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The Rolling Stones: A Pittsburgh timeline
Over the past five decades, the Rolling Stones have been to Pittsburgh eight times, beginning with a show at the West View Park Danceland on their first United States tour.
In the meantime, here's a list of past Pittsburgh shows, with help from local music historian Dave Goodrich.
June 17, 1964 - On its nine-date first U.S. tour, the Stones performed at West View Park Danceland with Bobby Goldsboro, the Pixies 3 and Patti and Emblems. It was a small crowd, as their only exposure had been "The Dean Martin Show" and the single "Not Fade Away." If you weren't there, the main thing you missed was the historical value. Goodrich says it was "not a great show."
Nov. 24, 1965 - With "Get Off of My Cloud" on the top of the charts, the Stones returned triumphantly to rock the Civic Arena for the KQV Thanksgiving Shower of Stars. Opening acts were Simon & Garfunkel, the Byrds, Paul Revere and the Raiders and We Five. They played to a wild crowd of 9,131 fans.
June 25, 1966 - The crowd was smaller (6,214) and the Stones' darker "Aftermath" tour wasn't as well received, with the band focusing on "downer" material like "Paint it, Black" and "Lady Jane." The band, according to Goodrich, may have been worn out from playing Cleveland earlier in the afternoon. Opening acts were the Standells and the McCoys.
July 23, 1972 - This was the show to see. "The band was at the height of its creative powers on the `Exile on Main Street' tour," Goodrich says. "Diehard fans can recite the set list like a mantra: 'Brown Sugar,' `Tumbling Dice,' `Bitch,' `All Down the Line' ..." The Stones also had more manpower, backed by Nicky Hopkins, Bobby Keys and Jim Horn. The sell-out crowd of 13,845 paid a top price of $6.50 for tickets.
Sept. 6, 1989 - 63,000 fans packed Three Rivers Stadium as the Stones finally returned with the giant spectacle of the "Steel Wheels" tour. After opening act Living Colour, Jagger and company leaped onstage to an explosion and the opening riff of "Start Me Up."
Sept. 29, 1994 - The Stones returned to Three Rivers Stadium with Blind Melon for the "Voodoo Lounge" tour. It featured a set list even more pleasing to old fans and another elaborate stage decked out with a lounge motif, giant inflatables and the world's largest video screen.
March 11, 1999 -- The Stones dispensed with the trappings of stadium rock in their first Civic Arena appearance in 25 years. As expected, the set list was full of greatest hits, but the highlights for serious fans were more likely the treasures in lighter rotation - a gorgeous "Fool to Cry," a raucous "Some Girls," Keith's "You Got the Silver." Jagger devoted the lion's share of his energy to proving he could move around the stage -- at 55.
Jan. 10, 2003 -- Another "intimate" show at the Mellon Arena. The set drew heavily on "Let It Bleed" and other mid-period classics -- exactly the sort of material the band excels at. Jagger seemed a little stiff at first, but by the time he got to "Midnight Rambler," it was on. Ryan Adams made it worth people's while to show up early.
