| Concert Tour Name: | Licks Tour 2002–2003 |
| Artist: | The Rolling Stones |
| Start Date: | 3 September 2002 |
| End Date: | 9 November 2003 |
| Album: | Forty Licks |
| Number Of Legs: | 5 |
| Number Of Shows: | 117 |
| Gross: | US$311 million ($ in dollars) |
| Last Tour: | No Security Tour (1999) |
| This Tour: | Licks Tour (2002–03) |
| Next Tour: | A Bigger Bang Tour (2005–07) |
The Licks Tour was a worldwide concert tour undertaken by the Rolling Stones during 2002 and 2003, in support of their 40th anniversary compilation album Forty Licks. The tour grossed over $300 million, becoming the second highest-grossing tour at that time, behind their own Voodoo Lounge Tour of 1994–1995.[1]
The itinerary continued the Rolling Stones' practice of mixing theatre, arena, and stadium venues. With little new music to promote, set lists were dynamic and featured a total of 80 different songs.[2] [3]
The production was designed by Mark Fisher, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, and Patrick Woodroffe.[4] The design included a 60m (200feet) wide digital print created by Jeff Koons. During the song "Honky Tonk Women", an animated video was shown of a topless woman riding the famous Rolling Stones Tongue logo before being devoured.[5]
Planned dates in East Asia and the final date of the tour were cancelled in response to the SARS outbreak of 2002–2003. Additionally, because Toronto, Ontario, Canada was also affected, the Rolling Stones headlined the Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto concert on 30 July 2003 to help the city recover from the effects of the epidemic. It was attended by an estimated 490,000 people.[6] Finally, on 7–9 November 2003, the band played its first ever concerts in Hong Kong, as part of the Harbour Fest celebration.[7] The tour was sponsored by E-Trade.[8]
In Chicago, U2 frontman Bono joined the Stones for "It's Only Rock'n Roll (But I Like It)" while Dr. John guested on piano during "I Just Want To Make Love To You."[9]
In January, American cable network HBO broadcast a concert from Madison Square Garden in New York.[10]
In Sydney, Leipzig, Hockenheim, Oberhausen and Toronto, Angus and Malcolm Young from AC/DC played "Rock Me Baby" with the Rolling Stones. The Leipzig performance can be found on disc 2 of AC/DC's Plug Me In, while the Toronto performance was included in the Toronto Rocks DVD.
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening act(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | ||||
| 16 August 2002 | Canada | Danko Jones | ||
| 3 September 2002 | United States | The Pretenders | ||
| 5 September 2002 | Gillette Stadium | |||
| 8 September 2002 | Boston | Buddy Guy | ||
| 10 September 2002 | The Pretenders | |||
| 13 September 2002 | Comiskey Park | |||
| 16 September 2002 | Dr. John | |||
| 18 September 2002 | The Pretenders | |||
| 20 September 2002 | First Union Center | |||
| 22 September 2002 | ||||
| 26 September 2002 | New York City | The Pretenders | ||
| 28 September 2002 | Giants Stadium | |||
| 30 September 2002 | New York City | Jonny Lang | ||
| 4 October 2002 | The Strokes | |||
| 5 October 2002 | Hartford Civic Center | |||
| 12 October 2002 | No Doubt | |||
| 14 October 2002 | Elvis Costello | |||
| 16 October 2002 | Toronto | Canada | The White Stripes | |
| 18 October 2002 | No Doubt | |||
| 20 October 2002 | United States | The White Stripes | ||
| 22 October 2002 | Shaggy | |||
| 23 October 2002 | American Airlines Arena | |||
| 26 October 2002 | No Doubt | |||
| 31 October 2002 | Los Angeles | Sheryl Crow | ||
| 2 November 2002 | Edison International Field | |||
| 4 November 2002 | Los Angeles | Solomon Burke | ||
| 6 November 2002 | Sheryl Crow | |||
| 8 November 2002 | ||||
| 9 November 2002 | ||||
| 12 November 2002 | ||||
| 14 November 2002 | San Diego Sports Arena | |||
| 16 November 2002 | The Joint (Private show hosted by David Bonderman – no public admission) | John Mellencamp | ||
