Not even Covid was able to stop it. On the contrary. Mick Jagger takes the stage at San Siro and there is none for anyone: “Hello Milan, how are you? How nice to be back here” says in Italian the frontman of the Rolling Stones, before attacking ‘Street Fighting Man’. It is true that sixty years have passed since the historic debut on the stage of the Marquee Club in London and of the original band only Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have remained. But for these splendid over 70s, time seems to have stopped. Tireless and matador like never before, Jagger, Richards and Ronnie Wood, together with Darryl Jones on bass and new entry Steve Jordan on drums, set the Meazza on fire with their ‘Sixty Tour’ which celebrates the group’s 60th anniversary. The energy is the same as the first time. It is not just rock and roll and they are keen to remember it.
The start of the live is dedicated to Charlie Watts, the historic drummer who passed away last year, with giant screens showing videos and photos of their lucky story together. “This is our first tour without Charlie and we miss him very much” says Jagger, who starts off like a bomb, wearing a pink and black striped bomber jacket, ready to officiate the ritual that for one night transforms the San Siro stadium into the sacred temple of rock and roll. Greeted by a roar of applause, the band plays the clothes that fit them best: those of undisputed music legends. Please, ladies and gentlemen, take your seats.
It doesn’t take much for the English band to ignite the stadium and in over two hours of concert, the pioneers of rock give back to the people of San Siro the same energy as 16 years ago, the last time they stopped in Milan. , who runs all the time on stage, does not spare himself in his iconic moves, sings with a red hood on his head and the audience goes crazy: he calls him, screams, dances and jumps, sings the whole stadium. Keith wears a yellow cap and a cyclamen shirt, Ronnie Wood is no different with a ‘Rolling Stones’ t-shirt and petrol jacket. Here are the pieces that made rock history: ’19th Nervous Breakdown’, ‘Tumbling Dice’, ‘Dead Flowers’ and ‘Wilson Horses’. For ‘Out of time’ the whole stadium explodes with joy. “You sang very well, Milan – comments Jagger – how nice to be here, even if it’s hotter than hell”.
They go straight to the hearts of the public with ‘You can’t always get what you want’, which excites, with Jagger who incites the fans: “Milan, you are famous for singing, now it’s your turn”. For ‘Miss you’ Sir Mick indulges in one of his sexy ballets. There is ‘Living in a ghost town’, written in the dark period of the lockdown then the frontman introduces the band, “straight from the fashion shows, Ronnie Wood, king of the catwalks” and then Keith Richards, before addressing the audience and exclaiming. in Italian: “In the face of those who want us badly”. San Siro explodes.
Here is’ Honky Tonk Women ‘, and the immortals’ Jumpin’ Jack flash ‘,’ Start me up ‘,’ Paint it black ‘, with the screen that is tinged with black and white. white hair, who was not yet born and who still retains the first vinyl of the ‘rolling stones’. Children, parents, uncles and grandparents: ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ makes everyone agree, they sing at the top of their voices between fire and flames. “You sound fantastic Milan – confesses Jagger – 55 years ago we had our first concert in Italy, thank you for still being here with us”.
I bis? Needless to say, they are for ‘Gimme Shelter’, with the iconic ‘tongue’ that is tinged with the colors of Ukraine, Keith Richards dressed in blue and yellow and the images of bombed buildings in the background, and (I can’t get no ) Satisfaction ‘. The 57 thousand present vibrate, sweat and get excited in front of these living monuments of the history of music which despite the thousand difficulties, the grief, the addictions, the head shots and the advancing age have never given up showing that deep down, you are never too old to do good rock and roll. (by Federica Mochi)