Nearly 40 years into their never-ending career, the Rolling Stones still know how to stage a gangbusters press conference. On Tuesday (May 7), the band announced its upcoming tour by descending into Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, New York, on a blimp adorned with their infamous lips logo.
In 1997, the Stones plugged their tour for Bridges to Babylon by driving a red Cadillac convertible across the Brooklyn Bridge, for the Voodoo Lounge tour in 1994 they sailed into a New York pier on John F. Kennedy’s presidential yacht the Honeyfitz and in 1989 they boarded a train to New York’s Grand Central Station to promote the Steel Wheels tour.
Since they’ve been off the road for three years and aren’t getting any more agile with age, booking agents are probably hoping they can still perform with as much skill as they promote. The Rolling Stones World Tour 2002/2003 launches on September 5 in Foxboro, Massachusetts, at the CMGI Field. The last of the first batch of 32 shows will be February 1, 2003 in Denver at the Pepsi Center.
While the Stones will play a stadium or arena in each major market, they’ll also perform at various theaters and clubs.
Opening acts for the tour will include No Doubt, Sheryl Crow, Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang; more acts will be announced later in the week.
Average ticket prices are $85 for stadiums, $100 for arenas and $50 for theatres and clubs. Starting today, fans can purchase advance tickets on the Sam Goody Web site for a $60 sign-up fee. Golden Circle arena seats run up to $300.
The Rolling Stones World Tour 2002/2003 was announced as its own event, though the trek may coincide with the release of a new album. The band is currently completing negotiations to issue a career-encompassing greatest-hits CD which will include new material. The Stones plan to enter the studio later this month, according to a statement issued by their label.
The Rolling Stones World Tour 2002/2003 Dates, According To The Band’s Publicist:
- 9/5 – Foxboro, MA – CMGI Field
- 9/8 – Boston, MA – The Orpheum Theatre
- 9/10 – Chicago, IL – United Center
- 9/13 – Chicago, IL – Comiskey Park
- 9/16 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
- 9/18 – Philadelphia, PA – Veterans Stadium
- 9/22 – Upper Darby, PA – Tower Theatre
- 9/26 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
- 9/28 – East Rutherford, NJ – Giants Stadium
- 9/30 – New York, NY – Roseland Ballroom
- 10/4 – Landover, MD – FedExField
- 10/12 – Dearborn, MI – Ford Field
- 10/14 – Cleveland, OH – Gund Arena
- 10/16 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre
- 10/18 – Toronto, ON – SkyDome
- 10/20 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
- 10/22 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – National Car Rental Center
- 10/23 – Miami, FL – American Airlines Arena
- 10/26 – Atlanta, GA – Turner Field
- 10/31 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
- 11/2 – Anaheim, CA – Edison International Field
- 11/4 – Los Angeles, CA – Wiltern Theatre
- 11/8 – San Francisco, CA – Pacific Bell Park
- 11/14 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Sports Arena
- 11/23 – San Antonio, TX – SBC Center
- 11/25 – Nashville, TN – Gaylord Entertainment Center
- 11/29 – Las Vegas, NV – TBA
- 1/8 – Montreal, QC – Molson Centre
- 1/10 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mellon Arena
- 1/25 – Houston, TX – Reliant Stadium
- 1/30 – Phoenix, AZ – America West Arena
- 2/1 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center