The
Rolling Stones
have become embroiled in a legal dispute with an insurance company over
the band postponing concerts in Australia and New Zealand after the
March 2014 suicide of
Mick Jagger's longtime companion L'Wren Scott, who was Mick Jagger's girlfriend since 2001.
The Associated Press
reported on Nov. 9, 2014: "Jagger was 'diagnosed as suffering from
acute traumatic stress disorder' after Scott's death and was advised by
doctors not to perform for at least 30 days, according to documents
filed in the court case in Utah. Before the tour, the group took out a
$23.9 million policy to be paid in the event shows were canceled due to
the death of family members or others, including Scott. In denying the
claim, underwriters said Scott might have been suffering from a
pre-existing mental illness and her death might not be covered under the
policy."
The
Rolling Stones
filed a $12.7 million claim for this insurance policy. After
underwriters denied the claim, "the Stones sued them in London,"
according to the Associated Press.
The Rolling Stones launched their "14 on Fire" tour on Feb. 21, 2014, at Du Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Scott committed suicide in her New York City apartment on March 17,
2014. She was found hanged from a doorknob. The Rolling Stones' "14 on
Fire" tour of 2014 went on hiatus after Scott's death. The tour resumed
in Oslo, Norway at Telenor Arena on May 26.
As previously reported, the Rolling Stones' "14 on Fire" tour dates
in Australia and New Zealand were postponed because of Scott's death.
The concerts in Australia and New Zealand were originally supposed to
take place from March 19 to April 5, 2014. The Rolling Stones have since
announced the
rescheduled concerts in Australia and New Zealand for their "14 on Fire" tour.
Scott's brother Randall Bambrough, who lives in Utah (where he and
Scott grew up with another sister), has been named as a witness for
evidence of any mental illness Scott might have had. (Scott's real name
was Laura Bambrough before she changed her name to L'Wren Scott.)
According to the Associated Press, Bambrough "did not know about the
federal court case naming him and had not received a subpoena to provide
testimony and documents about his sister. He declined further comment.
The Rolling Stones' Los Angeles public relations firm and the
underwriters' Utah attorney did not respond to emails seeking comment."
The Associated Press also reported that other people who have been
called to testify or give evidence in the case include Adam Glassman
(the executor of Scott's estate) and Brittany Penebre, Scott's personal
assistant who reportedly found Scott's dead body.
The Rolling Stones' rescheduled concerts in Australia have been
affected by health problems. Lead singer Mick Jagger has a throat
infection, so the Rolling Stones cancelled their concert at Hanging Rock
in Macedon Ranges, Australia. The concert was to have taken place on
Nov. 8, 2014. The
Rolling Stones and tour promoter
Frontier Touring made the announcement on their respective websites on Nov. 6, 2014.
On Oct. 25, 2014, the Rolling Stones launched the Australian leg of
their "14 on Fire" tour, with a sold-out concert at the Oval Arena in
Adelaide, Australia. The tour is expected to resume on Nov. 12, 2014, at
the Allphones Arena in Sydney.
On Oct. 15, 2014, the Rolling Stones announced that their longtime
saxophonist Bobby Keys will be unable to perform on the Australian/New
Zealand leg of their "14 on Fire" tour due to undisclosed health
reasons. Keys will be replaced by Karl Denson on the concert dates,
which run from Oct. 25 to Nov. 22, 2014.
Keys has been recording and touring with the Rolling Stones since
1969, except for the Stones' 1976 tour. He is a close friend of Rolling
Stones guitarist Keith Richards; the two men share the same birthday
(Dec. 18, 1943).
On July 3, 2014, the Rolling Stones ended the European leg of their
"14 on Fire" tour at the Roskilde Festival in Roskilde, Denmark.
Critics' reviews of the tour have been mostly positive.
Former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, who was a special guest
on the Rolling Stones' "50 and Counting" concerts in 2012 and 2013, has
been a special guest on the Rolling Stones "14 on Fire" tour.
The Rolling Stones are reportedly contemplating touring South America
in 2015. According to the Peruvian newspaper La Republica, the tour
will likely go to Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile. The tour dates in
South America have not yet been officially announced. The Rolling Stones
previously performed in South America in February 2006, as part of the
"A Bigger Bang" world tour.