| 23 November 2002 | Lifehouse | |||
| 25 November 2002 | Gaylord Entertainment Center | |||
| 29 November 2002 | Las Vegas | The Joint | Solomon Burke | |
| 30 November 2002 | Lifehouse | |||
| 8 January 2003 | Canada | |||
| 10 January 2003 | United States | |||
| 12 January 2003 | Boston | FleetCenter | ||
| 16 January 2003 | New York City | Madison Square Garden | ||
| 18 January 2003 | Ryan Adams (The Stones broadcast live on HBO Tonight) | |||
| 21 January 2003 | Chicago | United Center | Ryan Adams | |
| 22 January 2003 | ||||
| 25 January 2003 | Reliant Stadium | |||
| 28 January 2003 | Ford Center | |||
| 30 January 2003 | Jonny Lang | |||
| 1 February 2003 | Pepsi Center | |||
| 4 February 2003 | Susan Tedeschi | |||
| 6 February 2003 | Los Angeles | Staples Center | ||
| 8 February 2003 | Las Vegas | MGM Grand Garden Arena | ||
| Australia | ||||
| 18 February 2003 | Australia | Jet | ||
| 20 February 2003 | Sydney Super Dome | |||
| 22 February 2003 | ||||
| 25 February 2003 | Rod Laver Arena | |||
| 27 February 2003 | ||||
| 1 March 2003 | ||||
| 4 March 2003 | rowspan="2" | |||
| 5 March 2003 | ||||
| Asia | ||||
| 10 March 2003 | Tokyo | Japan | rowspan="10" | |
| 12 March 2003 | Yokohama Arena | |||
| 15 March 2003 | Tokyo | Tokyo Dome | ||
| 16 March 2003 | ||||
| 20 March 2003 | Osaka Dome | |||
| 21 March 2003 | ||||
| 24 March 2003 | Singapore Indoor Stadium | |||
| 26 March 2003 | ||||
| 4 April 2003 | India | Palace Grounds | ||
| 7 April 2003 | Brabourne Stadium | |||
| Europe | ||||
| 4 June 2003 | Germany | The Cranberries | ||
| 6 June 2003 | Olympiastadion | |||
| 8 June 2003 | ||||
| 10 June 2003 | Italy | The Cranberries | ||
| 13 June 2003 | Germany | O-Vision Zukunftspark | AC/DC The Cranberries | |
| 15 June 2003 | Berlin | The Cranberries | ||
| 18 June 2003 | Austria | The Cranberries | ||
| 20 June 2003 | Germany | Festwiese | AC/DC | |
| 22 June 2003 | AC/DC The Pretenders | |||
| 25 June 2003 | Spain | rowspan="9" | ||
| 27 June 2003 | Estadio Vicente Calderón | |||
| 29 June 2003 | Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc | |||
| 5 July 2003 | France | Stade Vélodrome | ||
| 7 July 2003 | Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy | |||
| 9 July 2003 | Stade de France | |||
| 11 July 2003 | L’Olympia | |||
| 13 July 2003 | Denmark | Parken Stadium | ||
| 16 July 2003 | Finland | Helsinki Olympic Stadium | ||
| 18 July 2003 | Sweden | The Hives | ||
| 20 July 2003 | rowspan="3" | |||
| 22 July 2003 | Cirkus | |||
| 24 July 2003 | Germany | AOL-Arena | ||
| 27 July 2003 | Brainstorm Olympic | |||
| North America | ||||
| 30 July 2003 | Toronto | Canada | ||
| Europe | ||||
| 8 August 2003 | Germany | EXPO-Gelaende Messe Ost | rowspan="23" | |
| 11 August 2003 | Netherlands | Feijenoord Stadion | ||
| 13 August 2003 | ||||
| 15 August 2003 | Rotterdam Ahoy | |||
| 16 August 2003 | Muziekcentrum Vredenburg | |||
| 19 August 2003 | Amsterdam ArenA | |||
| 24 August 2003 | London | England | Twickenham Stadium | |
| 27 August 2003 | Astoria | |||
| 29 August 2003 | Wembley Arena | |||
| 1 September 2003 | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre | |||
| 3 September 2003 | ||||
| 5 September 2003 | England | Manchester Evening News Arena | ||
| 7 September 2003 | Belgium | Rock Werchter | ||
| 9 September 2003 | Ireland | Point Theatre | ||
| 11 September 2003 | ||||
| 13 September 2003 | London | England | Wembley Arena | |
| 15 September 2003 | ||||
| 20 September 2003 | Twickenham Stadium | |||
| 22 September 2003 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Amsterdam ArenA | |
| 25 September 2003 | Spain | Estadio Municipal Foietes | ||
| 27 September 2003 | Portugal | Estádio Cidade de Coimbra | ||
| 29 September 2003 | Spain | Feria de Muestras | ||
| 2 October 2003 | Switzerland | Letzigrund Stadion | ||
| Asia | ||||
| 7 November 2003 | Hong Kong | rowspan="2" | ||
| 9 November 2003 | ||||
The Rolling Stones
Additional musicians