The Rolling Stones
A Reason To Smile
Tonight is known as “music’s biggest night,” because it is Grammy night. When they say big, they mean big. Ninety-four Grammys will be awarded during the eight-hour ceremony, across every category of music you can imagine.
The biggest names in music will be on hand to perform and accept awards, but none with as long and storied a history as The Rolling Stones. That’s right: The band that helped define a genre is nominated for Best Rock Album, 63 years after they got their start. They are our reason to smile.
The new album, “Hackney Diamonds,” is their first of original music in 18 years. No one thought they’d release another. The sound is signature Stones. “The album is an absolute miracle and the Stones richly deserve another Grammy,” according to Rolling Stone magazine.
If a band is 63 years old, then the members of the band can’t be spring chickens. Both front man Mick Jagger and lead guitarist Keith Richards are 81 years old. No wonder their U.S. tour this summer was sponsored by the AARP. It was a good investment. The Hackney Diamonds tour grossed $235 million and sold 848,000 tickets.
Here is a little sample of that tour.
The years haven’t diminished the Stones’ stage presence. They still perform with more energy and passion than musicians half their age.
Here’s to the grandfathers of rock ‘n‘ roll.
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Stay Steady,
Dan
FANTASTIC upper of a moment for those of us of the same age bracket!!! Just the tonic needed as we buckle on our armor for another historic confrontation with forces aligned against the propositions of inalienable rights, rule of law, a more perfect union, the arc of justice, and just plain and simple decency. Thank you, Dan. (Boy, can Mick still groove, or what?)
Maybe you're the true 'rock star', Dan Rather.
And thank you, that DID make me smile.
But mostly I am noticing the ways you are able to stay fluid between the dark and the joy.. able to hold both at the same time. The life and lightfilled, the beauty, the pathos... and the true evil and unspeakable events that we are living with... these epic times that supposedly we were 'born for' but I have my doubts every morning when I wake up...
I'm so very grateful to you I feel like I need to tell you every time you publish because we are literally starving for white men with influence who do the right thing and tell the truth and have real hearts.
I know you are grieving your wife and so even more I want to say thank you for keeping us close during these times and for so many decades.