Ladies & Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones!

A proclamation was sent forth across the land telling the faithful that The Rolling Stones’ “50 And Counting” tour will arrive on these shores in May for shows in the U.S. and Canada, including Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago and more.

Photo: AP Photo / Starpix

"12-12-12" (A Concert For Sandy Relief), Madison Square Garden Arena, New York City

No more rumors, no more hints from Ronnie and Keith. The Stones announced what everyone was waiting for – concert dates in the springtime leading up to the band’s England appearances at Glastonbury Festival and Hyde Park.

“‘50 And Counting’ has been pretty amazing so far,” Mick Jagger said. “We did a few shows in London and New York last year … and had such a good time that we thought … let’s do some more. It’s a good show. Lots of the classic stuff everyone wants to hear … with a few little gems tucked in here and there. The stage is shaped like lips and goes off into the venue so I get to run around in the crowd. It’s great fun to be able to get that close to the audience.”

Photo: Starpix, Dave Allocca/AP

12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York.

“From day one at rehearsals it sounded so fresh,” Keith Richards added. “You could tell that everybody was dying to get their teeth into it. It was like … open the gates … let us out! Cause man, it is the life and blood of us to play in front of people.”

Due to NBA/NHL playoff schedules to be determined the band has yet to lock down its Los Angeles date, saying only that it will play the Staples Center on an evening to be announced.

Here’s the rest of the schedule:

May 5 – Oakland, Calif., Oracle Arena
May 8 – San Jose, Calif., HP Pavilion At San Jose
May 11 – Las Vegas, Nev., MGM Grand Garden Arena
May 15 – Anaheim, Calif., Honda Center
May 25 – Toronto, Ontario, Air Canada Centre
May 28 – Chicago, Ill., United Center
June 12 – Boston, Mass., TD Garden
June 18 – Philadelphia, Pa., Wells Fargo Center
June 29 – Pilton, England, Worthy Farm (Glastonbury Festival)
July 6 – London, England, Hyde Park (Barclaycard British Summer Time).

Former Rolling Stones member Mick Taylor will appear as special guest throughout the tour.