Stones and Pearl Jam coming to town

The Rolling Stones with Pearl Jam

Sept. 28 at 8 p.m.

PNC Park

Tickets ranging from $63 to… The Rolling Stones with Pearl Jam

Sept. 28 at 8 p.m.

PNC Park

Tickets ranging from $63 to $420

It was 1972. The Rolling Stones were at the height of their career. The ’60s were over and Mick Jagger was famous for strutting his stuff. The band had outlived The Beatles and had created some legendary material. Songs such as “Satisfaction” and “Ruby Tuesday” had become the standards of their era. Keith Richards had surprisingly survived the druggy days of the last decade, and the band was continuing on, despite the death of guitarist Brian Jones. It was 1972, and the Rolling Stones were doing a concert in Pittsburgh.

According to the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette, almost 14,000 fans showed up at the Civic Center Arena to pay homage to the group that was being billed as “The Greatest Rock Band Ever.” The set at this concert included hits such as “Brown Sugar,” “Gimmie Shelter,” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” How much were tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime performance? Why, the most expensive ticket cost $6.50.

Thirty-three years later, Mick Jagger is still doing his strutting-chicken dance and Keith Richards is still alive. Despite a few changes in the supporting guitar players, the band remains unchanged. Even though ticket prices have increased tenfold, you can still see The Stones in Pittsburgh on Sept. 28.

The Rolling Stones kicked off its “A Bigger Bang” tour on Aug. 21 in Boston’s Fenway Park. Their opening in Boston marked the group’s 31st world tour.

“It’s a champion city,” Jagger explained when asked about why the group chose to play in Boston. Their two-night stand in Bean Town proved to be a success, with 36,000 fans in attendance each night.

This tour isn’t just about greatest hits. The Stones also have a new album to promote. A Bigger Bang was released in stores on Sept. 6 and has received great reviews. Their first studio album in eight years, A Bigger Bang is a great Stones album. This album is filled with heart pumping rock and a traditional bluesy sound. Finally, Mick and Keith have come together to create a fine work worthy of The Rolling Stones name.

Surprisingly, the city of Pittsburgh has had a long history with The Stones. They opened their first tour in Pittsburgh in 1964. Simon and Garfunkel opened here for The Stones in ’65. Mick Jagger even shocked himself on a faulty mike at the Civic Arena in 1966. Over the years, The Stones have played here six more times.

Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol also had a deep association with the band. While there is no proof, legend has it that we have Andy Warhol to thank for The Stone’s classic “Tongue and Lips” icon. Warhol also designed a few album covers for the group.

The Warhol Museum is having a Rolling Stones exhibit in honor of the upcoming concert. The museum will focus on the friendship between Warhol and Jagger; showcasing photographs, letters, rare publications, publicity materials, audio and video. Included are his portraits of Jagger and his designs for their album covers, Sticky Fingers and Love You Live. “Starf*cker: Andy Warhol and The Rolling Stones” will run until Jan. 8 at the Warhol.

The upcoming concert at PNC Park should be an event to remember. For the 38,365 lucky fans able to shell out a little more than $100 for a ticket, Sept. 28 should be the concert of a lifetime. Early birds will be able to see Pearl Jam as the opener.

The Stones have new material, drummer Charlie Watts has recovered from his throat cancer and Mick Jagger will dance again. For the rest of us, we’ll just have to be content with listening to The Stones on the yellow pedestrian bridge leading from Downtown to PNC Park.