Description
The Rolling Stones played a surprise concert at Toad's Place in New Haven for approximately 700 people, 19 days before the official start of the Steel Wheels Tour.
Related events
- The Rolling Stones filmed the music video for “Mixed Emotions” at Wykeham Rise Girls School in Connecticut.
- The Rolling Stones released the album "Steel Wheels" in the US, almost two weeks before its UK release. The album reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and No. 2 on the UK album chart.
- The Rolling Stones began their Steel Wheels tour with a concert at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The album "Steel Wheels", released a few days earlier, brought to an end, at least temporarily, years of public disputes between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Before the official start of the tour, they had made a surprise appearance on August 12 at Toad's Place in New Haven.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers could not fully use their home stadium, Three Rivers Stadium, because The Rolling Stones were rehearsing and preparing their Steel Wheels tour concert there.
- The Rolling Stones' “Mixed Emotions” reached the Top 10; it was their 23rd and final Top 10 song from 56 releases.
- The Rolling Stones released their 18th studio album „Tattoo You“ on their own Rolling Stones Records label. The album consisted largely of previously recorded outtakes and topped the charts for nine weeks. „Start Me Up“ became a major hit; the band had first recorded it in 1977 in a reggae rhythm but reworked it into a rock version for the album. The album reached No. 1 in Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, France, New Zealand and the U.S.
- The Rolling Stones' album Tattoo You spent its third week at No. 1 on the US album chart on October 3, 1981. Other albums near the top included 4 by Foreigner, Escape by Journey, and Bella Donna by Stevie Nicks. The Top 10 also included Pirates by Rickie Lee Jones, Nine Tonight by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, The Innocent Age by Dan Fogelberg, Precious Time by Pat Benatar, the Endless Love soundtrack, and Breakin’ Away by Al Jarreau.
- The Rolling Stones performed at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego.
- The Rolling Stones moved to No. 7 on the US singles chart with "Start Me Up."
- The Rolling Stones' single “Start Me Up” rose to number seven on the U.S. chart.
- The Rolling Stones made a spectacular announcement of their forthcoming Bridges to Babylon tour. The band arrived at the Brooklyn Bridge in New York in a 1955 red Cadillac driven by Mick Jagger, with Keith Richards beside him and Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood in the back.