Mick Jagger teases live Rolling Stones reunion for half-century

Speculation is growing that the Rolling Stones are to announce live dates to mark their 50th anniversary.

The band has promised fans it will be announcing "some exciting news" on Tuesday, while a US music website has suggested there will be dates at London's O2 Arena as well as shows in New York.

It comes just days after frontman Sir Mick Jagger set tongues wagging when he posted a picture of himself online, tagged "@RollingStones" with a caption which read: "Had fun in the Paris studio this week."

There has been mounting expectation the group will mark their half-century together by playing some form of gig. The actual anniversary of their debut show passed with the issuing of a new photo of the group and an appearance at a photographic exhibition looking back on their career, but no word about any shows.

However, an online message to fans on their Facebook page promises: "On Ruby Tuesday 4th September, some news is coming and we want you to be a part of it."

There are also interactive images on the page and on their website which link through to videos and one which teases "keep your eyes peeled" before playing the opening riff to their last top 10 hit, 1981's "Start Me Up".

Music website Billboard.biz reports that there will be four dates from the band taking place in November – two at the O2 Arena and a pair at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

It says Virgin boss Richard Branson and Australian promoter Paul Dainty will promote the concerts, according to a source, with the Stones to be paid £16m for them.

However, even if the two venues were filled to capacity, this would mean tickets would have to sell for in excess of £200 each simply to cover the cost of the amount being lined up for the band, never mind staging costs and venue hire.

In July, guitarist Keith Richards (pictured with Jagger) suggested in an interview that live work could be on the cards.

"We're playing around with the idea and had rehearsals. We've got together, and it feels so good," he said.

The Stones' last live performances were for their A Bigger Bang Tour which ended in 2007. The 144 gigs were attended by more than 4 million fans globally .