The Rolling Stones

Interview By: Michael Dance
MichaelDance@TheCinemaSource.com

Remember all those age-old arguments about who was better, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones? It’s fun for music buffs to debate, but in terms of sheer workload, it’s clear where things stand today: the Beatles are a happy memory, and all the Rolling Stones are still on tour: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Charlie Watts.

The Stones have long been legendary director Martin Scorsese‘s favorite band, and it was perhaps only a matter of time before the two parties collaborated to produce a concert film. Now it’s here: Shine a Light films the band’s performance in New York City’s Beacon Theater during their 2006 “Bigger Bang” tour.

Mick Jagger: The audience was a good audience, but I think they were good because they really got into the spirit of making the movie as well as enjoying being an audience for the band. They were a great audience for the band, but I also think they were a great audience for the movie.

With Keith Richards’ nod, I was hired to put together a one-shot magazine, Inside the Voodoo Lounge, to be sold at venues and newsstands during the Rolling Stones’ 1994-1995 World Tour. The first part of my assignment was to fly to Toronto, where the Stones had taken over a boys’ prep school for their rehearsals, and interview each member of the band. I was thrilled to be talking to Charlie Watts, a favorite drummer ever since “Satisfaction” and “Get Off Of My Cloud” hit the airwaves.

My first glimpse of Charlie was in a van shuttling crew members and musicians from the Four Seasons Hotel to the rehearsal. On the way over, he amused us with an anecdote about a tall Stetson hat his wife had just dissuaded him from buying. When we pulled up, Watts got out first, turned, and offered a helping hand to each of the passengers. As I disembarked, he politely introduced himself. Our interview began shortly afterward in the school’s large cafeteria. Forewarned that Charlie’s modesty makes him a tough interview, I thought it best to begin by asking about musical heroes.

"EXILED ON CANAL ST." Yep, kazeedigs is bringing its act to New York
City,
performing the Rolling Stones' landmark double LP "Exile On Main St." in its
full 18 track sequence on Wednesday, June 23rd at The Canal Room in NYC.

Straight off a smokin' Asbury Park appearance this past April, kazeedigs has heard-and answered-the demand to "bring Exile to The City."

Initially panned when released in 1972, "Exile.."
gained critical momentum and influence over the years and is now
considered by many as one of the greatest Rock and Roll records ever
made. Originally recorded in Keith Richards' rented mansion in
Nice, France, the Stones finished the record in Los Angeles, CA.

The combination of bluesy, gut-bucket raw guitars, honky tonk piano, reedy
harmonica, world-weary tough-guy lyrics and honkin' horns has made
"Exile.." a favorite record of many a musician trying to get back to the
essence of modern Rock and Roll.