“I had goosebumps”: No Filter tour touches down in Hamburg

The Rolling Stones kicked off their No Filter European tour in Germany on Saturday, playing to 82,000 people in Hamburg, in the first show in the 366-acre Stadtpark since Pink Floyd in 1989.

In addition to the surprise inclusion of tracks not heard live in more than a decade (‘Under My Thumb’, ‘Play with Fire’, Goats Head Soup’s ‘Dancing with Mr D’), the two-and-a-half-hour show was notable for its huge production – featuring multiple large video screens and, following a ‘Gimme Shelter’–’Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ encore,  fireworks – giant, 1,600sqft stage and 12 grandstands, each seating more than 26,000 people.

Christian Wiesmann, event director of show promoter FKP Scorpio, comments: “To see how, after the intense planning over four months, it all came together, and how the excellent cooperation with all parties involved – the Hamburg-Nord local authorities, the police, the fire brigade, [public transport company] HVV, [ambulance/aid provider] ASB and [sanitation service] Stadtreinigung – is absolutely great. It is only possible to hold an event of this scale in such a special place if we all pull together 100%.

“From an organiser’s point of view, I can only say that we are very satisfied with the outcome. What a sensational concert, what a band […] It was an honour.”

“I have organised concerts and big festivals for over 25 years, and am not easily impressed – but tonight I had goosebumps”

Folkert Koopmans, FKP’s CEO, describes the show as being truly special – even for a 25-year veteran of the live industry. “It was the express wish of the band to appear in the Stadtpark in Hamburg and to begin their European tour here,” he comments. ”

“This concert was very special for me. I have organised concerts and big festivals for over 25 years, and am not easily impressed – but tonight I had goosebumps.”

The No Filter tour is produced by AEG’s Concerts West and promoted in Germany by FKP Scorpio and DEAG. The next German dates are in Munich on 12 September and Dusseldorf on 9 October, with the tour also visiting Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and France – but not the UK, where the band say there is a shortage of venues.

Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.