May 5th 2024.
The Rolling Stones, one of the most iconic music groups of all time, had fans on the edge of their seats this week with a special performance of their first hit song in America. Led by the legendary Sir Mick Jagger, the band has been captivating audiences since their formation in London back in 1962. With timeless hits like "Satisfaction", "Paint it, Black", and "Gimme Shelter", the Stones entered the 1970s as one of the biggest musical acts in the world and have continued to maintain their reputation with consistent work over the years.
But even after decades in the spotlight, the Rolling Stones still know how to surprise their fans. At the New Orleans Jazz Festival on Thursday evening, they delighted concertgoers with a performance of their cover of "Time Is On My Side" for the first time in over 20 years. This 1963 song, originally recorded by soul singer Irma Thomas, has a special meaning for the band as it was the first song they ever covered and made their own. To mark the 60th anniversary of their version, the Stones invited Thomas, now 83 years old, to join them on stage.
Sir Mick Jagger warmly welcomed Thomas to the stage and together they gave a powerful rendition of the song, which had not been performed live since 1998. According to Rolling Stone, Sir Mick shared with the crowd, "In 1964, which is a very long time ago, we heard this great song on the radio by this amazing singer. We recorded it and it became our first kind of hit in America." It was a touching moment as the two music icons sang alongside each other, with Sir Mick in a red sparkly jacket and Thomas in a stunning black, blue and green patterned ensemble.
But the surprises didn't end there. The Stones also welcomed singer Chanel Haynes on stage to perform "Gimme Shelter", a song she has previously covered for the band as a fill-in for original vocalist Merry Clayton. And this wasn't the first time the Stones have had a powerhouse female vocalist join them on stage. Grammy-nominated singer Lisa Fischer was the band's backup singer for 26 years before leaving in 2015 to focus on her own music career.
This special performance at the New Orleans Jazz Festival was a long-awaited return for the Rolling Stones, who were forced to postpone their debut at the festival four years ago due to Sir Mick's heart surgery. Sadly, this year also marked the first time the band performed without drummer Charlie Watts, who passed away at the age of 80 in August 2021. But Sir Mick, along with guitarist and singer Keith Richards and musician and guitarist Ronnie Wood, still gave an electrifying performance that left the crowd in awe.
Aside from their successful concert, the Rolling Stones also made headlines with the release of their latest album, Hackney Diamonds, in October. This was their 14th album to top the UK charts and their first collection of original music in over 15 years since A Bigger Bang in 2005. The band's enduring legacy and influence in the music industry is undeniable, and their recent performance at the Jazz Festival was a testament to their lasting impact.
As fans continue to reminisce on the Stones' incredible performance, it's hard not to compare it to other iconic concerts in history. Madonna's record-breaking show in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night reminded many of the Stones' own unforgettable performance at Copacabana beach in 2006, which drew an estimated 1,500,000 fans. But even that falls short of Sir Rod Stewart's New Year's Eve show at the same venue in 1994, which reportedly attracted a staggering 4,200,000 revelers.
The Rolling Stones have certainly left their mark in the world of music and will continue to be remembered for generations to come. Their music has stood the test of time and their live performances are still as captivating as ever. We can only imagine what surprises they have in store for us in the future. Do you have a favorite Rolling Stones moment? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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