The Rolling Stones British Summer Time Hyde Park 3rd July 2022
Written by Kahmel Farahani on July 6, 2022
The Rolling Stones BST Hyde Park 3rd July 2022
Words Kahmel Farahani
Photos Dawn Osborne
If there was ever a historic connection between a band and a certain space, then it is between The Rolling Stones and Hyde Park. From their historic free show there in 1969 to their 50th anniversary shows in 2013 that become the Sweet Summer Sun film, The Stones have marked some of their most iconic moments in Hyde Park.
This year The Rolling Stones have returned for 2 separate weekend dates to mark their 60th anniversary. They also mark the first in Hyde Park and indeed in London without Charlie Watts on the drums. As the summer sun begins to sink behind the Clouds, the gig itself is preceded by a beautiful montage of the late great Charlie Watts on the big screens. Its then time for the greatest rock and roll band to take the stage.
Age has ceased to have any meaning for The Rolling Stones; not only is their songbook undeniably timeless, but so to their audience, now encompassing nearly 4 generations of fans from around the world. Starting with Get Off of My Cloud into 19th Nervous Breakdown, the band are clearly in high spirits on this run of tour dates. The band sound superb on the classic Tumbling Dice before a real old school throwback Out Of Time.
Jagger’s voice is flawless and his stage presence still unmatched while the weaving guitar duo of Keef and Ronnie still has that magic. Always painting the song with a riff here and lick there its something that no other guitar players could get away with and still sound tight. Steve Jordan does an admirable job on the drums too, swinging in with full force on You Got Me Rocking and the superb tour debut of Dylan’s Like A Rolling Stone.
The Stones are not exactly ones to take breaks and, as Mick Jagger notes, tonight marks The Stones 203rd gig in London! Keith Richards takes front and centre for the sublime You Got The Silver and Happy before the entire crowd is caught up in the disco sing along of Miss You.
The sound quality coming through the PAs tonight is without a shadow of a doubt the finest we’ve ever heard in an outdoor space and a testament to the art of the mixing desk. Its flawless, with the finest notes of Paint It Black coming across as clear as a bell. Ending their set with epic combo of Gimme Shelter and Jumpin’ Jack Flash, the band are pushing towards the two hour mark as they take their first bow.
Returning for an encore that begins with Sympathy for the Devil, Jagger, Richards and Wood walk the runway into the crowd and kick off the ultimate Stones sing along anthem (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction. As The Stones take their final bow, its hard to argue that there is anybody doing it better than they are and there’s a good chance that nobody ever will. A rock and roll institution that still remains fresh and vital after well over half a century, The Rolling Stones prove yet again that they have the silver and the gold – truly awe inspiring.
Setlist 3rd July 2022
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Encore:
