Rolling Stones Play San Bernardino

May 15, 1965 - The Rolling Stones performed tonight at the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino, Calif. Last June 5, they performed their first North American concert at the same venue. 

The band is currently touring the U.S. to promote its third album, “Rolling Stones, Now!” Three days ago, they recorded a number of new songs at RCA Studios in Los Angeles, with titles including “Cry to Me,” “The Spider and the Fly,” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

Tonight at the Swing Auditorium, a 10,000-capacity hall on the National Orange Show Fairgrounds, 3,000 fans showed up, paying $4 to $5.

The stage was roped off, with 35 helmeted policemen posted at entrances and exits, patrolling the aisles, and surrounding the stage. 

Starting at 8:30 p.m., four opening acts — the Bushmen of Rialto, the Driftwoods from Big Bear, the Torquays from San Bernardino, and the Byrds from Los Angeles — warmed up the audience for the Stones.

Cutting it a bit close, the Stones arrived at the Swing at 9:45 p.m. Backstage, the band signed autographs for about 30 swooning girls whose names were chosen in a drawing out front.

The band then took questions from reporters.

“We don’t listen when he hear ourselves termed ‘symbols of resistance against authority’ and that sort of rubbish,” said guitarist Keith Richard. “We don’t even think about it because we are not in beauty contests. We want them to like our music. That’s what we’re onstage for.”

“We couldn’t believe the crowd we got here last year,” said lead singer Mick Jagger. “It was the best place on the entire tour. In other places, they put us on a lot of variety shows with dog acts and that gear, and people just didn’t like it. I guess they just weren’t ready for us yet. But here, it was just like back in England.”

At 10:15 p.m., with the crowd chanting “We want the Stones,” the band took the stage for a 30-minute set, opening with “I Need You.”

From that moment until their final number, the huge hall echoed with an almost continual roar — 3,000 youngsters screaming themselves hoarse. Three girls tried to break onto the stage and were carried out by police. Many sobbed with joy throughout the performance. Others threw personal items like brushes and combs onto the stage as offerings to the Stones.

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