Stones kick off world tour with secret gig!

| 11 August 2005

The Stones treated lucky fans in Toronto to a rare treat last night, by performing a customary intimate gig, before hitting the road on a mammoth world tour that'll roll until the summer of 2006.

The Rolling Stones performed a rare club show for some 1,000 fans at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, Canada last night. They opened their set with Rough Justice, the lead single off their coming album, A Bigger Bang, which is set for release on 5 September.

The rock legends who have been rehearsing at Greenwood College in Toronto since mid-July fine-tuned their material with an intimate gig before the start of the world tour. The event, which was rumoured since Monday night and confirmed 24 hours later, was partially seen as the band's way of saying thank you to Toronto - their home away from home.

Performing new material such as 'Back of my Hand' and 'Oh No, Not You Again' as well as old favourites '19th Nervous Breakdown', 'Brown Sugar', 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' and a cover of Bob Marley's 'Get up, Stand up' was the perfect way to kick off their world tour.

The Bigger Bang begins 21 August in Boston, making the grueling trek across North America up until Christmas to then continue on to Mexico, South America, the Far East and finally Europe in the summer of 2006.

Supports acts lined up include Joss Stone, Black Eyed Peas, Metallica, Maroon 5, Pearl Jam and Beck to name but a few.

Stay tuned right here to hear the first announcements detailing the forth coming UK and European tour!