bang’, the band’s first album in nearly eight years, was released in 2005 followed by a tour that was later billed as the highest grossing of all time.
As part of their celebrations to mark 50 years together, the Stones released a hardback book entitled ‘50’ in 2012.
- July 12, 1962: First gig in Marquee Club, London
- 1994: The Rolling Stones became the first major recording artists to broadcast a concert over the Internet
- 490,000: People believed to have attended the band’s 2002-2003 Licks Tour.
- $558 million: Gross from A Bigger Bang Tour earning the band a Guinness World Record
- 1.02 million: Followers on Twitter
- 24: Albums released between 1964 and 2005
- 2,000+: Number of live concerts played since 1963
The Rolling Stones will be rocking out on 21st February at du Arena, Yas Island. Real rock fans will want to reserve their spot front and centre in the exclusive ‘Tongue Pit’ for a 360-degree experience like no other. For more information, visit: www.thinkflash.ae
