Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford in 1981.
There are strong indications that The Rolling Stones will soon announce a new tour, and that it will include at least one stop in our area. So it seemed like a good time to do what I’ve already done for Bob Dylan and The Grateful Dead: Put together a complete list of their New Jersey appearances over the years. (Main sources: setlist.fm and wikipedia.org).
If you’re wondering who has been in the Garden State the most … it’s Dylan, with more than 60 concerts, while the Dead have 56 and the Stones, 24.
Here is the list. I will update whenever the band performs in New Jersey. If you have any information to add, please let me know in the comments section below!
Nov. 7, 1965: Symphony Hall, Newark. Two shows at 1 and 3:30 p.m. on a Sunday, with an identical nine-song set, and Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles among the opening acts.
July 1, 1966: Marine Ballroom at the Steel Pier, Atlantic City. The Trade Winds, the Standells (“Dirty Water”) and the McCoys (“Hang on Sloopy”) open.
An ad for the Rolling Stones’ Convention Hall shows.
July 3, 1966: Convention Hall, Asbury Park. Two shows, at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Same opening acts as at the July 1 Atlantic City show.
June 14, 1978: Capitol Theatre, Passaic. With Etta James opening.
Nov. 5-7, 1981: Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford. Tina Turner opened the shows and also guested each night during the Stones’ set, singing “Honky Tonk Women” with Mick Jagger.
Dec. 17 and 19-20, 1989: Convention Center, Atlantic City. The Dec. 19 show was broadcast as a pay-per-view special on cable TV. Guests included Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin of Guns N’ Roses on “Salt of the Earth,” John Lee Hooker on “Boogie Chillen’,” and Eric Clapton on “Little Red Rooster” and “Boogie Chillen’.”
Aug. 12, 14-15 and 17, 1994: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Counting Crows open.
Oct. 16-17, 1997: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Foo Fighters open.
Sept. 28, 2002: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. The Pretenders open.
Sept. 15, 2005: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Alanis Morissette opens.
Sept. 27, 2006: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford. Kanye West opens.
Nov. 17, 2006: Boardwalk Hall (formerly Convention Center), Atlantic City. Soulive opens.
Dec. 13 and 15, 2012: Prudential Center, Newark. Guests included John Mayer and Mick Taylor on Dec. 13, and Mayer, Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, The Black Keys and Gary Clark Jr. at the Dec. 15 show, which was broadcast as a pay-per-view special on cable TV and online.
Aug. 1 and 5, 2019: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford. With The Wombats and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real opening on Aug. 1 and 5, respectively. The shows were originally scheduled for June 2019, but were postponed so that Mick Jagger could have heart valve surgery.
May 23 and 26, 2024: Scheduled shows at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford.
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8 comments
In 1987 or ‘88, they played at Shea Stadium in Queens NY. It was the first time I saw them. I remember everyone stomping their feet to Satisfaction and seeing the concrete levels across the field swaying up and down. Great show!!
Please play songs from EXILE ON MAIN STREET 1971🎸