The Rolling Stones were on a long hiatus and the New Barbarians concert scheduled for Madison Square Garden in May of 1979 was highly anticipated. The band consisted of an all star lineup with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood on guitars, Faces’ Ian McLagan on keyboards, the legendary Stanley Clarke on bass, Zigaboo Modeliste of The Meters on drums, and the late great Rolling Stones’ Bobby Keys on saxophone. It was a perfect scenario for guest apprearsnces but the rumors of a possible Rolling Stones pseudo-reunion never materialized. The MSG crowd was as amped up as it has ever been and the band did not disappoint, rocking and roling old school. We had managed to make our way down to the orchestra seats and jumped up on the folding metal chairs with new friends in a communal rite. No special guests, but when the lights came up a cloud hung in the air and the folding metal seats on the floor were in various states of mangled, with the orchestra section looking like a war zone as the exhausted crowd began to find the exits. The New Barbarians were a short lived project, however on this night in New York City, they conquered the day, seizing the heavyweight rock and roll crown where Ali once fought Joe Frazier.

It’s Only Rock and Roll

Rock on!

GQ