| 8th November 2006 11:59 AM |
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| Gazza |
Stones rock Valley tonight
Legends' concert 1st for University of Phoenix Stadium
Larry Rodgers
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 8, 2006 12:00 AM
In lining up the Rolling Stones to play tonight in Glendale, the operators of the University of Phoenix Stadium got the high-profile act they were after to inaugurate the venue for concerts.
"The Stones are the greatest rock-and-roll band, the whole nine yards," said Peter Sullivan of Global Spectrum, the company that operates the $455 million stadium.
"They were the group that we went after and were looking to have play the stadium as quickly as possible."
Tonight's concert is expected to attract about 35,000 fans, just over half the number that attend a sold-out Arizona Cardinals football game at the stadium. And it's nearly twice the capacity for rock shows at nearby Jobing.com Arena.
"It's the Stones, so it's always the greatest show on Earth," said fan Frank Wheeler, 51, of Peoria, who has seen the Stones a dozen times and will be at tonight's show. "They've always been better in big stadiums because (their show) is deserving of such a thing. Plus, the more fans, the merrier."
Sullivan and the Glendale Police Department are gearing up for a big night.
More than 100 officers will be on hand to keep traffic flowing and make sure fans don't park in nearby neighborhoods, said Officer Matt Barnett, a police spokesman.
Drivers were warned Tuesday that construction on 91st Avenue between Northern and Glendale avenues is restricting traffic to one lane in each direction. In addition, Glendale spokeswoman Jennifer Stein said to expect heavy traffic in the area of Loop 101 between Glendale Avenue and Camelback Road from 6 to 7 p.m.
The bottom line: Concertgoers should head for the stadium as early as possible to deal with the tail end of rush-hour traffic and the construction.
Parking will be free in lots adjacent to the stadium starting at 3 p.m. All the entries and exits used for Cardinals games will be open for the concert.
The stadium's retractable roof will be closed for the 7 p.m. concert and the grass football field will be rolled outside the stadium, exposing a concrete floor.
The Stones have set up a nine-story stage with a long runway that leads to a smaller stage in the middle of the stadium.
With the concert taking place on a worknight for many fans, Barnett is not expecting much tailgating in parking lots after the show.
"When it's over, people want to get home and get into bed to get ready for work," he said.
Alcohol will be served at the concert, prompting Barnett to give the same warning he delivers to Cardinals fans:
"Don't drink and drive. Get a designated driver or a taxi. We want you to go out and have fun . . . but we don't want you to get behind the wheel and get hurt."
Tonight's concert is the third major event in a string of four taking place at the 63,400-capacity stadium over 13 days.
"We had a soccer match on Halloween that drew more than 40,000, we had the international motorcycle expo (last weekend) for 20,000 to 25,000 . . . then the Stones (tonight) and the Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday," Sullivan said.
"Not too shabby."
www.azcentral.com |
| 8th November 2006 12:00 PM |
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| Gazza |
Who's going to this one?
Rooster?
IanBillen?
Strong rumours going around that Ronnie will NOT be performing tonight as he hasnt returned from his brother Art's funeral - and that Blondie will fill in for him.
[Edited by Gazza] |
| 8th November 2006 12:03 PM |
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| Gazza |
Bigger Bang for your buck
Larry Rodgers
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 8, 2006 12:00 AM
East Rutherford, N.J. - When about 35,000 Valley fans see the Rolling Stones and Alice Cooper tonight, they'll be treated to the most lavish spectacle in rock.
The same flashy set-up that was showcased Sept. 27 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey - a nine-story-tall stage, vast video screen, state-of-the-art sound and lighting, onstage balconies for some fans and a platform that transports the band to the middle of the field - promises to overwhelm the senses of fans at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
And count on the 60-something Stones to deftly deliver two solid hours of the classic songs that earned them induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Performing at Giants Stadium, 63-year-old singer Mick Jagger still looked great, though he's finally slowing down a tad. Torn and frayed co-leader Keith Richards, meanwhile, was showing every bit of his 62 years, but his upbeat onstage presence inspired constant cheers of "Keeeeeith!"
Silver-haired drummer Charlie Watts, 65, remained the dignified timekeeper, while guitarist Ron Wood, 59, traded well-seasoned riffs with Richards.
Besides the 300-ton stage and the 50- by 49-foot video screen, with images nearly as sharp as a plasma TV's, the most impressive thing about the Stones' Bigger Bang stadium show is the crystal-clear sound.
