The Rolling Stones And Toronto: Odd Couple - Page 2

Now before we all get sentimental about the Rolling Stones and Toronto, or making headlines about the bad boys of rock and roll appreciating the tough love of Toronto the good, one needs to remember something important: simple business matters probably play as much a role in this as anything.

There’s the cheap Canadian dollar that reduces their overhead significantly, but more importantly Toronto is the home to Michael Cohl, their long-time concert promoter. He was the man responsible for ensuring the Rolling Stone’s participation in the 2003 SARS benefit concert.

Of course, there are other benefits to being in Canada as opposed to England or the United States is that there is nowhere near the amount of media tabloid presence in Toronto as in other major cities. This allows them the unheard-of freedom of being able to go out for dinner without fear of harassment other than the occasional request for an autograph.

While Mick Jagger may call it “a time-honoured tradition” and claim it’s “because everyone treats us really well,” it hasn’t stopped people from trying to guess an ulterior motive. Perhaps like professional athletes they are superstitious. If something works right once don’t mess with it.

They’ve prepared for four successful tours by coming to Toronto to practice, hang out, and give the occasional performance. These guys aren’t young anymore by anybody’s clock. They appreciate their comforts: being able to relax at the end of the day, go out for a drink, not worry about the press, and everybody’s just so polite.

When you're about to spend an extended period of time on the road, moving from city to city, you want to be in the right state of mind. I think they’ve just gotten used to Toronto, and Toronto is used to them.

When old friends come to visit, you make them feel at home, you don’t put pressure on them. When you live as much in the spotlight as the Rolling Stones do, the best way to relax is to have the light turned down just a little: not too much, because you thrive on it, but enough that it doesn’t burn you to a crisp.

Article Author: Richard Marcus

Richard Marcus is the author of the forthcoming book What Will Happen In Eragon IV? and has had his work published in print and on line all over the world. The not so long-haired Canadian iconoclast writes reviews and opines on the world as he sees …

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