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The Rolling Stones in the press: “Stones start at a problem venue”

STONES IN VANCOUVER: PURE ROCK CHAOS
June 3, 1972, Vancouver went wild as The Rolling Stones hit the Pacific Coliseum on their STP Tour. Fresh off Exile on Main St., they unleashed sweat, swagger, and sizzling guitars. From Brown Sugar to Midnight Rambler, the crowd couldn’t get enough. Mick Jagger strutted and screamed with full-on charisma, while Keith Richards and Mick Taylor shredded riffs that set the arena on fire. Raw energy, epic rock — pure Stones magic.

*From the New Musical Express, England, May 27 1972

*Click for more YESTERDAY’S PAPERS

Chaos, Energy, and Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Stones Hit Vancouver in ’72

On June 3, 1972, The Rolling Stones brought their explosive STP Tour (Stones Touring Party) to Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum—and the city shook with excitement. Riding the momentum of their freshly released masterpiece Exile on Main St., the band roared through a fiery set that blended swagger, sweat, and searing guitars. Classics like Brown Sugar, Tumbling Dice and a blistering rendition of Midnight Rambler sent the packed arena into a frenzy. Mick Jagger owned the stage with theatrical magnetism, while Keith Richards and Mick Taylor traded scorching riffs that ignited the crowd.

The Vancouver concert, part of a tour that would become legendary for its excess, spectacle, and sheer rock power, didn’t come without its hiccups. While the show itself burned bright, minor disturbances flared up outside the venue—nothing unusual for a band that carried a storm with them wherever they went. Still, these moments only added to the mystique, painting the night as a vivid portrait of the chaos and electricity that defined the Stones’ 1972 North American run.

Pacific Coliseum: The Perfect Storm Shelter

The Pacific Coliseum, located on the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, had only been open for four years when the Stones took the stage. With a capacity of around 17,500, the venue had already become a cultural hub for major events and music milestones. On that June night, it was the epicenter of rock ‘n’ roll mayhem—a place where history was written in power chords and Jagger’s strut. Though many legendary acts have since played the Coliseum, few nights rival the raw, unfiltered energy the Stones brought to Vancouver in 1972. (Ref. Rolling Stones 1972 Tour)

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