THE Rolling Stones will emulate their recent London Hyde Park performances when they take to a special stage on Adelaide Oval in March for the biggest outdoor concert of their coming Australian tour.
The British rockers will start their tour in Perth with full dates to be announced in about two weeks.
The 70,000-seat Adelaide concert on March 22 will be the only one in Australia to feature the full stage and production from Hyde Park in July, including a 30-metre long ramp that extends into the crowd.
It will be the band’s first appearance in Adelaide for almost 20 years and will officially reopen Adelaide Oval after a $535 million redevelopment.
“It’s great to be invited by you to reopen the historic oval,” lead singer Mick Jagger said in a video message on Tuesday.
“We’re really looking forward to doing this gig. The first time we’ve been in Adelaide for almost 20 years.
“See you there.”
The concert announcement followed Jagger and Ronnie Wood teasing fans on Twitter with the promise of some exciting news.
It also comes after the band rocked the US and the UK this year to mark their 50th anniversary.
The Stones – Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood – last toured Australia in 2003 but have not played in Adelaide since a Football Park concert in 1995.
Promoter Tony Cochrane said the Rolling Stones were the ultimate rock and roll band.
“They’re bigger than Ben Hur,” Cochrane said.
He said with Jagger and Charlie Watts both cricket fans, playing on Adelaide Oval was a factor in their decision to return.
“He (Jagger) loves this ground, loves his cricket. As does Charlie,” Cochrane said.
“So it absolutely was a factor in them agreeing to do this.”
Mick Taylor, who played with the band from 1969-74 will also be a special guest at the concert.
Most of the tickets in Adelaide will be priced under $200 with some at $350 and $510.
At least 15,000 will sell for under $100 with sales to open for the general public on Monday.
The South Australian government has contributed $450,000 to cover the freight costs involved in bringing the concert’s special stage to Adelaide.
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said he was looking forward to seeing the crew play in Adelaide.
“… world-class act for a world-class venue,” he tweeted on Wednesday.
The South Australian opposition said providing funds to bring the Rolling Stones to Adelaide showed the state government had its priorities wrong.
“While Mr Weatherill is throwing money at the Rolling Stones, his government is cutting essential services to South Australians,” opposition treasury spokesman Iain Evans said. -AAP
