It's Definitely Not Only Rock 'N' Roll...

It's so much more!!

So Saturday was a once in a lifetime opportunity for lil old me: The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park. 

I don't even know where to start when talking about this, it was that amazing!! 

Having been to Hyde Park for two Hard Rock Callings and the Olympics, I was super excited because the atmosphere is always incredible and of course, it was the Rolling Stones!! As it was part of the Barclaycard British Summertime festival, Hyde Park was set up in such a cool way! Helter Skelters, the Pimms bus and all the food stalls you can think of. Add in the scorching sunshine and clear blue skies and it was the perfect setting for rock and roll history. 

King Charles opened the main stage and I am a fan of him anyway so I really enjoyed his set. Followed by Gary Clark Jr who was pretty cool and full of old soul, definitely worth a listen. The Vaccines were the last support act and I can't say they were anything special. They're just so average to me that I wasn't too bothered by their set. And then it was time; I had waited for this moment for months!! 

You can say what you like about them being old, but Mick, Keith, Ronnie and Charlie DEFINITELY still have it if you ask me!! They couldn't have opened with a better song than Start Me Up and Mick had every single person in that 62,000 strong audience eating out of his hand. He still has the moves that's for sure. Ronnie and Keith grinning and smoking whilst playing like naughty school boys beside Charlie who retains such a serene air throughout the entire thing. 

I still don't even know how to put in to words how truly awesome it was! The highlight for me probably being Keith singing two songs in his raspy voice, hair sticking up from a blue bandana like he'd stuck his finger in a socket, looking completely content on stage, guitar in hand. 

They played all the classics and payed homage to their last gig in Hyde Park in 1969 in the form of Mick's sequinned blazer covered in dazzling blue butterflies. For those who aren't familiar with the original gig, it was two days after guitarist Brian Jones passed away and the guys thought it would be nice to release thousands of butterflies in honour of their comrade, however, it wasn't a total success, most of them suffocating before being released or being trampled in stage. But they say it's the thought that counts right?

After an incredible rendition of Sympathy For The Devil in which the stage, complete with three giant false trees looked like one giant forest fire. It was time for Brown Sugar and they left the stage before returning for an amazing encore of You Can't Always Get What You Want (complete with two choirs) and finishing with confetti and fireworks to Satisfaction. 

It really was one of the highlights of my life and I'll never forget it. Thanks dad:) 

Becca.