As part of the 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards, the site is counting down the Top 10 Rock News Artists of the year.
Finalists for the 4th annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: winners are determined by the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
The 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards winners will be announced on Friday, January 17.
Rock News Artist of The Year No. 5 – THE ROLLING STONES
Following the band’s brief fall 2012 tour, The Rolling Stones began 2013 with plenty of rumors and expectations that more live dates would follow in 2013.
There were rumblings that the group would play festival dates at Coachella and Glastonbury, and only time would tell which would play out as the year began.
By late March, the Stones confirmed the Glastonbury date and, a week later, a spring North American tour was unveiled (here).
In April, Keith Richards made a surprise appearance at Madison Square Garden in New York, joining Eric Clapton on the second night of his Crossroads Guitar Festival. Keith jammed with Clapton on the blues standard, "Key to the Highway", before launching into "Sweet Little Rock N' Roller"(see video here).
On April 27, the Stones warmed up for their spring run with a surprise club show before 700 fans at the Echoplex in Echo Park, Los Angeles (watch video here).
The band launched the North American arena tour on May 3 in Los Angeles, complete with rare tracks and special guests Gwen Stefani of No Doubt and country star Keith Urban (video here); it was a model that would be replicated at virtually each of the shows in the series.
Other guests along the route included (click on each artist for story and video):
Tom Waits (Oakland)
John Fogerty (San Jose)
Bonnie Raitt (San Jose)
Katy Perry (Las Vegas)
John Mayer (Anaheim)
Dave Grohl (Anaheim)
Carrie Underwood (Toronto)
Taj Mahal (Chicago)
Sheryl Crow (Chicago)
Taylor Swift (Chicago)
Win Butler (Arcade Fire) (Montreal)
Gary Clark Jr. (Boston)
Brad Paisley (Philadelphia)
Aaron Neville (Philadelphia)
On June 29, The Rolling Stones headlined the Glastonbury festival for the first time (see video here).
July saw the band play two shows at London’s Hyde Park, 44 years after their free concert at the venue on July 5, 1969. A compilation of the concerts was released in November as “Sweet Summer Sun – Hyde Park Live.”
In August, it was revealed that Mick Jagger is producing a biopic on music legend James Brown, with filming to begin before year-end (details here).
The Stones were honored as part of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 18th Annual Music Masters Series in Cleveland, which saw a week-long series of interviews, panels, films and other programs about the group climax with a tribute concert featuring several of the musicians that have toured with the band over the years.
November saw the Stones extend their 50th anniversary plans with the announcement of an Australian tour set for spring of 2014.
News that 70-year-old Mick Jagger was to become a great-grandfather made headlines in November; Jagger's daughter Jade – from first wife Bianca – revealed that her own 21-year-old daughter Assisi is due to give birth in early 2014 (more here).
2013 closed with more tour news (Abu Dhabi, Asia) and three Grammy nominations (here).
The Stones return to live action with a February 21 show in Abu Dhabi, followed by dates in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
2013 Rock News Artist Of The Year – Top 10
06 – GUNS N’ ROSES
07 - JOURNEY
08 – BLACK SABBATH
09 – STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
10 – DEF LEPPARD
See also:
2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards announced
Van Halen dominate the 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen win two hennemusic Rock News Awards
Guns N’ Roses named hennemusic’s Rock News Artist of The Year
Jimmy Page’s 2011 plans named hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year
