Well the event of the year has finally come around. Its exactly a year and a day since I last saw the greatest Rock And Roll Band In The World, and tonight was probably the best I have ever seen them. The O2 Arena, formally the Millennium Dome in Greenwich London, was to witness a homecoming three night end to the two year Bigger Bang Tour, and the venue pulled off a fantastic reception to the masters of rock.
Firstly I'd like to thank my wife Hayley for getting such fantastic seats at the venue. We sat right bang center of stage in the first tiered section, which was about 30 feet or so away from the B-Stage so I knew I'd get some great pictures of the boy's. The opening act The Kooks, could learn a lot from their senior billed rockers, as they were, predictably, not that good on the night, but when you turn up to play at a concert where nobody in the arena cares if your on stage or not, it must be very disheartening. Thankfully their set was short, and it was time for the main event to kick off. 
Tonight's Set List
- Start Me Up
- You Got Me Rocking
- Rough Justice
- Rocks Off
- Let It Bleed
- Beast Of Burden
- Can't You Hear Me Knocking
- I'll Go Crazy
- Tumbling Dice
- Band Introductions
- You Got The Silver {Keith Solo}
- I Wanna Hold you {Keith Solo}
- It's Only Rock And Roll {To B-Stage}
- Respectable {B-Stage}
- Satisfaction {B-Stage}
- Honky Tonk Women {To Main Stage}
- Sympathy For The Devil
- Paint It Black
- Jumping Jack Flash
- Brown Sugar {Encore}
From the moment you enter the arena you get the feeling of the proximity to the stage. Even though it holds 23,000 it doesn't seem that big, but you also feel close to the band. As we waited to take our seats we were treated to an impromptu bit of sound checking from the band, as the could quite clearly be seen playing Angie. The very nice steward lady kept opening the door for us to see and hear and the twenty or so people gathered around our entrance all got a glimpse of the boys rehearsing, a rare treat indeed.
The show started at 9.00 with the anthemic classic Start Me Up. Mick was in fine form, tearing round the stage like a man half his age. By the time the first riff was heard the whole crowd was on it's feet dancing in the isles and going crazy. Then came You Got Me Rocking and they certainly had mastered that. Keith and Ronnie were playing fantastically tonight, and the rumour of Keith being hammered during performances seemed to be far away as he was in superb form. Mick grabbed his guitar and led from the front with Rough Justice, the only track played tonight from the Bigger Bang album. Mick came on to say to the crowd "It's taken us 40 years to get from Richmond to Greenwich and I hope your all enjoying the wait because we are" .We then had a great Ronnie Wood performance during Rock's Off and Let It Bleed, and the whole band seemed to be gelling tonight as song after song was played effortlessly and to perfection. Next up was Beast Of Burden. Mick belted this one out in the style of a classic blues vocalist, and Keith's riff held the song together as Mick ran from one end of the stage to another. Then came the first treat of the night. Can You Hear Me Knocking was blasted out by Keith and Ronnie, and the solo's the pair played on the nine minute extended rock out, were a joy to behold.
Tribute time again on the set, this time to blues Legend, and a great influence on the band James Brown. Mick belted out this classic with the brilliant Lisa Fischer singing up on the stage with him giving the song the sexy feel. The boys brilliantly entwined the song into Tumbling Dice. Then came the band intros and Ronnie was introduced as the 'Darling Of The Dome' Mick shot off stage for the customary break as Keith went on to do his solo stint. He stood at the front of stage and hailed ' It's been a long haul but it's good to be back ' to a huge cheer from the crowd. He did his two song stint looking none the worse for last years near death experience, and Ronnie's guitar work on You Got The Silver got a complimentary hand on the shoulder from Keith. They then joined together to give a rousing version of I Wanna Hold You. 
Back on stage bounded Mick, as Keith and Ronnie lit up and stage to defy the smoking ban, much to the approval of the crowd, who all cheered as they strolled out, cigarettes lit and handing from the mouth. 'Its a long way to middle' declared Keith as the stage raised and took the band to the B-Stage at he end of the arena, not thirty feet away from us to the sound of It's Only Rock And Roll. The crowd was jumping as they blasted through Respectable and Satisfaction, and then as the stage rose to take the bays back to the main stage we had the monumental Honky Tonk Women.
Mick disappeared briefly and the arena went red as the band leapt into Sympathy For The Devil, and Mick appeared in his long coat for the classic track. Another great performance from the band and Mick again was all over the stage from one end to the other get the crowd dancing in the isles. Keith then played the note perfect intro to Paint It Black, and the raised his hand aloft as if to say, ' I can still do it! ' 
Jumping Jack Flash was it's usual epic show stopper and left the crowd wanting just that little bit more, we were not to be disappointed. The band came back onto the stage and rounded the night off with Brown Sugar in the usual epic fashion. It was a great way to end the show and Mick provided the now salivating crowd with eight count them eight ' yeah yeah yeah woo's ' to end the song off in a true showstopping manner. The boys took center stage for a final bow to the crowd, and if this is anything to go by the next two nights they play here will be spectacular. Sunday's gig will be the end of an epic two year trek around the world for the Stones. Many thought this day would never come when Keith fell from a tree last year and could well of ended up in the great band in the sky, but he survived and the Stones rock on to fight another day.
I am sure that this will not be the last time we all get to see the band, after all they enjoy it so much why would they stop! I think the fact that they are an inspiration to so many modern day bands, and the fact they appeal to so many age ranges, the fact they have written and performed their instantly recognisable hits in each of the four corners of the globe, the fact they can still perform a two hour non stop roller coaster of a show and get everyone in the room dancing and singing along, is a sure fire guarantee that they will be back to get their Rocks Off yet again in the next few years. They do deserve a break after this tour, and as Keith has stated in the past ' Why stop doing something you love when you still can bring so much to the people of the world ' Until the next time boys........
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