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Wednesday, May 19, 2004
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 ....BUT THEY LIKE IT
The Rolling Stones have a soft spot for my hometown of Toronto. It began in 1977 when they were in the process of mixing the live album that became, Love You Live (probably the second best of the Stone's 83 live albums.) The album was the last under their then current contract with Atlantic records. Mick Jagger took it upon himself to negotiate with the major labels who would pay the most for the services of the Rolling Stones and, while he did that, the group would play some secret club shows and record them for inclusion on the live album. Toronto was decided upon as it was close enough to New York for Jagger to commute to the label negotiations. Toronto was also considered almost as cosmopolitan as New York with fewer of the distractions.
Then things went wrong, as they often did with the Rolling Stones. There was a minor misunderstanding between Keith Richards and the RCMP regarding 26 grams of heroin. The band retaliated by putting guitarist Ron Wood inside Canada's first lady, Margaret Trudeau. Hilarity ensued. The details were more precisely laid out in a post I wrote commerating Keith's sixtieth birthday in late December. The shows, the first the Stones had played in a club since 1962 were at the El Mocombo and a huge musical success. Given Keith's legal situation (given the amount of heroin he was in possession of, he was charged with trafficking. Under Canadian law, a conviction for trafficking will land you a life sentence), they were viewed as probably their last.
Following a plea bargain that released Keith, the Rolling Stones stayed away from Canada for 12 years. Then they decided they liked Toronto again. The tours of 1994, 97 and 2002 were all rehearsed right here. It goes without saying that the Stones are a bigger deal in Toronto than they are almost anywhere else. And there are very places where the Rolling Stones are not a very big deal. Very few rock and roll fans know a world without the Rolling Stones. No one else has lasted as long. They've been at it for 42 years now, and they're better live than most people a third of their age. While their albums since Tattoo You (1981) have generally sucked, they will tear your fucking head off live.
Last summer, Toronto had a little problem. You may have heard about it, it was called SARS. SARS, while not as random as the strains that hit South East Asia, literally destroyed Toronto's economy. The economy of Toronto is heavily reliant on two things, tourism and entertainment. Most of the films set in New York that you've seen in the last 20 years were shot in Toronto. Tourism stopped. Film production halted right in its tracks. Most celebrities wouldn't even say the word, "Toronto." The exception was Ozzy Osbourne, who was scheduled to play the Air Canada Center. His insurance company refused to cover the show at ANY cost. Ozzy did the show anyway, a huge financial risk. If anyone got hurt at the show, or if any member of the touring company contracted SARS, Ozzy would have been financially ruined. That took a LOT of balls, and the people of Toronto never really noted the risk he took. Ozzy Osbourne is a stand-up cat.
Then there are the Rolling Stones. When the outbreak started, the Stones were preparing to tour Europe. The idea was floated to bring them here to do a benefit concert. No one seriously thought it would happen. The logistical and monetary challenges of stopping, mid-tour, and bringing a production the size of the Stones across the Atlantic ocean to play ONE show, seemed insurmountable. Not only did the Stones agree to do it, they assumed responsibility for organizing the talent. The line-up included AC/DC, the Guess Who, Justin Timberake (who we shamefully thanked by throwing shit at him), the Flaming Lips, Rush and a bunch of Canadian acts no one has ever heard of before. The best line about the talent recruitment came from Brian Johnson of AC/DC, "When Keith Richards asks you to do something, you do it!" All of this was done as the Stones played night after night in Europe. They didn't have to do it. It was an act of incredible loyalty.
The show, held on July 30, was an incredible success. An estimated 500,000 people attended, by far the largest crowd the Rolling Stones had ever played. It generated several million dollars for the health care professionals of Toronto (SARS was largely isolated to hospitals in Toronto. A large number of the 40 fatalities were nurses.) The city of Toronto, which had never seen a show anywhere near that big, will be eternally grateful. The Stones really did go above and beyond that day. And they haven't stopped giving. Tomorrow, the band will launch a DVD of the event, some of the proceeds of which will go to related charities. Included on the DVD will be a spot on Toronto tourism by Norman Jewison.
The best part is, the launch party will be at the Harbour Castle Westin. In 1977, the Westin was the Harbour Castle Hilton, which is where Keith had that tiny misunderstanding over his pharmacological enthusiasms.
Will the circle be unbroken?
UPDATE: The DVD will be released on June 29. Here's the track listing.
DISC 1
Available exclusively in Canada
* Sam Roberts: Don't Walk Away Eileen, Brother Down, Where Have All The Good People Gone
* Kathleen Edwards: One More Song The Radio Won't Like, Mercury, 6 O'Clock News
* La Chicane: Viens Donc M'voir, Le Fil, Le Yab De St. Nitouche
* The Tea Party: Temptation, Heaven Coming Down, Sister Awake/Paint It Black
* Blue Rodeo: Trust Yourself, Hasn't Hit Me Yet, Lost Together
* Sass Jordan: High Road Easy, You Don't Have To Remind Me, Brand New Day, Make You A Believer (featuring Jeff Healey)
Bonus Material
* In The Crowd -- Experience the concert from the fans' perspective
* Press Tent -- See your favourite musicians talking to the media
DISC 2
Available in Canada and worldwide
* The Love Will Travel Revue (Featuring Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi): Skybox Ballroom Pump
* The Flaming Lips: Race For The Prize, Do You Realize
* The Love will Travel Revue: Dig Myself A Hole
* The Isley Brothers: Who's That Lady, Shout
* Justin Timberlake: Senorita
* The Love Will Travel Revue: Time Won't Let Me
* The Guess Who: American Woman, No Time
* Rush: Limelight, Freewill, Paint It Black/The Spirit Of Radio
* AC/DC: Back In Black, Thunderstruck
* Rolling Stones: Start Me Up, Ruby Tuesday, Miss You (featuring Justin Timberlake), Rock Me Baby (with AC/DC), Satisfaction, Jumpin' Jack Flash
Bonus material
* The Photo: Exclusive backstage footage of all the bands getting together for a group photo
* Justin Timberlake Meets The Rolling Stones: An insider's look at Justin hanging with the Stones
* AC/DC Rockin' With The Stones: The two powerhouse bands onstage together
* Director's Chair: Director Marty Callner calls the shots for AC/DC's Thunderstruck
* Get The Party Started: Featurette on the opening performances Labels: I Hate Music
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