Gudinski Relieved At New Rolling Stones Dates: 'It Was A Horrendous Ride'

It has been a “torturous” month for The Rolling Stones' promoter Michael Gudinski, who is breathing many sighs of relief after announcing rescheduled dates this afternoon.

Originally slated for March, the band had barely touched down in Australia before the news of the passing of Mick Jagger's girlfriend L'Wren Scott filtered through, prompting the band to return home.

With new dates now confirmed after much patience from ticketholders, Gudinski – head of the Mushroom Group, which owns Frontier Touring – has told theMusic.com.au this afternoon that the recent weeks have been “A horrendous ride for everyone involved, but obviously it's been most horrendous for Mick himself.”

“When you're dealing with such tragic circumstances, it's all a matter of patience,” he said. “It's a relief for everyone involved.”

Despite all parties having an intention to reschedule the show, Gudinski, who says he “never expected Frontier to be touring the Stones”, admits that there were no guarantees that everything would come together.

“There's always a danger, it's a risky industry. The intention was always there – it takes time though… Until I knew it was 100 percent back on it was a torturous time for all of us involved. And let's be honest, until it's over [I won't relax], I know this game too well.”

One of the biggest hurdles the band and promoters faced was rescheduling the Adelaide Oval show. The Rolling Stones were set to headline the grand opening of the venue and with football season now well and truly in motion opportunities to re-book were scarce.

The new date will still be the first concert at the renovated Oval and is expected to house the biggest crowd ever in front of a Frontier-promoted tour. Jimmy Barnes has today been added to the show and Gudinski revealed that high-profile support acts will be added to the shows at Hanging Rock and Hunter Valley (the latter added today also) in an announcement after Easter.

He remained tight-lipped on the financial hit they've taken since the initial cancellation. As well as the touring party and staff, all the staging equipment returned to the US ahead of their European shows.

“Obviously it's affected everyone,” he said, “but with the show going ahead it's become a whole new thing… We were basically under siege in that hotel, with paparazzi at every door. [Money] is the last thing you think of at that time.”

Of the worldwide media coverage he added, “Some of the stuff I saw online was disgraceful, but that was from a small minority.”

Fans have the option to hold on to tickets or ask for refunds if they can't attend the new shows, and so far refunds have been “minimal”. “We're bringing every bit of equipment out again, there's absolutely no compromise.”