The Rolling Stones will launch a North American tour in May 2013, according to a report that was published on Billboard's website on March 7, 2013. The tour dates are to be announced, but the website (citing unnamed sources) claims that there will be less than 20 concert dates on the North American tour.
According to Billboard, the tour will be handled by Australian promoter Paul Dainty and Virgin Music, which teamed up to promote the Rolling Stones' five "50 and Counting" 50th anniversary concerts in late 2012 at arenas in London and the New York City area.*
RollingStone.com (the website for Rolling Stone magazine) confirmed the Billboard report on March 8, 2013. According to RollingStone.com, the tour will begin on May 2. However, until an official announcement is made, this date cannot be thoroughly confirmed. In addition, there will likely be more tour dates added after the official announcement is made.
Rolling Stone and Billboard did not mention in their reports what size venues the Rolling Stones will be playing on the 2013 tour. Most of the band's concerts in the 21st century have been at arenas, as opposed to the larger stadium tours that the Rolling Stones did in the 1980s and 1990s.
As previously reported in a RollingStone.com article published on January 4, 2013, Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger confirmed what he previously hinted at in interviews: The Rolling Stones will tour in 2013. The website Jagger as saying: “There have been quite a few offers, I’m going to see what’s on the table and discuss it with everyone. We’ll announce it when we’ve figured it out.”
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards added: “Hey, 51 years? Don’t give a sh*t. We barely got off the starting blocks. It would be dopey to bring things up to this level and say, ‘Well, that’s that, 50 years, bye-bye’ ... A gig’s a gig. The curtain opens and there you are. I just get the feeling they’re champing at the bit now. Really, all you’re going to have to do is wait for an announcement."
There have been no reports yet of the Rolling Stones doing any concerts outside of North America in 2013, but it is very likely that they will. And once again, there are unconfirmed rumors that the Rolling Stones will play at the Glastonbury Festival in England. Every year, there are rumors about the Rolling Stones playing at the Glastonbury Festival and the Coachella Festival, especially during a year that the Stones are touring. So far, these rumors have not become reality. Jagger has already announced that the Rolling Stones will not be performing at the Coachella Festival in 2013.
As previously reported, the Rolling Stones performed five arena concerts in 2012 to celebrate the band's 50th anniversary: Nov. 25 and Nov. 29 at the O2 Arena in London; Dec. 8 at Barclays Center in New York City's Brooklyn borough; and Dec. 13 and Dec. 15 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
The concerts featured several guest performers, including former Rolling Stones bass player Bill Wyman (in London), former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor (in London and Newark), Bruce Springsteen (in Newark), Jeff Beck (in London), Eric Clapton (in London), John Mayer (in Newark), Lady Gaga (in Newark), Mary J. Blige (in London and Brooklyn), Florence Welch (in London), the Black Keys (in Newark) and Gary Clark Jr. (in Brooklyn and Newark).
Before they launched their mini-tour in 2012, the Rolling Stones did a "warm-up" show at the La Trabendo nightclub in Paris on Oct. 25, 2012. The band also did an invitation-only concert for investment company Carmignac Gestion at the Mogador Theatre in Paris on Oct. 29, 2012.
Wyman is not expected to perform with the Rolling Stones on their 2013 tour, due to remarks he's made to the media about being "disappointed" that he wasn't given more songs and more rehearsal time for the concerts that he did with the Rolling Stones in 2012. Wyman also has a fear of flying, and he hasn't performed in the U.S. since 2001, so the chances are slim-to-none that he will perform in the U.S. again, with or without the Rolling Stones.
As previously reported, the Rolling Stones won two NME Awards in 2013: Best Live Band and Best Music Film (for the documentary "Crossfire Hurricane"). The Rolling Stones were also nominated for Best Live Act at the 2013 Brit Awards.
*March 20, 2013 update: AEG Live has signed on to promote the tour. Click here for more details.
April 3, 2013 update: The 2013 tour dates have been announced. Click here for more details.
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