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2006 superbowl
Rolling Stones on video: Superbowl 2006 press conference
Feb. 5, 2006: The Stones played three songs during the half-time show of The Super Bowl in Detroit. Later on the Stones expressed their displeasure of having Mick Jagger’s microphone turned down during “Start Me Up”. The line “you make a dead man come” was cut short, plus a barnyard reference to “cocks” in the Stones’ new song “Rough Justice” also disappeared.
About The Rolling Stones’ performance during the Superbowl half-time in 2006 (from Brave Words)
One that has gone down as one of the worst Super Bowl halftime shows of all time was back in 2006 when the Rolling Stones performed at Super Bowl XL (40). Firstly, the people of Detroit, Michigan where the event took place at Ford Field were furious before the event even took off. That’s because Detroit was the birthplace of Motown, and they felt that an event such as the halftime show should pay respect to their heritage.
But instead of getting a Motown classic performing on stage, they got the Rolling Stones. Now, you’d probably think that wasn’t such a bad compromise, getting one of the greatest rock bands of all time to perform. And at first glance it seemed like it was going to be a great set up, as the band walked out onto a stage shaped like their world-famous lips and tongue logo they’re renowned for. (Ref. 2006 superbowl)
But sadly for many, that was the highlight of the entire performance, which didn’t last long at all compared to many other halftime shows. That’s because the Rolling Stones only played three songs, which ok, they’re getting on a bit even then, and they probably can’t party like they used to. But of the three played, one was their latest single called Rough Justice. And when you go to watch a band like that, you expect ALL the classics, not just one or two. But it wasn’t the case.
This left a bitter taste in many people’s mouths, because not only did they barely spend any time performing, they also didn’t play the many of the songs that helped make them famous. A new song probably would’ve been fine if they had actually played a few more of their top hits but that wasn’t the route they went down, and once you’re finished there is no going back, so the damage was done. (Ref. 2006 superbowl)
One positive about the performance though, which you can catch on the video below if you want to check it out for yourself, is that they played live. Now you may think, surely all the acts play live. But no, they don’t. Many use backing tracks and lip-sync their performances. But the Rolling Stones went old school. No backing music whatsoever. It was completely live, from the musicians playing, to the vocals being sung just as God intended.
So whilst it may not be one of the most popular, we have to give them credit for that alone. Because it takes some serious bravery to go out and perform on a stage as big as the Super Bowl halftime show.
Also we thought it was excellent how Mick Jagger announced that they could’ve actually played Satisfaction at Superbowl I, as the track was released around the same time. In fact, the Super Bowl was played earlier on that day purely because the Rolling Stones were performing on TV later in the same evening.
Once they were done and dusted, the game resumed. The Pittsburgh Steelers went on to beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10. But it went down as one of the most controversial games in Super Bowl history, much like the halftime show. That’s because there were so many dodgy decisions made by the affiliates, and by 6am the next day, the man in charge of the NFL officiating was off to Costa Rica, supposedly with a caseload of money for handing the Super Bowl to the Steelers.
How true that is, we don’t know. But it doesn’t stop conspiracy theorists still going on about it to this day. Much like how we’re still talking about the Rolling Stones halftime show now.
