How does it feel?

Rolling Stones earn more than
$3 million for their Hawaii shows

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

THE towering columns, the hydraulic bridge and the mammoth Babylonian goddess are headed back to the mainland, just 48 hours after a concert series that may have been the highest grossing in Hawaii's history.

Workers dismantled the gigantic set pieces yesterday, removing all traces of the Rolling Stones' concert appearances at Aloha Stadium. Evertything is to be packed into 23 shipping containers bound for Los Angeles.

The Stones themselves head off tomorrow on a private jet, carrying a proclamation in their honor from Gov. Ben Cayetano, 12 cases of Cabo Wabo tequila from rocker Sammy Hagar -- and more than $3 million for their two concerts at Aloha Stadium and a private performance for Pepsi on the Big Island.

By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Workers put their drills and wrenches to work dismantling
the Rolling Stones' stage yesterday. Despite the monstrous
size of the Stones' set, it can be taken down in a day.

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Though final ticket sales have not been tallied, the Aloha Stadium concerts attracted about 55,000 people -- not counting several dozen special guests such as Cayetano, A&M Records executive Jerry Moss and several Pro Bowl players.

In addition, several hundred $250 VIP packages were sold, co-promoter Shep Gordon said. The packages included a catered pre-concert champagne reception backstage, up-close seats and souvenirs. These packages could push gross ticket sales even higher than the previous record - set by last year's Michael Jackson concerts, Gordon said.

The Friday and Saturday night multimillion-dollar, multimedia "Bridges to Babylon" concerts went off without major problems on- or off-stage.

"I'm ecstatic," co-promoter Tom Moffatt said after Saturday night's concert. "Everyone was happy. There were no problems and the band is very, very pleased, especially just being in Hawaii after 25 years."

By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
The "Bridges to Babylon" stage was a mammoth
creation of girders, columns and statuary.

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The Stones had been in Hawaii twice before, in 1966 and 1973. It's highly unlikely they'll be back to perform again, Moffatt said. "I haven't even considered another show."

Contractually, promoters are prohibited from releasing ticket sales figures or the amount of money paid to performers. Gordon did confirm, however, that the Jackson concerts set a previous record in Hawaii.

Cayetano and his wife Vicky attended Friday night's concert, meeting Mick Jagger backstage to present him with a proclamation declaring the day "Rolling Stones Day," Moffatt said.

He emphasized that the concert would not have taken place without Cayetano's help.

Police reported no major incidents at either concert, though a few exuberant fans were escorted out when they defied orders to not dance in the aisles. About 120 HPD officers were hired - at about $100 each for each night - and more than 100 private security guards. That averages out to about one security person for every 250 people.

The only security breach that even bordered on major occurred in the last minute of the second night when Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ron Wood were taking their final bow.

An overzealous man jumped on stage and hugged a stunned Richards, who slowly tried to back away as two security guards grabbed the fan and hurried him offstage.

As for Hagar's tequila, which the rocker sells in his Cabo San Lucas nightclub and manufactures in Guadalajara, the band apparently enjoyed it so much back stage

that they ordered the additional cases for their plane. (The tequila is available in Hawaii for about $39 a bottle.)

The Stones are scheduled to leave Honolulu tomorrow for Vancouver, where they perform an indoor concert Wednesday.

The concerts went so smoothly that Moffatt said he was actually able to enjoy them. On Friday night he watched a 100-foot bridge unfold from the main stage out to a tiny stage near the middle of the arena. After the Stones walked across the span, Moffatt crowded close.

"It was like 1966 all over again when I brought them to the (Blaisdell Arena) and you could actually be near them," Moffatt said. "Sounds corny, but this was a very special moment for me."

For that performance 32 years ago, the Stones were paid $15,000.

Even the Stones' stadium exits went off without a hitch. While the main lights remained dark and the audience clamored for a second encore, the group was whisked into several white vans to take them back to the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

"They were back there before most of the audience had even reached their cars," Gordon said.