Having seen Bon Jovi the previous night, I was excited to go back to Hyde Park and see the Stones. Achieving a spot right next to an enormous screen, I got a pretty good view. I could also just about see the stage – despite the band only being about 5mm tall…
Before the concert, we walked around Hyde Park and once again, took in the great vibes – everyone was so relaxed and happy. A Brazilian – style carnival wove its way through the people, accompanied by the opening acts who played throughout the afternoon. Basically, a warm afternoon of blues and chill.
The evening came and the crowd started to gather. On strolled the Stones, giving off the effortless cool that comes from doing this job for the past 50 years, and exploded into Start Me Up. All the hits obediently followed – Paint It Black, Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar. Mick Taylor joined the band for Midnight Rambler, among others. It was a really, really amazing experience – the band sounded tight as a group and the sound was phenomenal, and the whole performance was much sleeker than the videos of previous decades. Although, it would have been groovy to sit on the stage with the band, à la the free concert in Hyde Park in 1965…
Another thing which added to the all-round laid back atmosphere, and an essential for any band, was that they all looked like they were having a great time. Keith and Ronnie complimented each other perfectly, both musically and otherwise. Mick went to introduce everyone, only to see that they’d all disappeared – he had to pull Ronnie out from behind the amps because he and Keith had gone to have a fag – nevertheless, the camaraderie in that group was a really great thing to see, which of course is natural to expect from a band with such a history. The whole set was outstanding, and the finale was accompanied by a massive confetti explosion, a piece of which I’ve still got as a souvenir. All in all, a fabulous weekend!
