As expected, the Rolling Stones announced dates for their North American summer trek — dubbed the Zip Code tour — this morning (March 31). The 15-show jaunt, which launches May 24 in San Diego, passes over major markets the band hit on its 2012 50th anniversary and 2013 50 and Counting tours, focusing on second-tier cities like Dallas, Kansas City, Buffalo and Orlando. The tour wraps on July 15 in Quebec; AEG Live’s Concerts West is the promoter.
Tickets for the dates will go on sale April 13, although they will be available to American Express card members before the general public, beginning April 8.
“We are excited to be back in North America playing stadiums this summer!” Mick Jagger said in an almost comically effusive statement. “We are looking forward to being back on stage and playing your favorite songs.”
“We love being out on the road and it is great to come back to North America!” Keith Richards added. “I can’t wait to get back on the stage!”
While the band played 22 arena dates across the U.S. and Canada in 2012 and 2013, this summer’s trek marks the first time the group has played North American stadiums since 2005-2007’s Bigger Bang Tour. While details on production have not been announced, the release does say that “the stage design for the stadium shows includes a thrust that extends deep into the audience allowing the Stones to interact directly with their fans.” A similar concept was employed for the 2012-13 dates, in the form of a circular walkway that extended halfway across arena floors.
Two days after the tour’s launch, the group will unveil a reissue of one of its all-time classic albums, 1971’s Sticky Fingers. Deluxe editions will include a “generous selection” of previously unreleased studio outtakes from the album’s sprawling sessions (which spanned from 1968 through 1970) as well as live material from the era. Judging by the 2010 deluxe reissue of 1972’s Exile on Main Street, the studio tracks will be (generally subpar) songs that have long circulated on bootlegs, embellished with overdubs recorded 30-odd years after the original sessions. The live material may be more promising, based on the evidence of a long-bootlegged Leeds concert from the band’s 1971 British tour.
Rolling Stones Zip Code Tour Dates:
May 24 San Diego, CA Petco Park
May 30 Columbus, OH Ohio Stadium
June 3 Minneapolis, MN TCF Bank Stadium
June 6 Dallas, TX AT&T Stadium
June 9 Atlanta, GA Bobby Dodd Stadium
June 12 Orlando, FL Orlando Citrus Bowl
June 17 Nashville, TN LP Field
June 20 Pittsburgh, PA Heinz Field
June 23 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest / Marcus Amphitheater
June 27 Kansas City, MO Arrowhead Stadium
July 1 Raleigh, NC Carter-Finley Stadium
July 4 Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis Motor Speedway
July 8 Detroit, MI Comerica Park
July 11 Buffalo, NY Ralph Wilson Stadium
July 15 Quebec, QC Le Festival D’Été de Québec
