523. Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane

I saw the Rolling Stones live in 1982 and in the following 30 years I have seen countless gigs but none better than that one.
Until I was 19, I must admit they had passed me by a bit but, at a party, a mate of mine talked me into getting a ticket for Ashton Gate in Bristol.
My decision was scorned by my boss at the local radio station where I was working part-time (for really avid followers, we still spar on after-Coventry match phone-ins).
'They are well over the hill,'' he claimed.
I'd be interested to know what he would make of them now!
Personally, I would be beyond thrilled if they were on the Glastonbury line-up in June (did I mention that we have tickets?).
Anyway, I've loved the Stones ever since that day three decades ago and was on tenterhooks for a movie about their 50 years as a band.
Except that Brett Morgen's documentary isn't about their career, nor does it explore their longevity - it concentrates only on the first decade.
And this is where, to me, it falls down, big time.
It was interesting that during the mind-numbing 'live from the red carpet' interviews with Lauren Laverne (why didn't they pick someone who actually knew about the Stones?) beforehand, Ronnie Wood said he hoped that we would not have to wait until near the end of the film to see him.
He had a point - Wood has been in the band nearly 40 years. Brian Jones was with them seven and Mick Taylor just five but they have a disproportionate amount of airtime.
And I know that much of the controversial stuff happened in the 1960s but to be honest I knew all of the stories inside out and back to front.
What I wanted more of was how on earth have they kept going all of this time.
How is Keith Richards still alive? How does Mick Jagger still have the energy? How does Charlie Watts put up with them? What happened surrounding Bill Wyman's departure? What has been the effect of being in the Stones on the loves of their lives and their families?
In fact, I wanted it to be as good as the fantastic George Harrison documentary last year - but, sadly, it didn't come close.
We went through the riots at gigs, the notoriety through drugs, the awful scenes at the Altamont free festival and then suddenly, Ronnie joined the band, they played Miss You and that was it.
Of course, it wasn't bad because it was the Stones. But I didn't learn much I really expected that I would.
Laughs: four
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: oh yes, these were the days of free love
Overall rating: 6/10