A look back at the Rolling Stones' Pittsburgh concerts

The Rolling Stones’ 11th visit to Pittsburgh is scheduled for Oct. 4 at Heinz Field.

As fans look forward to another memorable night with the band, let’s take a quick look back at the Stones’ 10 previous Pittsburgh dates, starting from the beginning:

1. June 17, 1964, at Danceland in West View Park

The Rolling Stones actually beat The Beatles to Pittsburgh, playing at this former North Hills amusement park. The Fab Four’s one-and-only local show followed about three months later, on Sept. 14 in the Civic Arena (later Mellon Arena and now just a memory). Coming last on a six-act slate, the Stones played to a crowd of 400 — and admission was $1.50.

2. Nov. 24, 1965, in the Civic Arena

Touring in support of the “Out of Our Heads” album, the band’s lineup included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman and the group’s founder and original leader, the late Brian Jones.

3. June 25, 1966, in the Civic Arena

Pittsburgh was the third stop on a tour supporting the “Aftermath” album, which included the hit “Under My Thumb.” The American version of the album substituted “Paint It Black” for “Mother’s Little Helper” on the UK release.

4. July 22, 1972, in the Civic Arena

Pittsburgh was the penultimate stop on the tour supporting the dark classic “Exile on Main Street” album.

5. Sept. 6, 1989, in Three Rivers Stadium

The Steel Wheels tour was the last tour for bassist Bill Wyman. It was also the first Pittsburgh appearance for guitarist Ron Wood, who joined in 1975. The show started with a literal bang as opener, “Start Me Up,” was accompanied by fireworks.

6. Sept. 29, 1994, in Three Rivers Stadium

The Voodoo Lounge tour, with its lounge-themed set, inflatables and giant screen, grossed $320 million, making it the highest-grossing tour to that date.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Mick Jagger performs with the Rolling Stones on March 11, 1999, at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.

7. March 11, 1999, in the Civic Arena

After two stadium shows, the Stones went smaller-scale for this No Security Tour stop. The set list included timeless gems like “Some Girls,” “Brown Sugar,” “Midnight Rambler,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Paint It Black” and “Sympathy for the Devil” as the encore.

Tribune-Review

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards play the song “Street Fighting Man” to open the Rolling Stones concert on Jan. 10, 2003, at Mellon Arena.

8. Jan. 10, 2003, in Mellon Arena

The Stones tore through 21 hits, from “Street Fighting Man” to “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and paid tribute to Bob Dylan with a cover of “Like a Rolling Stone.” A bra tossed from the crowd added a little spice, as Charlie Watts twirled it from his drumstick and Ron Wood turned it into a hat.

Tribune-Review

Mick Jagger performs “Start Me Up” to open the Rolling Stones concert at PNC Park on Sept. 28, 2005.

9. Sept. 28, 2005, in PNC Park

The set-up featured a mobile hydraulic lift that transported the band to the opposite end of the stadium for a few songs. “Start Me Up” got the place rocking and “Brown Sugar” was the encore. Eddie Vedder, front man of opening act Pearl Jam, surprised Jagger by coming out for a duet on “Wild Horses.”

AP

Mick Jagger, in blue, performs with Keith Richards, right, Ronnie Wood, left, and Charlie Watts on drums as The Rolling Stones play in their “Zip Code” tour on June 20, 2015, in Pittsburgh.

10. June 20, 2015, at Heinz Field

Still rocking at 70-plus, Mick Jagger gave a local shout-out to that staple of British cuisine, Heinz baked beans, and to Andy Warhol, who designed the Stones’ “Sticky Fingers” album cover. A steady rain ceased just in time for the Stones’ opening “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” to ignite the sold-out crowd of 55,000.

This story was originally published on Feb. 6, 2020.