Allen Klein's powerbase resulted in his company Abkco retaining the exclusive rights to all ROLLING STONES recordings previous to 1970. Fans would see some spillage over into older tracks turning up on fresh product as Abkco's rights extended to publishing on the entire 'Sticky Fingers' album and a clutch of songs from 1972's 'Exile On Main Street'. As the ROLLING STONES stature strengthened throughout the 70's with a run of number one albums on both sides of the Atlantic Abkco strategically released compilations with great success. 'Hot Rocks 1964-1971' , released in January 1972, gained a top ten placing in the US Billboard charts whilst its follow up 'More Hot Rocks' did likewise.

June of 1980 would usher in the new decade proper for the ROLLING STONES with the release of the 'Emotional Rescue' album and eponymous single. The album would maintain a solid tradition by attaining number one positions in both America and the UK. Not everything ran smoothly though the Charlie Watts, missing his flight from London, was conspicuous by his absence from the New York Danceteria launch party fuelling press speculation as to his supposed imminent departure. The following month, with Watts duly back in place, the band shot videos in New York for 'Emotional Rescue' and 'She's So Cold'. As the latter saw a single release in September hardcore fans would receive a treat the same month when director Robert Frank screened the notorious Stones 'Cocksucker Blues' footage at the Whitney Museum in New York. 1980 was rounded off with Jagger pursuing his celluloid career deep in the heart of the Peruvian jungle. Slated to appear in director Werner Herzog's epic 'Fitzcarraldo' MICK JAGGER never actually completed his role as musical commitments curtailed his involvment.

Watts, together with longterm ROLLING STONES keyboard player Ian Stewart, would also be busy on extracurricular activities laying the foundations for the Jazz Rock ensemble ROCKETT 88. The band would actually release their debut album through the Atco label in February 1981 just in advance of the ROLLING STONES own 'Sucking In The Seventies'. Unusual for a compilation album this new product would include new tracks alongside familiar staples from the previous decade. The album title's deliberate double entendre would achieve the desired affect of drawing in controversy and ultimately the Sears chain in America refused to stock it. The summer months of 1981 would see the band laying down the final tracks to the forthcoming 'Tattoo You' record and filming videos for lead tracks 'Start Me Up', 'Hang Fire' and 'Worried About You' in New York. July though would witness an unexpected focus on BILL WYMAN as his solo single on the bassist's own Ripple label, the novelty 'Je Suis Un Rock Star'- an autobiographical account of life in France as a tax exile- hit the stores and the British charts. RON WOOD would follow suit along the solo path by issuing his '1234' record through Columbia in August as the ROLLING STONES were in the midst of rehearsals at Longview Farm in Massachusetts.

Keen to be promoting fresh product for the upcoming world tour the ROLLING STONES had trawled through their own archives raiding demos laid down as far back as 1973. Paradoxically 'Tattoo You', released in late August of 1981, would emerge as one of the act's freshest sounding albums clambering to the top of the Billboard album charts with ease. The album was preceded by another global hit single, the jerky 'Start Me Up' just failing to attain the number one spot in America and going top ten in the UK.

With rehearsals polished off the group decided to treat the residents of Northern Massachusetts to a taste of things to come when they played in Worcester at the Sir Morgan's Cove Bar. Billed non too anonymously as LITTLE BOY BLUE & THE COCKROACHES (after Jagger's inaugural act LITTLE BOY BLUE & THE BLUEBOYS), the band attracted over 10'000 fans to the tiny village club. The world tour proper commenced on September 25th at the gargantuan JFK Stadium in Philadelphia and ran in America until December 19th. The Hampton Roads, Virginia gig, taking place on KEITH RICHARDS birthday of December 18th, would be filmed and later issued as the video 'Let's Spend The Night Together'.

Second single 'Waiting On A Friend' was backed by a tongue in cheek video, filmed in a New York bar on 2nd Avenue and 10th Street, cleverly centred upon the much speculated on animosity between Mick and Keith. Another hit in the States 'Waiting On A Friend' was soon capitalised on by a US release only single 'Hang Fire' which also broke the Billboard top twenty.

'Tattoo You' also broke new ground technologically for the Stones when a 1983 German release ushered in the age of CD formatting into the band's catalogue. The Stones mammoth concert schedule was captured with ruthless speed by a June 1982 live record 'Still Life- American Concerts 1981'. This record mistakenly became the band's debut American CD release when it was issued by WEA. The opening single, a rousing rendition of THE MIRACLES 'Going To A Go Go' perfectly captured the new found zest evident in the Stones camp. 1982 opened with the release of BILL WYMAN's solo record on January 14th. The ROLLING STONES themselves would issue 'Hang Fire' as a further album single on March 4th- a day before Wyman's own 'A New Fashion'. Rehearsals for their European dates saw the band ensconced in London's Shepperton Studios throughout May. Once again the larger arena dates were preceded by initimate club warm ups with a batch of Scottish club gigs preceding an infamous performance at London's 100 Club.

