Renegade Rolling Stones Fans Demand Live Show Changes
Getty Images
The Rolling Stones will celebrate their 50th anniversary this year, and talk of a big tour to commemorate the occasion has been running wild for quite a while now. Well, just in case this happens, a group of fans already has a list of demands about changes they want made on any future Stones tours.
According to Classic Rock.com, this group of fans, who call themselves the Rolling Stones Liberation Front, have come up with a list of demands, desires…call them what you want, these folks know it’s only rock and roll but they want it done right! And we gotta say, they certainly raise a lot of very valid points here!
Here are edited versions of the Liberation Front’s list of demands:
1) WE WANT SMALLER VENUES
We believe the time has passed for gargantuan mega-arena spectaculars; hardly anything good comes from these soulless shows. Scale it back. Throw away the lights, the inflatables, the fireworks and the catwalks…Cut the fat, less is more.2) WE WANT LOWER TICKET PRICES
We believe it is unacceptable to charge up to $350 for a single ticket. Today it is only the bourgeoisie who can afford (or are given tickets to) seats near the front; fat cats, music critics and their sloppy, clueless friends who have only a passing interest in the band. This is an outrage. We demand the Rolling Stones to go back to regular, first come/first serve ticket sales, preferably at physical ticket outlets and not via the Internet. No promos, no guest lists. (editor’s note: hey, wait a minute!)3) WE WANT A SET LIST OVERHAUL
We believe with an immense back catalogue of songs to choose from, there is no reason why The Rolling Stones need to stick to roughly the same 30 songs for every tour; we refuse to sit through another airing of the played-out hits. Therefore, we demand the following songs not to be played on the next tour: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Brown Sugar, Honky Tonk Women, Start Me Up, Sympathy For The Devil. Investigate your own catalogue; do not take us for granted.4) WE WANT THE ELIMINATION OF THE HORN SECTION AND BACK-UP SINGERS
We believe The Rolling Stones have drifted too far from the true and basic rock ‘n roll aesthetic. It’s time to bring it back; With all due respect to the honorable Bobby Keys, we believe the horn arrangements are needless and get in the way. We demand the removal of the brass section for the upcoming tour. Additionally, the use of back-ups singers is now irrelevant and we demand their removal for the next tour.5) WE WANT THE EXPULSION OF ALL OPENING ACTS
We believe the Rolling Stones have stopped challenging themselves. There was a time when they would bring an opening band talented enough to challenge the Stones themselves who, in turn, would have to step it up even further when it was time for them to take the stage. While there are in fact hard working bands today who could give the Rolling Stones a run for their money, they never seem to appear on the bill. Therefore, we demand The Rolling Stones forgo the use of opening acts on this last tour. Cut the fat, less is more.6) WE WANT ALL FANS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES
We believe the fault also lies with fans willing to do the bidding of their favorite band, no matter the cost. How many suckers does it take to fill an auditorium? Ask The Rolling Stones. We are all suckers, victims of their apparent cynicism and money hungry ways. We urge all self-respecting Rolling Stones fans to heed our warnings and join our ranks. Don’t be taken for granted. Now it’s time The Rolling Stones give back or we will push back. Why give them more of our money and then settle for the usual? We won’t.
So there you have it! The RSLF have spoken! Are the Rolling Stones listening? Do they even give a flying tongue at this point? Or will these good ideas end up nestled next to our dear long departed Mr. Brian Jones somewhere? They truly were/are one of the greatest rock and roll bands ever to walk the line and it’s a cryin shame and a disgrace that they have become so predictable in concert. These renegades do make a lot of good points here, let’s hope the band is up for trying some of these ideas out!
