Their Geriatric Majesties Request

The Rolling Stones came to Bergen for a concert on Friday night, prompting a full week and a half of front page coverage. A week before the concert it was a story about the woman who (gasp!) had declined the chance to host the Stones on their visit. Then it was a two page centerfold spread covering the Rolling Stones "from A to Å." (Å, not Z, is the last letter of the Norwegian alphabet.) Then the parade of fluff pieces really got into high gear. Almost lost amongst these was a passing mention of the geriatric specialist brought in to take care of the band´s particular needs, written without any apparent consciousness of irony on the part of the author. As the frenzy continued its crescendo on Thursday the news flash was that a poll had shown that Bergensers´ favorite Stones tune was "Satisfaction." The Friday concert itself merited a full-page photo on every Saturday front page. Reviews were very favorable, almost all fives out of a possible six. (Norwegians use a six-sided die instead of one to four stars to indicate a film, book, or concert´s merit, and the Stones would likely only have gotten the elusive six with Lucifer himself sitting in on "Jumpin´Jack Flash.") Sunday´s coverage consisted mostly of interviews with the attendees and a discussion of how many rain hats and coats were sold when the skies opened during the show. On Monday morning´s front page there was a picture of two people who, the headline screamed, actually "got to meet Jagger!" I wonder how long this can go on, what with the band back in London and all....
Incidentally, with Jagger now a spry 63, the concertgoers would have been better entertained watching the version of "Start Me Up" my brother Lee and I first did at his own wedding and reprised -- by request -- at my father´s last year. It´s all in the lips and the hips, people, and it helps if neither has yet been replaced.