The Rolling Stones are one of the most iconic and influential rock bands of all time. Formed in London in 1962, the band rose to fame in the 1960s and has had an incredible career spanning over 50 years. The Rolling Stones are known for their gritty blues-inspired rock music, rebellious attitude, and electrifying live performances. Throughout their long career, the Stones have embarked on some of the biggest, most elaborate concert tours in rock history. One of their most massive and highest-grossing tours was the A Bigger Bang Tour, which took place from 2005 to 2007.
Overview of the A Bigger Bang Tour
The A Bigger Bang Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Rolling Stones that lasted from August 2005 to August 2007. It was organized to promote their album A Bigger Bang, which was released in 2005. The massive tour included 147 shows over two years, visiting North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. It is estimated that over 4.5 million fans attended shows on the tour.
The A Bigger Bang Tour stands out as one of the Stones’ biggest tours for several reasons:
- It lasted two full years, which is exceptionally long for a rock tour.
- The tour grossed over $558 million, making it the second highest-grossing tour at the time, behind only U2’s Vertigo Tour.
- With 147 shows performed, it was one of the band’s most extensive tours ever in terms of number of concerts.
- The tour visited five continents and 25 countries, including several the Stones had never played before.
- It marked the first time the Stones returned to certain regions and cities since their 1982 and 1990 tours.
In the 23 years between the end of the Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour and the start of A Bigger Bang Tour, the Stones’ popularity had not waned. Fans were eager to see the legendary rockers back on stage, which contributed to the tour’s staggering attendance and box office numbers.
Setlist and Production
The A Bigger Bang Tour featured an expansive setlist of hits, fan favorites, and new material from A Bigger Bang. While the exact setlist varied from night to night, most shows featured a core selection of classics like:
- “Start Me Up”
- “Brown Sugar”
- “Sympathy for the Devil”
- “Paint It Black”
- “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
- “Miss You”
- “Tumbling Dice”
- “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
Songs from A Bigger Bang like “Rough Justice” and “Oh No, Not You Again” were also regularly performed. The shows typically ran 2-2.5 hours long, with Keith Richards often performing 2-3 songs in the middle as a solo set.
In terms of production, the A Bigger Bang Tour was designed on a massive scale with state-of-the-art lighting, video, and pyrotechnics. Some highlights of the production included:
- A 60-foot wide video screen and light tower that could be positioned in different parts of the stadium.
- Intricate laser effects created by over 100 individual lasers.
- Hydraulic platforms allowing Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to extend into the audience.
- A B-stage that extended from the main stage so the band could perform closer to the fans.
- Massive inflatable dolls and other props.
With this huge production, the Stones aimed to create an immersive rock spectacle for fans in massive stadiums and arenas.
Notable Shows
While every show on the A Bigger Bang Tour was a huge event, certain concerts stood out due to their location, historical significance, and attendance records.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
In February 2006, the Stones played a free concert on the beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to an estimated crowd of 1.5 million people. This massive audience made it one of the largest rock concerts ever held. It was the Stones’ first concert in Brazil since 1995 and was filmed for release as the live DVD The Biggest Bang.
Tokyo, Japan
The Stones performed two shows at the Tokyo Dome in March 2006. Their first night set an attendance record for the venue, with over 67,000 fans in attendance. The band were joined on stage by Japanese guitar legend Hotei Tomoyasu.
Shanghai, China
In April 2006, the Stones gave their first-ever performances in China, with two shows in Shanghai. These were the first large-scale rock shows ever held in China. To conform to Chinese regulations, the band could not make religious or political references on stage. Still, the Shanghai shows were a historic milestone in opening up China to Western rock music.
New York City, New York
In September 2005, the Stones did a special charity concert in New York City to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The intimate show at the Beacon Theatre helped raise over $4 million for relief efforts.
Reviews and Reception
The A Bigger Bang Tour received overwhelmingly positive reviews from music critics and fans. Reviewers praised the Stones for still having incredible levels of energy and showmanship decades into their career. Fan reception was ecstatic, as evidenced by the tour’s huge attendance numbers.
Some highlights of what critics had to say:
- “They remain the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world.” – The Telegraph
- “The Stones’ live shows still thrillingly do what they’ve always done – celebrate, as permanently and unashamedly as only the Stones can, the sheer joy of rock ‘n’ roll.” – Variety
- “The Rolling Stones are still the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band and they are still capable of producing a show that makes you feel like you are witnessing something truly epic.” – The Australian
Fans on social media and internet forums also expressed overwhelming satisfaction at being able to see their rock heroes live. Many commented that the shows brought back their youthful memories of seeing the Stones decades ago. The tour showed that even after more than 40 years of performing, the Rolling Stones could still captivate audiences on a massive scale.
Significance and Legacy
The A Bigger Bang Tour stands as one of the crowning achievements of the Stones’ career for several reasons. It demonstrated their unmatched abilities as live performers, even in their 60s. The tour also showed that the Stones remained culturally relevant and appealing to younger generations of fans too. It broke numerous attendance and box office records, proving the Stones’ longevity as a major lucrative rock attraction.
Some key facts about the tour’s significance:
- It was the second highest-grossing tour of all time, showing that the Stones could still generate an astronomical amount of revenue.
- It further elevated the Stones’ status as legends, as they broke their own records for longest and biggest tour.
- It grew their fanbase, attracting both older loyal fans and younger audiences seeing the Stones for the first time.
- It helped open up new markets to their music, like China, where they held the first major rock concerts.
The A Bigger Bang Tour exemplified that even after decades of fame, the Rolling Stones maintained their mass popularity and ability to bring rock spectacle to audiences worldwide. Their tireless commitment to performing live has helped ensure that the Stones remain the greatest rock band in the world, capable of headlining stadiums even 50 years after their career began.
Setlist Data Table
Song | Shows Played At |
---|---|
Start Me Up | 147 shows |
It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It) | 147 shows |
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction | 146 shows |
Tumbling Dice | 142 shows |
You Can’t Always Get What You Want | 140 shows |
Miss You | 135 shows |
Rough Justice | 121 shows |
Get Off of My Cloud | 118 shows |
Honky Tonk Women | 116 shows |
Sympathy for the Devil | 112 shows |
Conclusion
The A Bigger Bang Tour stands out as one of the biggest and most financially successful concert tours the Rolling Stones have embarked on in their long illustrious career. The sheer size of the production, the attendance records, the positive reception, and the staggering box office numbers cement it as a milestone event in rock history. It captured the ability of the Stones to still draw in massive audiences on an unprecedented scale, decades into performing. The tour exemplified the band’s staying power and proved their reputation as one of the most compelling live acts was well-deserved. Ultimately, the A Bigger Bang Tour represented the Rolling Stones at their triumphant peak, demonstrating why they are considered rock legends and the greatest rock band of all time.