Rolling Stones aim to roll back years with reunion

The Rolling Stones return to the stage on Sunday for a mini-tour they hope will prove that advancing years and bad blood are no barriers to satisfaction for sellout crowds.

In a burst of activity to celebrate 50 years in business, the veteran British rockers with an average age of 68 have produced a photo book, written two songs, collaborated on a documentary, released a greatest hits album, played warm-up gigs in Paris and committed to five concerts.

They also faced questions about high ticket prices to the two gigs in London and three in the United States that have given some followers the impression they are more interested in banking cash than bashing out the hits.

Yet that has done little to dampen broad enthusiasm for their return to the big stage five years after the A Bigger Bang tour became the most lucrative in pop history at the time, earning nearly $560 million.

Adding to the sense of occasion, the full-time quartet of Mick Jagger on vocals, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood on guitar and Charlie Watts on drums will be joined by former members Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor at London's O2 Arena on Sunday.

Even before they step out for the first of two gigs in the British capital, the question on every Stones fan's lips is what more they have up their sleeves, amid hints of a full tour and the possibility of a new studio album.

It would be nice to think that wouldn't be it, said Paul Sexton, a music journalist who has met and interviewed the band in the run-up to the latest concerts.

Once the machine gets fired up again, it's hard to imagine there won't be more live shows to come. If these dates went well, you could imagine sufficient momentum for some kind of recording project.

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