Performing in a stadium can produce a nightmare of echoes for some acts. But a 180-channel mixing board and sound-delay speakers deployed at the back of the stadium enable concertgoers to hear the most delicate acoustic guitar work by Richards, bluesy harmonica solos by Jagger and pedal-steel playing by Wood.
And when the Stones launch into powerhouse rock numbers, such as Jumpin' Jack Flash and (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, the resulting wall of sound confirms they're still a force in an industry dominated by bands half their age.
Veterans of multiple Stones shows, including tours that visited the Valley in 2003 and 2005, may be less than excited to hear that those two chestnuts are being included in virtually every show on this tour, which ends Nov. 22 in Los Angeles. Also showing up nearly every night are such classic-rock radio stalwarts as Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar, Start Me Up and Sympathy for the Devil.
Three years after a tour that found them playing several "album cuts" per show, the Stones are performing largely a greatest-hits concert, with a few obscure gems thrown in to keep diehard fans happy.
The lower-key treasures at Giants Stadium included tight versions of Sway (from 1971's Sticky Fingers album) and Monkey Man (from 1969's Let It Bleed) and a vamped-up version of Far Away Eyes (1978's Some Girls), in which Jagger went into country-preacher mode onstage.
Instead of the non-stop dancing and running that he's famous for, Jagger strolled or skipped around the 200-foot-wide stage and unleashed occasional bursts of dance moves.
But he remains the ultimate rock star, commanding the gaze of the crowd of 45,000 in suburban New York.
Jagger strapped on a guitar for the power ballad Streets of Love, one of two songs from 2005's A Bigger Bang album (the band played four new songs at Glendale Arena a year ago).
Jagger gets a two-song breather at the midway point of each concert, courtesy of Richards. With his cigarette dangling from his mouth, Richards has played the same two songs nearly every night: A bluesy, stripped-down version of 1969's You Got the Silver and an old-school take on 1981's Little T&A.
Those seated near the runway that connects the main stage to midfield will be slightly disappointed when the Stones roll by on the motorized "B stage." It rises nearly 10 feet above the field but is lowered a few feet at midfield.
Glance back at the main stage when the band plays Honky Tonk Women on the B stage and you'll see a 30-foot-tall rendition of the Stones' lips-and-tongue logo inflate, for that number only.
The set will end with indoor fireworks, instead of the huge outdoor display used at Giants Stadium, because the retractable roof in Glendale is scheduled to be closed.
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/music/articles/1108stones1108.html
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| 8th November 2006 12:07 PM |
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| Saint Sway |
quote:
Gazza wrote:
Strong rumours going around that Ronnie will NOT be performing tonight as he hasnt returned from his brother Art's funeral - and that Blondie will fill in for him.
how is this news???
Half the times I've seen the Stones Ronnie didnt bother to show up |
| 8th November 2006 12:18 PM |
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| Joey |
My Mom lives ten minutes away from this SPECTACULAR new facility . I believe Phoenix is Alice Cooper's Hometown . |
| 8th November 2006 12:18 PM |
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| jb |
Only 35k ..howe the mighty have fallen!!! Really bad #'s!! |
| 8th November 2006 12:28 PM |
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| monkey_man |
I hope he makes it back for Vegas
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| 8th November 2006 12:29 PM |
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| Saint Sway |
quote:
Joey wrote:
My Mom lives ten minutes away from this SPECTACULAR new facility . I believe Phoenix is Alice Cooper's Hometown .
Please advise your mom of the following tips if she hopes to get a spot up front along the rail:
"You should be dressed trendy, sexy, hip. Do not come looking sloppy or disheveled. Women really glam it up, but not trashy..." |
| 8th November 2006 12:33 PM |
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| LadyJane |
Slap in the face to Ronnie, imo. Like it or not he IS a Rolling Stone and he deserves respect.
Replaced by Blondie???
No way. 
I don't believe this is true...didn't he fly to UK after Beacon??? He was in Oakland. Why would he be back home??
LJ. |
| 8th November 2006 12:34 PM |
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| Joey |
quote:
jb wrote:
Only 35k ..howe the mighty have fallen!!! Really bad #'s!!
The Stadium holds 70K for concerts .
Why ?!
