Keith in Uncut Magazine
Keith is featured in Uncut Magazine's January issue. Uncut is a UK mag, but can be found in US stores. There is a 28 page tribute to the MAN for his upcoming 60th birthday on Dec. 18th...which is his 20th anniversary too!

New "Stu" Book
A new book on Ian Stewart has just been published by Out-take in the UK. This exclusvive book is stricttly limited and only available from the publisher in the UK...price is close to $1000 US. Check it out at: http://www.out-take.co.uk/stu/stu.php

Thanks RS.COM!
Mood:  happy
Thank you to Howard Jackowitz at Ultra Star Entertainment and RS.COM for the Licks Tour program I received in the mail on Wednesday. The tour book was full autographed by the band on the color photo in the center section! I'll post a photo soon.

This was a thank-you gift for the work I did on the RS.COM Archive in 2002-03.

The Stones Planet staff will continue to work with RS.COM on the Archive section of the web page in the future.

New Licks Photo Page Coming Soon
Mood:  happy
I will be posting a new page with some 2003 photos from the European Licks Tour within the coming week, look for it soon!

Stones to Play Hong Kong
13 Oct 2003 21:42:40 GMT
Rolling Stones say Hong Kong shows will go ahead

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LOS ANGELES, Oct 13 (Reuters) - In a surprise turnaround, the Rolling Stones said on Monday they would play two shows in Hong Kong next month, even though the local promoters announced last week they had withdrawn their offer to the British group.

"We have received the deposit money from Hong Kong and the band's lawyers have a signed contract having concluded negotiations last week," Rolling Stones tour director Michael Cohl said in a statement.

"This will be the first time in their 40-year history that The Rolling Stones have performed in Hong Kong and they look forward being part of the 'Harbourfest' festival."

The Hong Kong Harbour Fest, which will run every weekend from Oct. 17 through Nov. 9, is designed to relaunch the territory as a tourist destination after the economic disaster of this year's deadly SARS epidemic. It is being organized by the American Chamber of Commerce and a government-funded investment promotion unit. The band is scheduled to play at a 13,000 seat arena on Nov. 7 and 9.

The Rolling Stones had initially been listed on the bill when the event was announced several months ago, but then their name was removed from the official Web site. Last Friday, the organizers issued an unusual statement saying the band had been unable to commit to their firm offer in a timely manner. "We have, therefore, decided to withdraw our offer," they said.

Even the Rolling Stones' own Web site announced that "The Licks World tour has ended!" following their Oct. 2 show in Zurich, the final stop of their extended European leg.

The band was supposed to play two shows in Hong Kong last March, but the SARS epidemic forced it to scrap both dates as well as what would have also been their first two shows in mainland China. A band spokeswoman had no information as to whether the Shanghai and Beijing stops would be rescheduled.

Other Western acts on the Harbour Fest bill include Canadian rocker Neil Young, funk musician Prince, Irish boy-band Westlife and guitarist Carlos Santana.

Rolling Stones Wrap Up 2002-2003 Licks Tour in Zurich Last Night
The Rolling Stones Licks Tour came to a close last night in Zurich, Switzerland in front of a crowd of around 45,000. The Stones have been on the road for almost exactly one year and one month, since the tour begain Sept. 3, 2002 in Boston and ended Oct, 2, 2003 in Zurich.

There are still the cancelled China shows to think about,discussions are still taking place as to whether these shows will be made up in November or at some later date.

THANK YOU ROLLING STONES AND CREW for another GREAT TOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And let's hope a new album and ANOTHER tour are on the horizon...

Stones Planet #13 in Production
Stones Planet Fanzine #13, Autumn 2003 is now in production. If you have a great photo or a review of a show from the European leg of the Licks Tour 2003 (must be previously unpublished on net or elsewhere)send it to: bluelena@stonesplanet.com
for possible inclusion in the fanzine. Thanks! Check out Stones Planet at www.stonesplanet.com

Rolling Stones Toronto July 30th
Well, I survived SARS-FEST! Even shook hands with Keith before he left for the show around 3pm. The Stones were awesome as usual. The highlights for me were "Ruby Tuesday", Keith doing "The Nearness of You" (you don't know what that meant to me), and AC/DC guesting on "Rock Me Baby". We had a fantastic time. We were lucky because we had VIP passes and were in a tent with 2 big video screens anda huge speaker stack, as well as food,drink, bathrooms, etc. So we didn't have to get crushed in the 500,000 deep crowd. Wouldn't have missed being part of that historic even for anything. Thanks Stones!

A special thanks to Jerry Stone of Stones Place Toronto as well for the great time Thursday night at the bar.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Happy 60th Birthday Mick Jagger! Mick will be celebrating with a huge private party in Prague tonight, where the Stones are currently on tour.
On Monday the Stones will arrive in Toronto in order to play the Sars benefit concert at Downsview Park on Wednesday July 30. I will be there!

Stones Up for an Emmy
The Rolling Stones have been nominated for four Emmy Awards for their Live from Madison Square Garden TV special on HBO.