Rolling Stones Postponements Cause Problems With Fans And Filming

Recent Rolling Stones concert postponements and strict security measures at shows that did go on have angered some fans, but the legendary rock band will be the subject of a Martin Scorsese-directed documentary for those who don't get to see them in the flesh.

The Stones performed along with Jack White, Christina Aguilera and Buddy Guy at New York City's Beacon Theatre on Oct. 29 in a special show that served as a belated 60th birthday party for former U.S. president Bill Clinton and a fundraiser for his charitable foundation.

"I'd like to welcome president Clinton, and I see she's brought her husband," quipped Mick Jagger as he took the stage for the show, where a number of fans who had purchased tickets from scalpers weren't allowed in by secret service officers because their names weren't on a special security list.

Jagger has had throat problems which prompted the band to postpone an Oct. 27 show in Atlantic City, N.J. just four hours before they were supposed to hit the stage. As a result, fan Rosalie Druyan filed a $51 million U.S. class-action lawsuit against the Stones, accusing them of fraud and acting in bad faith. She said that she and her husband paid $575 for a pair of tickets and that she wasn't informed soon enough of the postponement to cancel a $300 hotel room reservation at the Trump Taj Mahal.

Druyan claims that other people were in a similar position and that, even though the show has been rescheduled for Nov. 17, many of them won't be able to attend on the new date.

Security measures put in place to cut down on scalping have left others steaming, as no-one but the person who purchased tickets are allowed to use them — even if they can't make rescheduled dates to replace postponed concerts. While refunds are available, that apparently hasn't satisfied some fans.

An Oct. 31 show at the Beacon Theatre was postponed until a night later due to Jagger's throat problems, and a number of other dates have been changed as well. A Nov. 3 show in Vancouver has been moved to Nov. 25, a Nov. 5 concert in Oakland, Calif. has been moved to the next night, and a Nov. 18 performance in Los Angeles is now scheduled to take place on Nov. 22. A show that was supposed to take place in Honolulu, Hawaii that night has been cancelled.

The Stones cancelled two shows in Spain in August because of Jagger's laryngitis, and their European tour was delayed by several weeks as guitarist Keith Richards recovered from brain surgery after falling out of a palm tree in Fiji in April.

But if you're a Stones fan who still hasn't been pissed off by them, you should be happy to know that Paramount Pictures has acquired the North American rights to Scorsese's long-planned feature documentary on the group, which is expected to arrive in theatres late next year.

Filming began at Clinton's birthday bash, where White guested on "Loving Cup," Aguilera sang "Live With Me" and Guy played guitar on "Champagne & Reefer." Cameras were also supposed to roll at the postponed gig at the same venue.

In addition to performances, the film will feature historical and contemporary behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. It's being financed by Shangri-La Entertainment and the Stones' longtime Toronto-based tour promoter, Michael Cohl's Concert Promotions International.

Scorsese is best-known for making such films as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Gangs Of New York. But he also directed The Last Waltz, the legendary movie that chronicled the final performance by the original lineup of The Band, and last year's Bob Dylan film, No Direction Home. He was also the assistant director of the 1970 documentary about the first Woodstock music festival.