Mick Jagger wears a Philadelphia Eagles football jersey during the second show of the Rolling Stones' "Tattoo You" Tour. The Stones played their first show of the tour on the previous day, September 25. John Sciarra, a defensive back for the Eagles wore that number. Sciarra was the starting quarterback for UCLA's Rose Bowl winning football team coached by Dick Vermeil. © ROGER BARONE 1981
MICK JAGGER/ROLLING STONES: JFK STADIUM (September 26, 1981)
Mick Jagger playfully poses for photographers during a press conference in Philadelphia's JFK Stadium to announce their 1981 "Tattoo You" Tour. Bill Graham accompanied Jagger to Philly from Boston, where the Stones were rehearsing at Longview Farms. The press conference was originally scheduled at Independence Hall. © ROGER BARONE 1981
MICK JAGGER: JFK STADIUM (August 26, 1981)
A couple of Philadelphia policeman look on as Keith Richards, with guitar, & Billy Preston lead the Rolling Stones through the back hallways of the Spectrum, headed toward the stage. Roy Bickel, the Stones' head carpenter, looks at the camera as I begin taking pictures. Later that evening, I took one of Bickel's Stones' T-shirts. © ROGER BARONE 1975
THE ROLLING STONES: (June 30, 1975)
Mick Jagger, accompanied by Bill Graham and assorted security personnel, head toward a group of excited fans gathered near the northeast entrance of JFK Stadium. Graham, the famed rock 'n' roll impresariso and former owner of the Fillmore East and West, oversaw the Stones' Tattoo You tour. Graham died in a helicopter crash near San Francisco in 1992. © roger barone 1981
MICK JAGGER & BILL GRAHAM: JFK STADIUM (August 26, 1981)
Francis "Franny" O'Shea, a stagehand supervisor with the International Alliance of Stage & Theatrical Employees (IASTE) Local 8, thrust the victory/peace symbol into the sky from atop the Rolling Stones' sound-towers at JFK Stadium. The photo was taken several days before the Stones show at JFK Stadium on Saturday, June 17, 1978.
STAGEHAND FRANNY O’SHEA: JFK STADIUM (June 14, 1978)
Among the many interesting characters I’ve met while working at the Spectrum were members of the O’Shea family. The O’Sheas were a staple in the local entertainment industry. The patriarch of the family, Franny O’Shea Sr., was a pleasant man, known to everyone as “MO,” a conveniently short nickname he substituted for all the new names and faces he’d meet during a show.
“MO” worked well into his ’70s, pushing, pulling, lugging, hauling and setting into place the elaborate stages that were patiently pieced together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
Mo and his son, Franny, also gave us their backstage passes after the shows, which were nice collectors’ items. Franny and the Spectrum Director of Operations, Ernie Thompson, were renowned for their poker games, where a night’s wages could be supplemented by a royal flush or full hand.
The Rolling Stones singing "Honky Tonk Woman" to begin their second night at The Spectrum. From left: Ron Wood, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman. © ROGER BARONE 1975
ROLLING STONES: THE SPECTRUM: (June 29, 1975)
YOUTUBE ROLLING STONES VIDEO “HONKY TONK WOMAN” LA FORUM
YOUTUBE ROLLING STONES VIDEO “HONKY TONK WOMAN” IN MARYLAND NEWS REPORT
The Rolling Stones' lotus leaf stage provided great views for everyone. The Stones accessed the stage via a ground-level elevator built into the center of the stage. In New York and Los Angelas, the flower petals remained upright and slowly opened as Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" was played. © ROGER BARONE 1975
THE ROLLING STONES: THE SPECTRUM (June 30, 1975)
In a recent visit to the Free Library of Philadelphia, Logan Square Branch, Annie Liebovitz, the Stones official photographer for their ’75 Tour of the Americas, said that the two shows at The Spectrum were the best she’s ever seen the Stones play.
"Stagecrew" sign from the Rolling Stones' dressing room door during their Philly concerts at the Spectrum in June 1975. The tour logo, designed by Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger, was constructed by combining images of an eagle and a jet. © ROGER BARONE 2009
THE ROLLING STONES:THE SPECTRUM (June 29-30, 1975)
While performing at the Spectrum in 1975, the Rolling Stones combined the visiting hockey players’ dressing room and the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team’s dressing room to form one large room.
This larger room was accessible by both locker-room entrances. The “STAGECREW” sign (above) was affixed to the visiting hockey players’ room. A similar sign, sans the tour logo, was placed on the 76ers’ door, located down the hall, south, about 30 feet away. The sign on the 76ers’ door said, “PLAYROOM.”
Mick Jagger checks out the sound towers at JFK Stadium on the day before the Rolling Stones 1981 tour begins. The Stones were promoting their "Tattoo You" album. Later in the afternoon, Jagger stood on a cherry picker that he would use for tossing roses to the crowd. Jagger is wearing a WMMR baseball cap that was given to him by Philly radio personality Anita Gevinson. © ROGER BARONE 1981
MICK JAGGER/ROLLING STONES: JFK STADIUM (September 24, 1981)
On Tuesday, September 4, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones attended a book signing event at Borders book store, at 17th & Walnut Streets. Exactly one week later, the 9/11 attacks occurred. Wyman was promoting his new book "Blues Odyssey." Last week, Borders, which moved to Broad & Chestnut Streets, went out of business and closed shop, while the "Fat Lady" browsed her last aisle. © ROGER BARONE 2001
ROLLING STONE BILL WYMAN: BORDERS BOOK STORE (September 4, 2010)
In tribute to the closing of the Philadelphia Borders Bookstore, I present this photo of Bill Wyman’s visit to the popular store at 17th & Walnut Street (it’s original location). Many of the industry’s top authors appeared there including David McCullough, Calvin Trillin, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Wyman, Hillary Clinton and Ozzie. In the early days, Borders was one of the city’s hidden treasures that few people knew about. I was a regular and bought lots of great books from the overstock bargain bins.
As the years passed, the crowds grew bigger, the lines longer and it became a less personal experience to shop and attend events. Eventually, a decision was made to move to a larger location. Borders was never the same. Earlier this year, Borders declared bankruptcy, hoping to restructure the management. It failed; Borders is gone.
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