As the 'Rewind' compilation kept the band's status riding high in 1984 Jagger struck out solo. However, upfront of his own product he would be found guesting in the most unlikely of places duetting with MICHAEL JACKSON on THE JACKSON's reformation album with 'State Of Shock'. Jagger's debut solo record 'She's The Boss', issued in 1985, would leave many Stones fans scratching their heads as Jagger pursued mainstream Pop and Dance music seemingly at odds with his musical credentials. Unfortunately for the frontman 'She's The Boss', in spite of being delivered with Jagger's trademark panache and enthusiasm, could not ever be construed as being an artistic or commercial success.

Rescue for Jagger came in the form of the gargantuan fund raising 'Live Aid' world benefit event. Hooking up with another bona fide member of Britain's Rock royalty DAVID BOWIE the duo scythed into the international charts with a rousing take on MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS 'Dancing In The Street'. The single easily soared to no. 1 in the UK and also cracked the US top ten. 1985 would close on a sad note though as the stoic ally and pianist Ian Stewart, for so many years considered to be the band's 6th member died of a heart attack on December 6th.

The sleazy 'Harlem Shuffle' single would herald in the next chapter for the ROLLING STONES paving the way for the 'Dirty Work' album- their first for new label CBS Records. Although 'Dirty Work' proved a convincing return to form by the close of the summer the band had slunk back into the shadows amidst renewed rumours of unbridgable rifts between Jagger and Richards. The world's media would latch onto these differences with glee and the resulting side swipes and recriminations in the music press would keep fans wondering if there was ever any possibility of the band recording again.

Nevertheless, the newly healed ROLLING STONES did regroup and resurfaced in 1989 with the single 'Mixed Emotions'. According to gossip the track title was a little too close phonetically to "Mick's Demotion" to be pure coincidence. The publicity fanfare surrounding the band's 'Steel Wheels' comeback outdid all previous efforts and the accompanying American arena tour would go on to prove a record breaker. Although many critics had found the 'Steel Wheels' material too safe the unconcerned public flocked in their millions to catch the live shows.

As CBS was brought up by the Japanese Sony corporate Giant the ROLLING STONES 1991 record, a live outing dubbed 'Flashpoint', would arrive on yet another label but as the record hit the racks it was learned that Richard Branson's Virgin label, after years of protracted negotiations and spurned offers, had finally secured the band to his Virgin label.

The band's signature to the Virgin concern was heralded by the compilation album 'Jump Back'. Wyman eventually quit and, opting not to formally replace the veteran four stringer, in his stead came session man Darryl Jones. Noted session keyboard player Chuck Leavell was also drafted to fill out the sound.

Released in July of 1994 'Voodoo Lounge' came a full four years and eleven months after its studio predecessor 'Steel Wheels'. Backed by a gargantuan promotional campaign and preceded by the radio hit 'Love Is Strong' the 'Voodoo Lounge' album was caught just shy of the top spot in America but would land the band another number one in their homeland. CD versions of the album included a 15th track 'Mean Disposition' not included on vinyl and cassette formats. The singles lifted from the album would also add a wealth of further non album material to Stones fans collections as B sides included the previously unavailable ''So Young', 'The Storm', I'm Gonna Drive' and 'Jump On Top Of Me'. The resulting live album 'Stripped', released in November of 1995, came bolstered with multimedia extras such as film of backstage jams and quicktime video. Two European singles lifted from the record gave space for yet more live tracks in 'Tumbling Dice', 'Black Limousine', 'Gimme Shelter', 'All Down The Line' and 'Live With Me'. 1995 would turn out to be a golden year for ROLLING STONES fans as the Virgin concern re-issued virtually all of the act's post 1971 albums onto remastered CDs.

Long suffering Stones fans were eventually rewarded with the long overdue release of 'Rock n' Roll Circus' in 1996 - a full 28 years after the sessions had first been recorded. The album included five Stones tracks alongside period contributions from JETHRO TULL, JOHN LENNON and TAJ MAHAL.

The November 1998 live outing 'No Security' focused on newer material and somewhat surprizingly featured a number of guest contributions. DAVE MATTHEWS is included on 'Memory Motel', Joshua Redman on 'Waiting On A Friend' and even TAJ MAHAL on 'Corinna'. Japanese copies of the record added an extra exclusive cut 'I Just Want To Make Love To You'.

RONNIE WOOD put together a solo touring band, which included ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash, for a batch of UK and Irish dates in December 2001. The band wheeled themselves out for a further round of US arena dates in 2002 and by the close of the year they had grossed over 87 million dollars in North American ticket receipts, only second behind PAUL McCARTNEY in terms of overall business.

German dates in June of 2003 found Australian Hard Rock veterans AC/DC pairing up with the band for a mighty combination. The band would then figure highly in the ranking of bands donating their services to the mammoth 30th July 'Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto' event intended to boost tourism in Toronto and southern Ontario after the SARS virus outbreak. The ROLLING STONES shared the stage with Rock n' Roll heavyweights RUSH, the AC/DC, THE GUESS WHO and FLAMING LIPS.

Keith Richards gained some unexpected but highly valuable press in 2003 with the blockbuster movie 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl'. Although the guitarist did not appear in the movie himself, Hollywood star Johnny Depp famously based his lead character Captain Jack Sparrow on Richards. With the movie proving a runaway success, Depp announced that he would be putting in a formal request for Richards to appear in the sequel as Jack Sparrow's father.