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Some concerts disappear into tour statistics. Others become the nights fans refuse to stop talking about. The Rolling Stones turned Dübendorf into something far bigger than another stop on the A Bigger Bang Tour, transforming a Swiss airfield into a sea of roaring voices, giant riffs and impossible expectations. By 2006, the band had nothing left to prove—yet they still approached every massive crowd as if they were out to settle an old score. If anyone expected a comfortable nostalgia show, they clearly underestimated Mick, Keith and company. This performance proved that sheer scale means little without genuine fire behind it.
August 5, 2006: Militärflugplatz, Duebendorf, Switzerland (A Bigger Bang Tour, 1st European leg) Jumpin’ Jack Flash/It’s Only Rock’n Roll/Oh No, Not You Again/She’s So Cold/ Wild Horses/Streets Of Love/All Down The Line/Tumbling Dice/Night Time/Band introduction/Slipping Away/Before They Make Me Run/Miss You/Rough Justice/Get Off Of My Cloud/Honky Tonk Women/Sympathy For The Devil/Start Me Up/Brown Sugar/You Can’t Always Get What You Want/ Satisfaction
The Rolling Stones’ “Bigger Bang” Ignites Switzerland
The Big Bang finally came at 8:30 p.m., erupting in a two-hour blaze of rock majesty. The Rolling Stones—Jagger, Richards, Wood, and Watts—alongside their powerhouse 14-piece band, delivered a show that was both visually bombastic and musically sharp. Inflatable tongues, walls of fire, and mobile mini-stages added flair, but never outshined the real star: the music. The setlist blended iconic anthems, rarely heard gems like All Down the Line, and new material, all flowing with seamless energy.
At the heart of it all stood Mick Jagger, the tireless frontman whose performance defied age and gravity. Sprinting and strutting across the massive stage, his vocals were on fire—riveting from start to finish. Even early hiccups, like Keith Richards’ lost thread during Wild Horsescouldn’t derail the show. Keith bounced back hard, shredding his signature riffs on Honky Tonk Women and You Can’t Always Get What You Want. The energy spilled into the stands—by the time Start Me Up hit, even the VIP seats were on their feet.
A Historic Night in Swiss Rock History
Before the Stones took over, the stage was set—literally the largest ever built in Switzerland, towering over the 65,000-strong crowd at Dübendorf’s massive airfield. Swiss rockers Lovebugs delivered a heavier-than-usual set, warming up the crowd better than their 2003 outing. Kasabian followed with their hypnotic trance-rock, though the vibe didn’t quite click with the open-air buzz. Overhead, the Patrouille Suisse soared, teasing the crowd with aerial acrobatics.
When it ended withSatisfaction and a sky full of fireworks, fans left fulfilled—but hopeful. Was this the last Swiss bang from the Stones? With a band this timeless, never say never.
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