Stones Cancel Hanging Rock

The Rolling Stones canceled Nov. 8’s show at the picturesque Hanging Rock site outside Melbourne, Australia, citing Mick Jagger’s throat infection.

Photo: AP Photo / Paul White
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain

“He is under strict doctor’s orders to rest his vocal chords for the next few days in order to recuperate for the remainder of the tour,” Frontier Touring Company said in a statement.

The outdoor Hanging Rock in the Macedon Ranges has been developed over the past two years by Frontier Touring’s managing director Michael Gudinski as a sought after live music venue.

He booked the EaglesRod Stewart and Leonard Cohen there. Because of its unique location, many Stones fans opted to come from around Australia – some spending up to A$5,000 ($4,289) on flights and accommodation. 

Hanging Rock was to have been the fourth show of the band’s seven-date run downunder. The Stones had played Melbourne at  Nov. 5 when Jagger’s voice started to be affected at the end of the show.

The Stones’ next Australian show is in Sydney at  on Nov. 12. It is followed by the  winery in the Hunter Valley (Nov.15) and  (Nov.18) before the band heads off to New Zealand.

The Stones called off its original tour of Australia and New Zealand in March after the sudden death of Jagger’s girlfriend, L’Wren Scott.

During the Nov. 5 Melbourne show, Jagger bought into a current dispute between the Victorian state government and the Port Phillip Council over the possible closure of the 2,900-capacity  in the bayside suburb of St. Kilda.

The Council is pressuring the Government to commit to A$25 million ($21.4 million) as part of A$40 million ($34.26 million) renovations to the heritage listed art deco building which was built in 1914.

In a comment joyously seized by Palais campaigners, Jagger reminded the near 15,000-capacity crowd at the Rod Laver, “I’d just like to tell you, we played at the Palais Theatre about 50 years ago. The Palais Theatre is just about still there — give generously.”