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Rolling Stones UK tour review: 'The one and only rock and roll band' conquer London with astounding flair

A 66,000 strong crowd gathered on a warm May evening to pay tribute to their idols

Jane Hall Wallace

Thursday 24 May 2018 08:31 BST

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The Rolling Stones announce UK 'No Filter' tour

And so the Rolling Stones came home to London. To conquer and vanquish any doubts about their eternal youth and vigour in their later years.

At the London Stadium with this one and only rock and roll band, it is possible to see all of music poetry and art play out – we see tragedy and comedy alternate as per Shakespearean tradition – the audience is taken through highs, tender lows, laughter and jubilation, at a show delivered with a flair that astounds and delights.

Mick Jagger is omnipresent, bursting on to the enormous stage in a silver, black and red jacket (Rex)

This 66,000 strong crowd of fans gather on a warm May evening to pay tribute to their idols. Mick Jagger is omnipresent, bursting on to the enormous stage in a silver, black and red jacket to the rumbling strains of “Street Fighting Man”, moving directly into “It’s Only Rock ’N’ Roll” then soothing us with “Tumbling Dice”, prompting roars with those opening notes of “Paint it Black”.

They raise the tempo with the drawn-out chant of “You Can’t always Get What You Want”, which lasts almost 16 minutes sung with the crowd.

Jagger is by now stripped down to his black rhinestone shirt hanging loosely on his skinny frame; Keith Richards resplendent in his turquoise green top with matching trainers – the colour of the waters in Turks and Caicos, which has been his beach retreat over the years. Those dark eyes flash, he watches everyone in the crowd as he strums his Fender Telecaster, his image mirrored, giantlike, on a huge plasma screen.

The Rolling Stones through the years

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The Rolling Stones pictured in Crossfire Hurricane

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The Rolling Stones in the early days

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The Rolling Stones in 1964

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The Rolling Stones performing in concert in 1964

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Guitarist Mick Taylor, 62, joined the Rolling Stones (second left) when he was 20

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The legendary 'glimmer twins' Keith and Mick in 1961.

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The Rolling Stones, Baker Street, London, 1963

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Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones signing an autograph for a young fan, at Dublin Airport, during the band's second Irish tour of 1965.

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Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones exiting the airport bus at Dublin Airport before their concert at the Adelphi Theatre during the band's second Irish tour of 1965.

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The Rolling Stones receiving awards at the NME Poll Winners Concert at Wembley, London, in 1965.

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The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger in 1967

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Rock of ages: The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park in 1969

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The Rolling Stones at the Roundhouse in London in 1971: from the left, Keys, Charlie Watts, Mick Taylor and Mick Jagger

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Jagger on stage with the Rolling Stones in 1978

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Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones sits in the stands of JFK Stadium in Philadelphia in afternoon on Wednesday, August 26, 1981, where he is scheduled to hold a concert on September 25 to kickoff his 1981 American tour.

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Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger performs in front of a crowd of 70,000 at Wembley Stadium in 1982

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Jagger performing on stage during the opening night of the bands new tour, 'Voodoo Lounge' in 1995

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The Rolling Stones perform on stage at Twickenham Stadium in 2006 in London

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Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones perform live at 02 Arena on in 2012

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The Rolling Stones performing at the O2 arena, at their 50-year anniversary show in 2012

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The Rolling Stones perform live on stage during day two of British Summer Time Hyde Park on July 6, 2013

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The Rolling Stones perform at Glastonbury in 2013

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The Rolling Stones at Glastonbury in 2013.

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'Rolling Stones 50 & Counting Tour' at The Honda Center on May 15, 2013 in Anaheim, California.

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The Rolling Stones performing in California in 2013.

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Keith Richards on stage in 2013.

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Suits you: Mick Jagger (far right) with his bandmates in 2014.

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The Rolling Stones at Glastonbury in 2014.

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The Rolling Stones on stage in 2014.

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The Rolling Stones at Glasotnbury in 2013.

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The time tested method of Ronnie Wood’s pairing with Richards – the weaving double-playing – makes for the best guitar music in the business, through “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Brown Sugar”, before things get serious on “Gimme Shelter”. Darryl Jones holds down the beat with his bass on “Satisfaction”. Even Charlie Watts looks happy and smiling.

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