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The Rolling Stones live in Fresno 1965
May 22, 1965: Municipal Auditorium, Ratcliffe Stadium, Fresno, CA, USA (first American Tour of 1965)
The Stones were enjoying great success at the time thanks to hits like The Last Timeand (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (the latter of which would become one of their most well-known songs and be released just one month later, in June 1965) On that very day they also did a second show at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento.
Chaos in California: Fresno Erupts at a Stones Show
May 22, 1965, was supposed to be another stop on the Rolling Stones’ third American tour—but Fresno, California had other plans. Thousands of frenzied fans packed Radcliffe Stadium, buzzing with anticipation for the young British band whose raw energy was shaking up the music world. But as the Stones hit the stage, excitement spun wildly out of control. Screaming teens stormed forward, crashing past security. Police pushed back, tensions exploded, and soon the concert descended into chaos. Chairs flew, barriers were smashed, and sirens screamed as a full-blown riot erupted. Several people were injured and arrested in the mayhem.
Rock ’n’ Roll on the Edge
What made the Fresno riot all the more remarkable was that it unfolded in the midst of the Stones’ meteoric rise. Just a month away from releasing their iconic hit (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction the band was already riding high from the success of The Last Time. That same day, they even managed to squeeze in a second performance—at Sacramento’s Memorial Auditorium. Yet, it was the Fresno bedlam that made headlines, stamping the Stones with an aura of danger and unpredictability. While chaos reigned in the crowd, the band played on, never missing a beat. The incident cemented their image as rebellious symbols of rock’s raw power—and proved they weren’t just playing music; they were making history.
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