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The Rolling Stones in the press: “Swiss deal for Stones” (1976)

*From the Melody Maker, England, May 22 1976

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By 1976, the Rolling Stones were deep into their mid-’70s groove—flashy, funky, and still ruling the rock world. Fresh off the release of Black and Blue, they hit the road for their European Tour, a trek that ran from April to June and saw them playing across Germany, France, the UK, and beyond, including Swiss dates. While it wasn’t as chaotic as their early tours, it still had plenty of wild moments, questionable fashion choices, and some killer performances.

The Black and Blue era was a transitional one for the Stones. Mick Taylor had left in 1974, and they were still figuring out what to do next. Ronnie Wood, who had already played with them on the 1975 U.S. tour, was now more or less a full-time member—though the official announcement wouldn’t come until later. His chemistry with Keith Richards was undeniable, bringing a looser, rawer energy to the band.

Musically, the 1976 tour was a mix of their ‘70s funkier side and classic rock swagger. The setlists featured new tracks like Hot Stuff and Fool to Cry alongside warhorses like Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Brown Sugar. Jagger was at peak “Jaggerness,” strutting around in skintight outfits and even rocking a cape at times.

But the tour wasn’t without its drama. Keith, as usual, was living life on the edge, and the infamous “cherry bomb incident” in Frankfurt—where a fan threw an explosive on stage—proved just how unpredictable Stones shows could be.

All in all, the 1976 European Tour wasn’t their most legendary, but it was a snapshot of the Stones in their mid-’70s prime—flashy, funky, and still the undisputed kings of rock and roll.

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