Like what you see? Help keep it going! This site runs on the support of readers like you. Your donation helps cover costs and keeps fresh Rolling Stones content coming your way every day. Thank you!

The Rolling Stones live at Wembley Stadium 1973

WEMBLEY ERUPTS INTO CHAOS AND GLORY
At first Wembley felt shaky—Jagger’s off notes, clumsy moves, even the crowd seemed unsure. But once Midnight Rambler hit, everything exploded. Balloons flew, water splashed, and fans went wild like it was life or death. Mick Taylor’s guitar absolutely stole the show, earning rare critic love. Outside, chaos reigned—locked doors smashed, guards roughing up dancers, even a Coke bottle hurled at Jagger. Still, nothing could kill the buzz—Wembley ’73 was pure Stones mayhem.

September 8, 1973: Wembley Empire Pool, London, England (2 shows)

*Click for MORE ROLLING STONES FLASHBACK

The Party That Never Sparked

The anticipation leading up to the Rolling Stones’ 1973 Wembley shows wasn’t all bright lights and fanfare. The night before the opener, Blenheim Palace was the stage for a would-be grand party that fizzled before it could ignite. Guests had expected a legendary bash, but instead found a subdued gathering. Mick Jagger made small talk with Billy Preston and posed with Bianca, while Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts distracted themselves with their kids. Mick Taylor drifted off to the far end of the gardens, almost a spectator at his own band’s celebration. Jagger tried to keep spirits up, insisting that the point was to mingle—but the Stones seemed distant, detached from the hype that swirled around them.

That air of uncertainty carried over to the stage the next evening. Early missteps—Jagger fumbling notes on Tumbling Dice and a shaky back-and-forth with Richards on Happy—hinted at the unease. For a moment, it felt like the Stones might be swallowed by the mood that had haunted the party.

Wembley Goes Wild

But when the opening riffs of Midnight Rambler thundered out and smoke billowed across the stage, the tide turned. Jagger’s wild theatrics—rolling across the floor, kicking balloons into the crowd, dousing fans with buckets of water—ignited the audience. People lunged for balloons as if they contained oxygen; the mood flipped from hesitation to frenzy.

Though Goat’s Head Soup only supplied four songs, familiar classics carried the set, with Mick Taylor stealing the spotlight through guitar work so brilliant even skeptical national critics couldn’t ignore it. Minor incidents unfolded—crowds forcing locked doors, overzealous security yanking fans by the hair—but the energy inside remained untamed.

By the end, even an airborne Coca-Cola bottle aimed at Jagger couldn’t dent the night. The Stones had reclaimed Wembley, chaos and all, proving once again that no amount of doubt could drown their roar.

Like what you see? Help keep it going! This site runs on the support of readers like you. Your donation helps cover costs and keeps fresh Rolling Stones content coming your way every day. Thank you!

COPYRIGHT © ROLLING STONES DATA
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS COPYRIGHT OF ROLLING STONES DATA. ALL CONTENT BY MARCELO SONAGLIONI.
ALL SETLISTS AND TICKET STUBS TAKEN FROM THE COMPLETE WORKS OF THE ROLLING STONES. 
WHEN USING INFORMATION FROM ROLLING STONES DATA (ONLINE OR PRINTED) PLEASE REFER TO ITS SOURCE DETAILING THE WEBSITE NAME. THANK YOU.