The Rolling Stones Announce First Aus Date With More To Come

The Rolling Stones have confirmed the first date on their 2014 Australian tour, with the band to play the opening of the Adelaide Oval.

Their return to Australia will take place Saturday 22 March when they headline the entertainment opening of the renovated venue.

Today sources have confirmed to theMusic.com.au that east coast dates for the legendary rock band will be announced in two week's time. The tour is being promoted by Michael Gudinski's Frontier Touring, with backing from AEG Live.

Tickets will go on sale Monday 25 November at 9am Adelaide local time through Ticketek. Prices will start at $79 for general admission and go up to $510.

“It's great to be invited to Adelaide to open the historic Oval,” said vocalist Mick Jagger. “We're really looking forward to doing this gig, it will be the first time we've been to Adelaide in nearly 20 years, so see you there!”

Guitarist Keith Richards added, “Hi everyone down in Adelaide, it's been a while since we were in your back yard… see you on March 22 when we'll take over your new stadium and make it our own, look forward to it.”

Mick Taylor, who was part of the band in the early '70s, will be a special gest for the Adelaide concert. The band's stage will include a 30-metre-long ramp into the audience. In total, almost 60 trucks are required for the staging and production.

Tony Cochrane of iEC Entertainment has driven the Adelaide event and said, “Adelaide Oval and the Government asked me to come up with the biggest night I could think of for this one off event to re-open Adelaide Oval – that made it easy – it had to be The Rolling Stones and it had to be on a massive scale!”

Last year Australian promoter Paul Dainty partnered with Richard Branson for the band's 50th anniversary shows in London and New York, and Dainty was expected to promote the band's subsequent world tour. The deal fell through after running into funding difficulties, however, and global touring giant AEG Live stepped in to provide the financial backing for the shows.

Dainty was understood to still own the expected Australian dates when theMusic reported it earlier this year, but subsequent negotiations have seen the Australian dates handed  AEG regain control.

Having lost out on the Stones' dates, Dainty has turned his attention to Eminem's massive Rapture tour, which was announced last month. Dainty are also promoting the recently-announced South African leg of the rapper's world tour, in conjunction with local company Showtime Management, which is the first time he will perform on the continent.