Back in November, we reported that Keith Richards told BBC 6 Music, “Everybody's ready to go out there again." Not only would the band tour this year, Keith said there would be new material, as well. "After these many years working together, we have a lot of unfinished stuff to work on that we had to leave off the last album. And knowing Mick, as I do, he's a very prolific writer,” continued Richards. “I have ideas and we'll put them together in December or January. We're looking forward to working."
Well, Keith may be firing up his fax machine soon to let the other guys know it’s time to get things in gear.
The Stones’ tongue logo appeared on Glastonbury website pilton.com this week, fueling rumours that the band will headline the Glastonbury Festival, which will be held at Worthy Farm in Somerset, England, from June 22-26.
Another big story involving The Stones is breaking this week, as well.
Beneath new headlines about a lawsuit between Live Nation and its ex-chairman Michael Cohl, is an indication that a Stones tour is being planned for 2011.
There’s a ton of details about the legal action in a new story by The Hollywood Reporter, but the gist is that the two parties are feuding over an agreement made at the time of Cohl’s departure from Live Nation in 2008, one that was designed to establish non-compete, contractual rights for tours by the Stones, Pink Floyd and Barbara Streisand.
Later, Live Nation allegedly proposed competing separately for a Rolling Stones tour. Cohl says the proposal amounted to a breach of his contract with his former employer. Cohl says he paid Live Nation $20 million for the right to not bid against the company for the Rolling Stones tour, to have Live Nation finance the tour, to have Live Nation perform the services of "Executive Global Promoter" of the tour, and to receive two-thirds of the promoter's profits from the tour.
The Rolling Stones tour later this year is expected to be one of the biggest in concert history. It's the 50th anniversary for the band, which through the years has enjoyed a number of financially lucrative tours.
Cohl calls promotional rights on this upcoming tour "the crown jewel" of the agreement he made with Live Nation in 2008. He says the value of this asset would have more than accounted for the $5 million he owes the company. In other words, Cohl implies that Live Nation would have gotten its money if it hadn't been the first to breach the agreement.
Cohl's countersuit also reveals that members of the Rolling Stones, including Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, have been informed by both parties of the "spat" and that they have expressed a desire not to get dragged into the middle of the dispute. But Cohl says the fuss is causing damage anyway. Live Nation has attempted to hurt his standing with the band's representatives, maintains Cohl.
Read the full story at The Hollywood Reporter here.
The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter
Four Flicks DVD
Twickenham Stadium – London, UK – 2003
See also:
Rolling Stones: Keith Richards communicates by fax
Keith Richards should be knighted, says London’s Mayor
Mick Jagger addresses image, Keith Richards’ “Life”
