Rolling Stones to perform in 2 Indian cities

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By Imran Qureshi, Indo-Asian News Service
Bangalore, Feb 20 (IANS)

The Rolling Stones will be performing in two Indian cities including Bangalore as part of their "Forty Licks" world tour.

The Stones are scheduled to play in Bangalore on April 11, while the second city is yet to be decided. Speculations are it is a toss up between Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata for the April 14 performance.

"We are yet to decide between Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata for the April 14 performance," Venkat Vardhan, CEO, DNA Networks, the entertainment company organising the Indian leg, told IANS.

"We are expecting crowds of over 20,000 in Bangalore."

"Past performances have shown that Indians have a good appetite for such music," Vardhan added.

The Stones will be the first international band to perform here in 2003. British Pop legend Elton John performed in Bangalore in November 2002 to a 20,000 strong crowd.

The Rolling Stones, described by Fortune magazine as a "money-making machine", has grossed revenues of over $1.5 billion since 1989 when it launched the "Steel Wheels" tour.

Five years later, the "Voodoo Lounge" tour and the 1997-98 "Bridges to Babylon/No security" tour, established their hold over the world of rock music.

The band members, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Woods, have been on a successful world tour currently making their fans sway to rock anthems like "Satisfaction" and "Jumping Jack Flash".

Tickets for the Stones performance go on sale from March 10, DNA Networks announced.