Rolling Stones ready to return to the road

NASHVILLE (Billboard) – After a drama-filled break that
included brain surgery for Keith Richards and rehab for Ron
Wood, the Rolling Stones are gearing up to relaunch what could
be the top-grossing tour of all time. The Stones’ A Bigger Bang
tour is set to resume July 11 in Milan.

“We were not the top touring band in the world in May and
June, I know that,” tour producer Michael Cohl told Billboard.
“We were the top resting and recovering band.” Rehearsals will
get under way next week.

The band already has grossed in the $250 million-plus
range, and has 21 more stadium dates in Europe on the tour,
through September 3 in Horsens, Denmark. Another 10 dates that
were postponed due to Richards’ injury could still be
re-booked. With stadium dates averaging in the $5 million-per
gross range, at the very least another $100 million could roll
into the Stones’ coffers, which would take the tour to record
heights.

Reuters/Billboard