European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 30, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse The rolling stones hit the Road with steel wheels by David Bauder associated pressm ick Jagger and Keith Richards were taking a break while putting the finishing touches on their new album a Lew weeks ago and they once again heard a to announcer refer to the rolling stones As the greatest Rock n Roll band in the they be been blessed or cursed with the Label Lor about 20 years. The pair tested each other s memory to find who first pinned the phrase on the band finally settling on a former Lour manager who doubled As a Public address announcer during the 1960s. It s a title you would t claim it but if it s bestowed upon you. You d say thank you very much " Richards said. I would never Call us that. Some nights we Are some nights we Ain nearly 3 million people Hope they la catch the right nights As the stones embark on their first . Tour since 1981 and release their 34lh album steel wheels. A surprisingly Strong Effort if Only because of the considerable doubt the band would Ever record again. The beatles the rolling stones and the who were a Golden troika of British Rock super groups in the 60s, but Only Jagger Richards and Crew have survived until today As a creative Force but until a fateful Summit in Barbados last february it appeared the Story of the rolling stones was drawing to a close Jagger and Richards the unquestioned leaders of this live member band had been conducting a Public feud the likes of which Haven t been seen in Rock since John Lennon and Paul Mccartney sniped at each other on record in the Early 70s it entered on the restless Jagger s desire to record and Lour separately from the band. The fiercely proud Richards who guards the rolling stones reputation like a museum curator thought Jagger s priorities weren t straight. There were a couple of dodgy months during the last seven years when i thought it did t look too Bright on the horizon admitted guitarist Ron Wood during a series of recent interviews with the associated press at a Long Island hotel close to where final rehearsals were taking place for the Lour. Jagger and Richards after months of talking to each other through the press had a face to face meeting in Barbados and eventually set to work writing 20 to 30 songs together Richards laughs nervously at descriptions of his relationship with Jagger As an uneasy truce. It s far More simple and far More Complex he said in a weary rasp ground Down by cigarettes. Ii seems they be simply agreed to disagree. Jagger his thin wiry body coiled like a rubber band on a hotel suite chair peppers his conversations with references to the stones As he bluntly replies no when asked if the stones still satisfy him creatively. I Don t really know he was just annoyed Jagger said in clipped tones when asked about his partner. You should ask him. He s a very mood swing person. I m Fine with touring with the rolling stones part of the time. I Don t want it to be my whole life. I think he Learned Over the period of Lime that it did t have to be his whole life As Jagger whose Solo albums were unexpected flops Learned some lessons As Well. It s Clear he said that some people can t accept him As an artist outside the rolling stones. If Keith had sold like Michael Jackson figures he would have still been Back in the stones he would have dropped everything to come Back Wood said mentioning Richard Solo record. What surprised me was that Mick did t do those figures Wood said. That probably surprised him too and maybe it did make him realize the strength of the the greatest Rock n Roll band in the world Bill Wyman Lef Charlie Watta Mick Jagger Keith Richards and ton Wood have just released their 34th album. They embark on their first . Tours nce 1981. Band not that he did t realize the strength of the band but once he and Keith., spent some Lime together in Barbados they just realized the Friendship was longer and stronger than any paper or any Jagger Wood said has come Back into the band very genuinely and we be made no although Jagger and Richards co write most stones songs they be actually done Little writing together during the 70s and 80s, band members said. Steel wheels was different. The Way we wrote these songs is very similar to the Way we used to work in the 60s, before we had to split up in the Early 70s and leave England and Start to live apart irom each other Richards said drummer Charlie Watts was called in alter a few weeks to add rhythm to the Basic tracks recorded by Jagger and Richards and Bass player Bill Wyman and Wood soon followed. The rolling stones used to interminable months of piecing songs together in the studio tried another novel concept before recording this time. They rehearsed. Jagger said he wanted to replace a slovenly style of recording with one More organized. Night owls Richards and Wood curbed their tendencies to work into the Early morning. And Lor Allol the worries about Solo projects the extra work left the stones in fighting trim Richards said. Unlike the previous duly work an album band members privately criticize steel wheels shows More versatility than the stones have displayed in years. There Are the required hard rockers but also a country tinged Ballad with fiddles a Lune featuring moroccan drummers and a grungy blues workout. The rolling stones were Drifting into this rather Boring rerun of riffs past Jagger said. I m not saying everything on this album is brilliantly original but it does have some Sparks of ingenuity " new songs sad sad sad and the single mixed emotions Are among the 60 songs the band is rehearsing for its concert trek other new songs will be worked in As the tour winds its Way across the country band members said. It starts aug 31 in Philadelphia. Jagger who s arrived onstage in past Tours Riding a giant phallic Symbol and tossed lower petals from a Cherry picker hesitated to talk about what audiences can expect this time. But Wood and Richards spoke freely. Audiences can expect to hear some perennials like Star i me up. Tumbling Dice. Sympathy Lor the Devil Honky Tonk women and Gimme shelter. The stones have also dug deep into the past for such gems As Ruby tuesday. Paint it Black Sweet Virginia and the 1967 psychedelic oddity. 2.000 Light years from Home. Richards said the stones took out old records to try to recall the original ideas behind the songs rather than just remember the last Lime they were performed live. We be done a lot of work especially on the old songs he said. There s a lot More work gone into this Lour and the record than the stones usually put into it and very concentrated too because it s All wednesday August 30. 1989 taken place since february when Mick and i sat Down and said have you got any songs " perhaps As a nod to Jagger Richards does t want to talk about the future of the rolling stones beyond the current Lour. But he and Wood make it Clear they re not looking to retire this 27-year-old band anytime soon we d be Chicken not to follow this thing Down the Road now because nobody s taken it quite this far Richards said we be been around a Long while and we re still functioning. It s not like the Beach boys getting up there and doing All songs thai they be Willen 20-Odd years ago just a nostalgia trip there s old Lulf and there s new stuff and hopefully it compares pretty will the rolling Slones still be functioning in 20 More years yeah i reckon Wood said. Top of the charts top singles j pm about. A. Right Here waiting Rilk Delix a 3,Hangin Tough -4 Don t Wanna lose you own Leullan 5. Angel eyes thl jilt Hemty bind " " 6 heaven a tint s7. Secret rendezvous key Wnm b Shower me with your love Sortow i. The end of the innocence Don Holty v 10.frienos-j 1. Repeat offender a Lowd mini 2. Huanqin touch no Kwh on pm bks a Broue re in Ondrako Lreh a toss i i 3. Nothing i can do about Urtnow i a 4.aboveandbeyondrddnifcmnl _ 5. This i to i be 7.letmet6llyouaboutlwethtjudovk 1. Give me his last Chance 8.igotdreamsslmwhtnir i a f. It. 10,kiu4n time i by of " Mck singles Ris i of 2. My fantasy tid Dyrby t our be Bibb is a Tiftik As s vste3�lo1r"lgrl�a Jug Jug the stars and stripes Page 17
