After sixty years, the Rolling Stones’ most loyal fans faced disappointment. On Wednesday morning, the AARP site crashed when tickets for the Stones’ 2024 “Hackney Diamonds” tour became available for presale to members of the oldie org sponsoring the stadium trek.
The early-bird special turned into a glitch-ridden experience as the website displayed a message citing technical difficulties and expressed hopes of resolving the issue soon. Despite the anticipation for senior perks, fans were left empty-handed.
A combined age of 236 years will grace the stage as Mick Jagger, 80; Keith Richards, turning 80 on Dec. 18; and Ronnie Wood, 76, kick off the tour in Houston, Texas, on April 28. The Stones’ tour, backed by the American Association of Retired Persons, spans two months, featuring a headlining show at the New Orleans Jazz Fest on May 2 and concluding in Santa Clara, California, on July 17, including a stop at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 23.
The tour is in support of the Stones’ latest album “Hackney Diamonds,” marking their first album of original material since 2005’s “A Bigger Bang.” Despite the passing of beloved drummer Charlie Watts in 2021, the band released the album in October, following an 18-year hiatus from new material. Jagger jokingly admitted, “We’ve been very lazy,” but emphasized their commitment to creating a record they genuinely love.
The album launch took place at NYC’s Racket club, featuring a set comprising classics like “Shattered” and “Tumbling Dice” alongside new tracks like “Angry,” “Whole Wide World,” and the Lady Gaga-Stevie Wonder collaboration “Sweet Sounds of Heaven.”
After this intimate club gig, the Stones, who last toured North America in 2021, will return to their accustomed grand stages for the 2024 tour, following their European gigs in 2022.