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The Rolling Stones have long been famed for their “secret shows.”  One of those took place on June 8, 1999 when Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, and company took the stage at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, a 1903 music hall in the West London suburb.  In front of an 1,800-capacity crowd including such luminaries as Anita Pallenberg, Pete Townshend, Jerry Hall, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Bob Geldof, the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band strutted their stuff just days before two sold-out shows at the 70,000-seat Wembley Stadium.  On December 6, Mercury Studios will release Welcome to Shepherd’s Bush in a variety of formats:  4KUHD (a first for the Stones); Blu-ray + two-CD set; a 2-CD limited edition package of 15,000 worldwide; a 2-LP black vinyl package, and a direct-to-consumer 2-LP set pressed on 180-gram white vinyl.

The title is derived from Mick Jagger’s onstage greeting that night: “Welcome to Shepherd’s Bush.  I’ve been waiting to say that for a little bit.”  The gig kicked off the U.K. dates on the North America/Europe No Security tour (many of the European dates of which replaced cancelled concert dates from the Bridges to Babylon tour) which would conclude shortly thereafter with shows in Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany.  It was viewed by many as a homecoming, channeling the energy of the band’s 1960s performances in London’s clubs, and also was the band’s first London show since 1995.  The core group was joined by stalwarts Bernard Fowler, Lisa Fischer, Blondie Chaplin, Darryl Jones, Chuck Leavell, Bobby Keys, Michael Davis, Kent Smith, and Tim Ries.

The tight, intimate 90-minute set emphasized deep cuts such as the only known live performance to date of “Moon Is Up” from Voodoo Lounge and only the second live version ever of “Melody” from Black and Blue.  (The first, from the 1977 El Mocambo show in Toronto, was released in 2022.)  Another Voodoo Lounge highlight, “Brand New Car,” has only been played live seven times.  Sheryl Crow, who opened for all of the U.K. shows, joined the band for “Honky Tonk Women.”   Keith Richards stepped out for the solo spotlight numbers “You Got the Silver” and “Before They Make Me Run,” while familiar Stones staples such as the concert opener “Shattered” – the song’s first time in the opening slot – “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It),” “Tumbling Dice,” “Brown Sugar,” and “Jumping Jack Flash” also made the cut.  Bobby Troup’s “Route 66” was the lone cover performed at the Empire.

Welcome to Shepherd’s Bush continues Mercury Studios’ long-running series of live Stones releases. You’ll find the track listing and pre-order links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Rolling Stones, Welcome to Shepherd’s Bush (Mercury Studios, 2024)

2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Side A:

1. Shattered
2. It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)
3. Respectable
4. All Down The Line
5. Some Girls

Side B:

1. Melody
2. I Got The Blues
3. Brand New Car
4. Moon Is Up

Side C:

1. Saint Of Me
2. Honky Tonk Women (with Sheryl Crow)
3. Band Introductions
4. You Got The Silver
5. Before They Make Me Run

Side D:

1. Route 66
2. You Got Me Rocking
3. Tumbling Dice
4. Brown Sugar
5. Jumpin’ Jack Flash

4K UHD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

1. Shattered
2. It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)
3. Respectable
4. All Down The Line
5. Some Girls
6. Melody
7. I Got The Blues
8. Brand New Car
9. Moon Is Up
10. Saint Of Me
11. Honky Tonk Women (with Sheryl Crow)
12. Band Introductions
13. You Got The Silver
14. Before They Make Me Run
15. Route 66
16. You Got Me Rocking
17. Tumbling Dice
18. Brown Sugar
19. Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Blu-ray+2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

1. Shattered
2. It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)
3. Respectable
4. All Down The Line
5. Some Girls
6. Melody
7. I Got The Blues
8. Brand New Car
9. Moon Is Up
10. Saint Of Me
11. Honky Tonk Women (with Sheryl Crow)
12. Band Introductions
13. You Got The Silver
14. Before They Make Me Run
15. Route 66
16. You Got Me Rocking
17. Tumbling Dice
18. Brown Sugar
19. Jumpin’ Jack Flash

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Disc 1:

1. Shattered
2. It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)
3. Respectable
4. All Down The Line
5. Some Girls
6. Melody
7. I Got The Blues
8. Brand New Car
9. Moon Is Up

Disc 2:

1. Saint Of Me
2. Honky Tonk Women (with Sheryl Crow)
3. Band Introductions
4. You Got The Silver
5. Before They Make Me Run
6. Route 66
7. You Got Me Rocking
8. Tumbling Dice
9. Brown Sugar
10. Jumpin’ Jack Flash