For classic Rock fans in Macau and Hong Kong, it doesn’t get better than this – Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts, four of the greatest names in the history of Rock n’ Roll, together with previous Rolling Stones member, Mick Taylor, up on stage at the Cotai Arena giving the audience all the musical satisfaction they crave.
And that’s exactly what happened when The Rolling Stones played in Macau for the first time ever earlier this month, to a packed and lively crowd of all ages at the Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena. The show was part of their 14 On Fire Asian tour, which started in Abu Dhabi and continued with dates in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
The stage design was based on the band’s ubiquitous tongue and lips logo, which extended out into the audience. Those lucky enough to be inside the exclusive ‘Tongue Pit’ standing area, located inside the stage, had a 360-degree concert experience, getting up close and personal with the 71-year-old lead singer as he danced and ran around for the full two hours of the show.
And the crowd was rockin too as the band played all their classic hit songs like Paint It Black, It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll, Jumping Jack Flash, Sympathy for the Devil, Miss You and Satisfaction, as well as many more from their extensive discography.
The last time the boys were in our neighbourhood was a decade ago when they played at Hong Kong’s Harbour Fest in 2003.
“We can’t wait to be back on stage, especially in Macau,” Mick Jagger announced to the press before their arrival. “I am really looking forward to playing all your favourite songs and seeing you all very soon.”
Guitarist Keith Richards added: “The best place in the world for me is out on that stage, standing by everyone…it’s back to where we belong!”
“This is a landmark event for Macau and for Sands China,” said Edward Tracy, President and CEO of Sands China before the concert. “The Rolling Stones are a global phenomenon. They’ve made history with decades of releasing albums and touring, and being able to bring them to Macau is sensational”.
Formed in 1962, the band has released 29 studio albums, 18 live albums and numerous compilations. Their estimated album sales are above 250 million. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2012 the band celebrated their 50th anniversary and just last year they were crowned the ‘Best Live Band’ at the New Musical Express awards in London.
Over the past 12 months, they have released a new documentary, ‘Crossfire Hurricane;’ a greatest hits collection, ‘GRRR!;’ a massive U.S. tour; and a set of two sold-out concerts in the historic Hyde Park in the U.K. in front of 120,000 fans, chronicled in a new concert film “Sweet Summer Sun – Hyde Park Live.”
