So this was a dream trip for me. Every time I think “This Could Be the Last Time”. But of course it never is. And I hope it never will be. These guys just go on and on for ever. And for me that is just great. The Stones are, without question, my favourite band and worthy of the title “The Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World”. This is my 15th Stones experience since I first saw them in 1971 at Newcastle City Hall for the princely sum of 15 shillings/75p (decimalisation was just coming in and they printed both prices on the ticket. I was 14 and went to the early 6:30 PM show (they played 2 shows a night back in the day) and paid £1 for the ticket outside. From that night on I became a massive Rolling Stones fan.
So we went down: me, Lisa, Elaine and Jan courtesy of Trans Pennine Express on Thursday afternoon and took a short walk to our hotel close to Lime Street station. After a couple of hours rest I was up again and we took a bus to Anfield where we were shown to a nice lounge with food and drink prior to taking our seats for the show, which we did to catch the last couple of songs of Echo and the Bunnymen, the support act. We had nice seats in the disabled area with a good view of the stage and Jan just in front of us.
After a short wait, just before the Stones took to the stage the screens lit up and showed a lovely tribute to Charlie Watts, with video footage from throughout his career showing him, always dapper and cool, back in the 1960s through to his last days with the band. This received a well-deserved cheer from the Anfield crowd. RIP Charlie. Much missed. It was 9 PM and the Rolling Stones took to the stage, starting with “Street Fighting Man”. Jagger was as energetic as ever running up and down the walkway right out in the crowd. Flanked by Keith (as cool as ever and forever my hero) and Ronnie Wood; both looking and playing great. Mick Jagger’s vocals were as powerful as they ever have been. Like a fine wine these guys seem to get better with age. They never cease to astound me and always exceed my expectations. Mick announced “This is our 60th anniversary tour and the first one we have done without our drummer Charlie Watts. So we dedicate the show to Charlie”, followed by a massive cheer from the crowd.
This was a perfect set list for me, drawing heavily from the 1960s: “19th Nervous Breakdown” followed. When I was a young kid I remember buying this single for a shilling or two (or maybe less) from the public house over the road from my home. It would sell ex-jukebox singles and we would go over every now and then to buy classic records from a little box which the barmaid would bring out to the off sales window. Then we were treated to “Get off of My Cloud” and “Tumbling Dice”. Then came the surprise: in tribute to the Beatles Mick introduced their early hit (of course written by the Fab Four) “I Wanna Be Your Man”. This was apparently the first time they had played the song since I saw them perform it at the O2 Arena in London in 2012.
Then another great favourite of mine, which was a charttopping hit for the great Chris Farlowe “Out Of Time”. You can’t beat the old classics. Then another classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” followed by the less familiar “Living in a Ghost Town” and then back to the 1960s for “Honky Tonk Women” (I told you this was a perfect set list!) Next, as always, Keith took front of stage for “You Got the Silver” and the less familiar “Connection”. Mick was soon back for a great singalong with “Miss You”, followed by another of my favourites “Midnight Rambler”. He no longer whips the stage with his belt, as he did in the 1970s, but uses his jacket instead. For this song he really turns it up a notch, running up and down the walkway into the crowd singing the chorus again and again. Next another great classic “Start Me Up”.
The next song “Paint It Black” always gets me. For me, the perfect Stones song with Ronnie Wood playing electric sitar bringing back memories of seeing Brian Jones on TV sitting cross-legged with his own sitar. Now I knew we were on the home strait. The stage turns dark red and the familiar chants of “Sympathy for the Devil” start to fill the night air. Another great crowdpleaser. They close with “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”.
Next another magic moment. The Anfield crowd spontaneously sing their anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. The band seemed to allow them time to complete it before they return to play “Gimme Shelter” and finish the show, as always, with “Satisfaction”. The perfect end to another great concert by “The Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Band in the World”. After a short time queueing we are back on our bus and of to Lime Street. Till the next time.
Setlist: Street Fighting Man; 19th Nervous Breakdown; Get Off of My Cloud; Tumbling Dice; I Wanna Be Your Man; Out of Time; You Can’t Always Get What You Want; Living in a Ghost Town; Honky Tonk Women; You Got the Silver (Keith vocals); Connection (Keith vocals); Miss You; Midnight Rambler; Start Me Up; Paint It Black; Sympathy for the Devil; Jumpin’ Jack Flash.
Encore: Gimme Shelter; (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
Thanks to Lisa for the photographs and to Wikimedia Commons for the image of Lime Street Station.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Ian Stafford on June 12, 2022 at 4:02 pm
That’s a great review thank you. Yes the greatest rock band and whilst they drink tea and horlicks more than JD now, their love of giving it all and touring has never changed. Long may they live!
Posted by vintagerock on June 12, 2022 at 5:58 pm
Well said Ian! There is no one like them and we will never see their like again! Happy days (still recovering) Peter
Posted by HarryT on June 12, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Good lord, im a few cockstrides away from Liverpool and had no idea this was taking place.
Posted by vintagerock on June 12, 2022 at 5:56 pm
I am surprised you could not hear it from your house Harry! Cheers Peter
Posted by GrahamF. on June 12, 2022 at 6:39 pm
Peter. I was lucky to see the stones at knebworth, I can’t even remember the year. Also on the bill was 10cc and Lynyrd Skynyrd. We travelled down in a van from Darlington. Remember being trusted with loads of alcohol from all the group. Unfortunately, for them, myself and my friend got split up from the rest of the weary travellers and ended up enjoying an abundance of larger. They were not happy when we returned to the van after the gig.! Yer, the Stones live. Great band.
Posted by vintagerock on June 13, 2022 at 11:33 am
Hi Graham. Yes I was also at Knebworth and they seem just as great today. Having said that Knebworth was a magic show. Happy days Peter
Posted by Prof_Alistair on June 13, 2022 at 3:08 am
Good to hear you enjoyed it, Peter. Interesting to read that they were still doing two shows a night in 1971. I thought they’d disappeared from the gigging scene in 4-5 years earlier.
Posted by vintagerock on June 13, 2022 at 11:25 am
Hi Alistair. In fact they were still doing 2 shows a night when I them on the 1973 tour. Still great! Happy days Peter
Posted by Peter Maggiore on June 13, 2022 at 9:48 am
Now that’s what I call a set list. Their output from the 60’s and early seventies was fantastic. Which I could have been there to witness that. Pete
Posted by vintagerock on June 13, 2022 at 11:18 am
Thanks Pete. Every song a classic! Happy days Peter
Posted by Mike Tulloch on June 13, 2022 at 10:48 am
Hi Peter,
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your take on the Rolling Stones concert. I was never a huge fan of the ‘Stones’, but reading your review, reminded me of a lot of the classic rock songs that only the Rolling Stones could do justice to. Also, that they’ve been able to retain their freshness and performing zest, is close to a miracle!
Best wishes,
Mike
Posted by vintagerock on June 13, 2022 at 11:16 am
Hi Mike. Many thanks. Definitely still the best! Happy days Peter
Posted by John on June 16, 2022 at 8:19 am
Hi Peter,
My favourite R & R band too. Another great write-up. First came the Beatles to liven things up then the Stones took over on the edgy side of RR and they are still there! Alas, without Charlie who was the best RR drummer going and also no mean jazz drummer. He made Honky Tonk Women outstanding!
All the best, John
Posted by vintagerock on June 16, 2022 at 11:45 am
I agree totally John. The Beatles and “She Loves You” woke me up to pop music and then the Stones gave me a different direction. Still fantastic. Happy days Peter