September

Bridges To Babylon

A genuine return to some sort of form, and their best since Some Girls, Bridges To Babylon was again the product of a band working as two different factions, but at least getting it to sound right. Even so, the band weren’t speaking by the end of the recording, and throughout Mick was experimenting with hip-hop producers The Dust Brothers – who had worked with Beck and The Beastie Boys – while Keith stuck with Voodoo Lounge producer Don Was. Still, it was the most passionate recording the group had made in two decades, though lead single ‘Anybody Seen My Baby?’ would have to be given a last-minute co-writing credit, after Richards’ daughter Angela noticed its resemblance to k.d. lang’s ‘Constant Craving’.

Bridges To Babylon Tour

Arguably, the Stones were now more a live draw than an exciting albums’ band, and the Bridges To Babylon shows would see them tour the world for a year. Again influenced by modern stage technology, the set had a bridge that stretched out over the audience, leading the group to a small, raised platform where they would play a club-style set. Every night saw internet users pick one song for the setlist, which itself included plenty of crowd pleasers. Though highly successful, this was the tour that saw the Stones settle into being more of a rolling Vegas ‘hits’ act, as opposed to a vital band of the times.

Personalities | Introducing The Rolling Stones
Personalities | The Rolling Stones (1998) | Key Events