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CNN Saturday Morning News
Wrinkled Rockers Get Lift From Fans
Aired August 30, 2003 - 07:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: You know, one of the hottest tickets going this summer for the Rolling Stones, the 40 Licks tour. But it's more accurate to call them -- or some people calling them the Rolling Bones.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, not everybody, but some people, definitely.
ROBERTS: Yes, some.
COLLINS: As fans pack stadiums worldwide to get their satisfaction, consider this. The collective age for the band is 237, and the average age is 59. And I think it's great.
CNN's Andrew Carey asked experts and fans why the wrinkled rockers are still going strong.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREW CAREY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Forty years after they started touring, the Rolling Stones are still playing to sellout crowds. The 40 Licks tour is making millions from old songs and aging performers.
JOHN GIDDINGS, ROLLING STONES PROMOTER: I think it's a celebration of their 40 years in the music industry. It celebrates the whole of their catalogue. They have rehearsed 125 to 130 songs, which they perform a different set list each night. I think it's rejuvenated them, really.
CAREY: The Stones pulled in more than $200 million in ticket sales from their Bridges to Babylon tour five years ago. Their PR camp says they'll top that this year.
Fans are not surprised.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The population is getting older, so the fans that they've had with them, they've carried with them, there's that. Secondly, they're good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know, I think they should be out before they're 30.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mick Jagger's an exception. That man can prance around with an English flag on his back till he's 80, and it doesn't matter. He's a hero. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you still sound good, and people still want to buy your records, and go and see you live, then why stop? Why should there be an age limit?
CAREY: But the Stones aren't the only classic act making millions on the road. Paul McCartney had the top-grossing North American tour last year, making more than $100 million. That's according to the trade publication "Pole Star." And he's a big force in Europe this year.
Some experts say for older rockers, fans want to see them in concert while they still can.
STEVE GAYDOS, "VARIETY": I think there's a lot of interest this time also that people think, Well, Jesus, you know, eventually they're not going to be playing any more, I'd better catch them.
CAREY: But the Rolling Stones European tour director insists that this tour will not be the last.
GIDDINGS: It will never be the last tour. They enjoy it too much to stop. It's the best live band in the world. Why would they stop doing it?
CAREY: The U.S. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) at the 40 Licks tour was the second highest-grossing tour of the year. So while the Stones are still interested, and there's still demand, it's likely the band will play on.
Andrew Carey, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 30, 2003 - 07:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: You know, one of the hottest tickets going this summer for the Rolling Stones, the 40 Licks tour. But it's more accurate to call them -- or some people calling them the Rolling Bones.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, not everybody, but some people, definitely.
ROBERTS: Yes, some.
COLLINS: As fans pack stadiums worldwide to get their satisfaction, consider this. The collective age for the band is 237, and the average age is 59. And I think it's great.
CNN's Andrew Carey asked experts and fans why the wrinkled rockers are still going strong.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREW CAREY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Forty years after they started touring, the Rolling Stones are still playing to sellout crowds. The 40 Licks tour is making millions from old songs and aging performers.
JOHN GIDDINGS, ROLLING STONES PROMOTER: I think it's a celebration of their 40 years in the music industry. It celebrates the whole of their catalogue. They have rehearsed 125 to 130 songs, which they perform a different set list each night. I think it's rejuvenated them, really.
CAREY: The Stones pulled in more than $200 million in ticket sales from their Bridges to Babylon tour five years ago. Their PR camp says they'll top that this year.
Fans are not surprised.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The population is getting older, so the fans that they've had with them, they've carried with them, there's that. Secondly, they're good.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know, I think they should be out before they're 30.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mick Jagger's an exception. That man can prance around with an English flag on his back till he's 80, and it doesn't matter. He's a hero. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you still sound good, and people still want to buy your records, and go and see you live, then why stop? Why should there be an age limit?
CAREY: But the Stones aren't the only classic act making millions on the road. Paul McCartney had the top-grossing North American tour last year, making more than $100 million. That's according to the trade publication "Pole Star." And he's a big force in Europe this year.
Some experts say for older rockers, fans want to see them in concert while they still can.
STEVE GAYDOS, "VARIETY": I think there's a lot of interest this time also that people think, Well, Jesus, you know, eventually they're not going to be playing any more, I'd better catch them.
CAREY: But the Rolling Stones European tour director insists that this tour will not be the last.
GIDDINGS: It will never be the last tour. They enjoy it too much to stop. It's the best live band in the world. Why would they stop doing it?
CAREY: The U.S. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) at the 40 Licks tour was the second highest-grossing tour of the year. So while the Stones are still interested, and there's still demand, it's likely the band will play on.
Andrew Carey, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
