Rolling Stones in Cleveland review: World Series of Rock at Municipal Stadium June 14, 1975

An aerial view of Cleveland Municipal Stadium on June 14, 1975, the day the Rolling Stones headlined the World Series of Rock. (Plain Dealer File)

In honor of 50 years of the Rolling Stones, we're looking back at the last half-decade of the band with a special online reprint of one historic review from Stones many visits to town in the last 50 years. We'll post one review each day leading up to Sunday, May 19, when we'll post several more AND unveil a big, special Rolling Stones section online and in Arts section of the printed Plain Dealer.
Originally published in The Plain Dealer June 15, 1975
Stones better than ever before a record audience
A 15-minute flurry of fireworks last night was to wind up the world's largest concert in an outdoor structure. But what the 82,000 fans at Municipal Stadium wanted was on the 8O-foot long stage at the Stadium -- Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones. At 7:13 p.m. small fireworks went off in the audience. Fans waved a "Get stoned" flag. The band played Aaron Copland's, "Fanfare for the Common Man" a Mick Jagger jumped up on the stage.
He danced, bowed, whirled and did a Chuck Berry scissors kick up and down the stage and gave little exuberant whoops. He was much more jolly and less sophisticated than in his 1972 tour.
The old punk, raunchy image of the Stones has faded a bit, but the basic raw power remains. This time their costumes were  done by designers Giorgio di Sant' Angelo. The Stones rolled out with their 1969 hit. "Honky, Tonk Women.". They followed it with the powerful, "See Down the Line." "Hiya Cleveland!" yelled Mick. "We'll do a song, 'If You Can't Rock Me, Someone Will.'"
The Stones sounded better than ever. For the first time Belkin Productions had a cluster of speakers in the middle of the field. The Stones had brought 22 tons of sound and lighting equipment with a half-million watts of power.
"Gimme Shelter" was more melodic than ever. Ron Wood, guitarist with the Faces, played along with Stones' guitarist, Keith Richard. Laying down a strong piano line was Billy Preston. Ollie E. Brown, who had played percussion with Stevie Wonder on the 1972 tour, was also on stage.

This was the seventh stop on the Stones' three-month, 58-concert tour. The group will gross $9 million. This was a record attendance in what promoters called "an outside, controlled facility."
The Stones are the last survivors of the 1964 Golden Age of Rock. Many predicted their demise years ago, but the group is grounded in the roots of rock, rhythm and blues, and behind Jagger's swagger, is a keen song-writing ability and a good, strong baritone. They are the best rock group on the scene today.
The Stadium was a sea of sunburned shoulders and blue jeans. The J. Geils Band of Boston played just before
the Stones. They would have upstaged practically any other band.
"We're going to blow this place down," said singer Peter Wolf. The band almost did. Their "Southside Shuffle" and "Must of Got Lost" were the fastest moving pieces in recent rock concerts. Wolf is married to actress Faye Dunaway.