Waiting on a Friend (Awesome Live Footage of Performance Included!)

This great rock and roll offering by the one and the only Rolling Stones was originally released in 1981 on their smash hit album, “Tattoo You.” What is interesting about this tune is that they first added the song to their set list in 1971, just after Mick Taylor (guitar) – who enjoyed rather briefer stint in the band – joined up with them. The song would not even be tracked or recorded until a few years later, during the famous Goats Head Soup sessions. However, it would never truly see the light of day until producer Chris Kimsey asked the band to rewrite the song for their forthcoming album, “Tattoo You.”

The song follows the standard blues rock mantra that the band has always strictly adhered to. Most people felt the song was about the band’s togetherness and about remaining confident in the face of adversity, particularly with regards to love and relationships as well as life. Mick Jagger does tend to get a bit more personal with his lyrics in this great song, making references to woman, love, life and loss. The song offers a more soothing and softer ambiance, complimented by the timbre that Ronnie Wood adds after taking over for the departed Mick Taylor.

The lyrics say it all, and actually offer some insight into the mind of the man behind it all: Mick Jagger.

“Don't need a whore, I don't need no booze, don't need a virgin priest. But I need someone I can cry to, I need someone to protect.”

Waiting on a Friend Awesome Live Performance by the Rolling Stones
I have found some awesome footage of The Rolling Stones performing this song live in concert during their amazing ‘Bridges To Babylon Tour’ which took place during 1997-1998 and was a worldwide tour – notably one of the better Rolling Stones tours of all time. As you can see, they are playing for yet another sold out crowd. And, in reality, trying to get your hands on Rolling Stones tickets today is a task not easily accomplished, as their world tours tend to sell out within the first hour that the tickets hit the box office and the online vendors. But…for all of you fans – like me – out there who can’t get their paws wrapped around a costly Stones ticket, we always have these awesome live clips to fall back on.