Simply Abu Dhabi XIII

7 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I All four members of the band seemed supremely comfortable and relaxed with each other and, vitally, with the amassed throng of fans. At one point, former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, who originally left the band back in 1976, appeared as a special guest and joined the band for two songs, before leaving the stage to a warm ovation, despite only being introduced as he was leaving the stage. Sure, a few mistakes were made, lines were missed and knowing glances exchanged both with each other and with the audience. But after playing together for over half a century, the warmth and palpable musical kinship between the distinct and highly diverse members of the band served only to add to the overall ambience of the performance. Any languishing thoughts that the Rolling Stones of 2014 might be a more sedentary, slower-paced band were utterly vanquished as an impossibly youthful 70 year-old Jagger moved fluidly around the stage with all the confidence and verve of a much younger man, his trademark swaggering walk as spellbinding as ever as he repeatedly paraded the long runway into the centre of the crowd. Although certainly different to how it sounded in the 1960s, with a deeper patina now and a different, richer tone, Jagger’s superb voice maintains the same liquid beauty and colloquial flare that has pushed the band to nearly 100 million worldwide album sales in the last six decades. In an incredible gesture to show their appreciation, the Rolling Stones gave fans in the UAE the opportunity to vote for a song for the band to play. The result of this poll was “Gimme Shelter” which first appeared as the opening track on the 1969 album “Let It Bleed”. However the best reactions of the night definitely came from “Paint It Black” and “Brown Sugar”, both causing glorious uproar from within the main set, and then the quintessential “Satisfaction” which proved to be an explosive, energetic and excellent closing song. Collectively the Rolling Stones’ opening night at Yas Island’s du Arena was simply ebullient. The band played an incredible two hour long set that bubbled over with energy, history and flamboyant, unreserved stagecraft. Mick Jagger’s endeavour in Arabic between songs, relentless zeal and unmistakable connection with the crowd was gloriously scintillating and deeply appreciated by the overjoyed fans. The Middle Eastern debut of one of the world’s iconic bands was already an historic moment inmusical history, even beforeMick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie took to the stage. But when you then factor in the delivery a powerful, genuine, youthful set – as they most certainly achieved – that lifts an already delighted crowd into the realms of frenzy, then it creates a singular moment to savour. This tour rocks on through Japan, Macau, Shanghai, Singapore, and Australia before hitting NewZealand. It’s certain to be remembered as an absolute classic and as proof positive that these elder statesmen of rock and roll are still very much alive and kicking.