'I saw the Rolling Stones in Hackney - you could feel the crowd's relief'

06 September 2023 , 19:39

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Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Mick Jagger in London for the launch of the Rolling Stones' new album (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

There is always something familiar, almost comforting, about time spent in the company of the Rolling Stones.

And as Mick, Ronnie and Keith ambled onto the stage at the Hackney Empire, you could almost feel the crowd let out a sigh of relief. Maybe it’s because we’ve known them for almost 60 years.

Like the late Queen, they’re ever-present in a rapidly-changing world, and we feel like we know them so well. Take Keef, and his throaty cackle, never far from gag, or a witty refrain.

When asked if he ever married someone who came to a Stones gig, he replied: “I could marry them all, maaaan!” Then there is sparrow-like Mick, whose Dartford-twang is perhaps the most recognisable accent in music.

He’s sat next to Keef, and their fondness for each other is plain to see, despite their much-publicised ups and downs over the years. The two men steal the show, with one or the other often finishing each other’s sentences.

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Ronnie sits at the end of the row, like a coiled bundle of energy, always fidgeting. “You’ve got to keep your fingers moving when you get to our age – keep everything moving,” he says.

They will keep on Rolling, alright...

Tom Bryant