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Rolling Stones Begin Second U.S. Tour

Oct. 28, 1964 - The Stones are here! The five long-haired, boot-footed, leather-jacketed musicians arrived in New York from their native England Oct. 23 for their second American tour, which kicked off with two standing-room-only performances at the New York Academy of Music on October 24.

According to the Rolling Stones, their last tour here in the spring was a disaster. The one bright spark which saved them from an almost total washout on the tour circuit was their final, chaotic New York Carnegie Hall scene, which resulted in the hall being banned to other beat groups and an eleventh-hour triumph for the boys.

There are several happy promoters on the current Stones tour — and very few empty seats. The five rebels have arrived. They’ve done it the hard way, without a big smash record and with only the one redeeming factor from their last tour. Their image and the impression they left behind on their previous trip is one of belligerence and rebelliousness.

They didn’t achieve their desire to conquer the entire American market, but they passed judgement too quickly. The sum total of their previous tour and its publicity has meant big box office on their current swing across the country.

Before the five Rolling Stones — Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richard, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman — arrived, publicity, promotion, and general arrangements had reached pandemonium stage 1. London Records and publicist Connie deNave had been besieged with limitless phone calls and letters asking for press interviews, personal interviews, and any other contact with the boys.

Nearly every fan magazine in the country (and some of the slick ones too) woke up to the fact that the Stones were coming and planned six or eight-page spreads on the boys both in color and black and white. Other press interviews and photo sessions have been set up across the country, including one which was scheduled at the New York Astor Hotel immediately after their arrival.

Because of the ban on arrival receptions at Kennedy Airport, the Rolling Stones’ arrival was kept a complete secret until a couple of days before they came in. As it is, arrangements were made for the group to have special security at all times during their stay, and for the most part they will be accompanied by private guards wherever they travel. However, these plans are not expected to curb Stones fans from turning up at other airports throughout the U.S. or at any hotels. In fact, mass riots and a way to deal with them were points high on the agenda for attention some weeks before the boys came in.

An example of the Rolling Stones’ increasing popularity here is the staggering total of 52,000 official national fan club membership with another 10,000 unofficial followers.

During their trip, the Stones will record several sessions under the aegis of their British producer Andrew Loog Oldham. Recording dates have been set up in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The group will also tape an Electronovision spectacular for a Christmas showing, appearing on the same show as Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Beach Boys, and Lesley Gore (and possibly other big names may be added).

Out in time for their arrival were three new one-shot fan books and a new hit single on London Records, “Time Is On My Side” which is bounding up the charts.



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© 2024 by Joe Rubenstein

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