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| 8th November 2006 12:36 PM |
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| Saint Sway |
at what time will they officially announce that tonites show is post poned until the 18th and Atlantic City is being moved to the 22nd and Los Angeles is cancelled? |
| 8th November 2006 12:39 PM |
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| jb |
Ronnie must be allowed to return home to grieve and a guest guitarist would be welcomed. Ronnie is a hired hand and his employment has been at the mercy of Mick/Keith. |
| 8th November 2006 12:44 PM |
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| F505 |
quote:
jb wrote:
Ronnie must be allowed to return home to grieve and a guest guitarist would be welcomed. Ronnie is a hired hand and his employment has been at the mercy of Mick/Keith.
But Blondie Chaplin? Can't they find someone better? How about Waddy W. or is he still in jail? |
| 8th November 2006 01:27 PM |
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| pdog |
If Ronnie is the first casualty of a Democratic victory, i'm glad I voted for Libertarians! |
| 8th November 2006 01:33 PM |
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| Saint Sway |
Ronnie's parts arent very complex. I'm sure Blondie has enough time today to learn how to hop around and wave. |
| 8th November 2006 01:46 PM |
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| F505 |
quote:
Saint Sway wrote:
Ronnie's parts arent very complex. I'm sure Blondie has enough time today to learn how to hop around and wave.
Don't forget the smiling part |
| 8th November 2006 01:56 PM |
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| Saint Sway |
quote:
F505 wrote:
Don't forget the smiling part
True. But with such short notice we can only expect Blondie to cover so much
he might be able to learn the "grin and wave" move but only a truly seasoned vet could master Woody's "waving a banana peel" move in one day |
| 8th November 2006 02:55 PM |
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| Paranoid_Android |
quote:
Saint Sway wrote:
at what time will they officially announce that tonites show is post poned until the 18th and Atlantic City is being moved to the 22nd and Los Angeles is cancelled?
5 hrs beore curtain seems to be the standard...Eurpoeans get a day or two's notice...Other Pacific Islanders and Havaiians get 3 weeks...and the rest...who knows?!? |
| 8th November 2006 03:02 PM |
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| Jumping Jack |
They should give Ronnie's spot to Damon Johnson for the remaining dates, Coop is done for the year after this anyway. |
| 8th November 2006 03:29 PM |
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| Saint Sway |
quote:
Jumping Jack wrote:
They should give Ronnie's spot to Damon Johnson for the remaining dates, Coop is done for the year after this anyway.
I like your thinking!
would of been cool if they had hired Alice as the opener just to seceretly rehearse with Damon like they did with Thoroughgood in 81
They'd never replace Woody but maybe add a third guitarist to fatten things up. Damon's a smart choice. Also Jack White or Rich Robinson or Doyle Brahmell... lots of options... |
| 8th November 2006 04:48 PM |
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| Gazza |
Thanks to Dean Goodman from Reuters for giving me the info that the story about Ronnie not performing is untrue.
Info comes direct from the Stones publicist, so its valid.
[Edited by Gazza] |
| 8th November 2006 05:44 PM |
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| StartMeUp13 |
quote:
F505 wrote:
But Blondie Chaplin? Can't they find someone better? How about Waddy W. or is he still in jail?
Waddy's not in jail...he's rocking with Stevie Nicks now... |
| 8th November 2006 06:01 PM |
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| Joey |
quote:
Jumping Jack wrote:
They should give Ronnie's spot to Damon Johnson for the remaining dates, Coop is done for the year after this anyway.
Tonight's show in the desert should ROCK !!!!
I wish I was there in Glendale .
UNBELIEVABLE STONES . |
| 8th November 2006 06:08 PM |
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| glencar |
quote:
StartMeUp13 wrote:
Waddy's not in jail...he's rocking with Stevie Nicks now...
Post of the week!!!!! |
| 8th November 2006 06:26 PM |
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| The Wick |
quote:
Gazza wrote:
Thanks to Dean Goodman from Reuters for giving me the info that the story about Ronnie not performing is untrue.
Info comes direct from the Stones publicist, so its valid.
So Gazza, is he or isn't he? Thanks.
[Edited by Gazza] |
| 8th November 2006 06:32 PM |
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| Gazza |
He is definitely playing. The rumour was false |
| 8th November 2006 06:34 PM |
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| The Wick |
quote:
Gazza wrote:
He is definitely playing. The rumour was false
Thanks mate. |
| 8th November 2006 06:35 PM |
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| glencar |
Will there be any surprises tonight? |
| 8th November 2006 06:36 PM |
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| Gazza |
quote:
glencar wrote:
Will there be any surprises tonight?
the publicist didnt say!! |
| 8th November 2006 06:36 PM |
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| glencar |
He should go the way of Rumsfeld! |
