Stones set a date. It’s April

‘‘The Beatles want to hold your hand. The Stones want to burn your house down.’’ Lest Tom Wolfe’s observation comes true, be sure to guard your homes, the Bad Boys of Rock & Roll are coming. It’s official, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Charlie Watts, known as the Rolling Stones, will knock out Bangalore and possibly Mumbai this April.

The topic of intense speculation within and outside the media during the last few months, India’s date with the greatest and richest rock and roll band is finally final: 11th in Bangalore’s Palace Grounds. As for the second concert to be held on April 14, organisers are a bit edgy about Mumbai as all depends on how a sticky issue regarding Maharashtra’s steep entertainment tax is resolved.

Greatest? What else do you call a bunch of four who stand alone as the last great band from the first generation of rock? After 40 years, they are still together and still sound damn good. And talking about money, since the 1989 Steel Wheels tour, the band has grossed over $1.5 billion which, according to Fortune magazine, includes touring, record sales, song rights, merchandising and sponsorship money. Year 2003 and still counting, they are the billion-dollar band.