The Rolling Stones | Boston Garden | July 18, 1972
By PHOENIX STAFF | October 25, 2006
Stuck inside of Warwick: The Rolling Stones at Boston Garden. By Ben Gerson
The Rolling Stones, back there somewhere |
Like U2 and Springsteen, the Stones have a way of always being good. But the most memorable Stones show in Boston took place on the Exile tour, during that period in which they were at their unholiest. It all started with a scrap between a photographer and the band in Rhode Island, and it ended with Mayor Kevin White on stage at the Garden doing his best to prevent a riot while Stevie Wonder played one of the longest opening sets in history. In between, the cops discovered Keith’s little black bag and the Glimmer Twins were taken away in cuffs to be dealt with by the courts. Never mind that for years Keith was known to say that the Exile tour was the Stones at their dirty best; the chain of events they’d set in motion on July 18, 1972 would kick an already explosive tour up a couple of notches. Mayor White had to appeal to the Rhode Island authorities to let the best rock-and-roll band in the world go lest the city of Boston burn to the ground. Now that’s a band with clout. Rhode Island relented and, in a nice ironic twist, the band were sped up Route 95 with a police escort. When I mention memorable Boston gigs to Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, he doesn’t even hesitate: “Without question it was the Stones in ’72 at the Garden. It was as amazing as you can imagine. And it was a combination of events that you just can’t orchestrate. It was the kind of thing that made the Stones what they are. I mean, the biggest rock-and-roll outlaws in the world get arrested and then make a mad dash to Boston with a police escort! And, I remember Mayor White throwing a football out into the crowd to keep everyone occupied. And, then, finally, they arrived: the street-fighting men with all the rock-and-roll lifestyle they had. And they kicked ass.” |
Were you there? Wish you were? Seen better? Tell us about it below.
Related:
The Rolling Stones, again, The wild bunch, The 40 greatest concerts in Boston history: 1, More 
- The Rolling Stones, again
A bemused Keith mumbled something about “déjà vu,” but this was no rehash of the Fenway Park gig.
- The wild bunch
One of the lies I tell myself is that some day I’ll care about the Rolling Stones as much as I care about the New York Dolls.
- The 40 greatest concerts in Boston history: 1
James Brown | Boston Garden | April 5, 1968
- Guitaristic
As guitar heroes go — even jazz guitar heroes — Ben Monder flies under the radar.
- Bands to watch out for
Winter in Boston is like being grounded. Too many housebound nights, and we’re bored, stir-crazy, and filled with the overwhelming sense of injustice at being stuck in here while the whole world goes on out there.
- The 40 greatest concerts in Boston history: 4
Lollapalooza 1992 | Great Woods | August 7, 1992
- Gay old time
Many people take for granted that the divide between gay culture and mainstream culture is as thin as the latex of an expensive condom.
- Where was everybody on St. Patrick's Day?
We piled into a car, we three intrepid journalists, and set out from the Back Bay Sunday morning to find our way to Royal Bolling’s party. “Roxbury’s Salute to St. Patrick’s Day,” as Bolling called it, should be easy to find, we reasoned. After all, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge. A.F. & M., was located at 18 Washington Street. All we had to do was follow Washington Street, right?
- Jamestown loses its erection
Jamestown Bridge is falling down, falling down. Jamestown Bridge is falling down, my fair lady!
- King, as in mayor
To begin with, I'd like to set down the political and ideological frame of reference under which I try to live.
- Readers' picks 2007: Arts and Entertainment
SPACE Gallery, Dock Fore, the White Heart, and more.
- Less
Topics:
Live Reviews
, Entertainment, Music, The Smashing Pumpkins, More
, Entertainment, Music, The Smashing Pumpkins, U2, Aerosmith, Music Festivals, Joe Perry, The Rolling Stones, Kevin White, Stevie Wonder, Less
