The Rolling Stones Return To Hyde Park For British Summer Time Festival

The Stones Roll Back To Hyde Park
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The Rolling Stones return to London's Hyde Park today - 44 years since they last played at the outdoor venue.

The legendary band top the bill on the second day of a new festival, Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time.

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The Rolling Stones at Glastonbury last weekend

It is their first gig at Hyde Park since their historic free concert on July 5, 1969, which came just two days after the death of founder member Brian Jones and marked the live debut of his replacement guitarist, Mick Taylor.

That performance kicked off with frontman Mick Jagger reading extracts from a poem by Shelley in tribute to Jones, who was found dead in his swimming pool at home.

Sir Mick has already hinted that the Hyde Park concert will feature many of the songs from the band's 1969 set list.

In an interview with Absolute Radio's Pete Mitchell, he said: "Obviously, the same set list is going to be used, it saves me having to think."

Former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor is expected to join the band on stage, and support act Gary Clark Jr, the blues guitarist, may also put in an appearance.

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The stage erected for the gig in Hyde Park

Celebrated music producer Bob Clearmountain has flown in to put his magic touch to the proceedings. Grammy-nominated Clearmountain - renowned for his work as a live mix engineer - has been lined up to ensure recordings of the show are up to scratch.

The Stones play two shows at Hyde Park, the second next Saturday, and both will be filmed and recorded. It is thought the sound recordings will go on to be sold through the iTunes store, while footage is expected to form a future DVD release.

The Stones' performance at Hyde Park comes just days after their much-anticipated show as headliners at Glastonbury last weekend, which saw them run through many of their best known hits.