A Tuesday...It's Belgium...and It's the Rolling Stones' European Tour

Despite a massive traffic jam, by the time the thousands of fans attending the opening night concert in Werchter Park began arriving, they were ready...for a strong set of standards and gems from Van Morrison and his great band...and for a perfect summer's evening of partying.
Of course fans also got to see the newest Rolling Stones Rockware additions- designs made specially for the opening night, two vintage inspired T's with European cities on the back, a green version of the Bigger Bang CD's liquid tongue and the latest tongue variation-a Biggest Bang DVD inspired tongue in motion featured on a button, t shirt and track jacket which proved to be very much in demand.
The 20 song blistering set that followed was as good as an opening night could be. With gems like Rocks Off, Some Girls, Heartbreaker, and the so rarely performed Waiting on a Friend, the crowd and band were as one. But with the return of the amazing Can't You Hear Me Knocking, and covers of a James Brown classic featuring a duet with Mick and Lisa Fischer and a very nostalgic version of Bobby Womack's It's All Over Now on the B Stage, the concert went into overdrive. The show finished with an encore of Sympathy For the Devil, a skyful of fireworks, and as the motorcade of vans filled with tired but relieved musicians departed with police escort for the 40 minute ride back to Brussels, it was unanimous the audience had truly experienced an amazing Belgian Bigger Bang.

Beer, Chocolate and Rockware...aka Anthill Acts Attack Antwerp and some!

Three different clients booked by three different agents into three different venues in three different cities but with all falling between June 1 and 5, the Belgian music calendar most certainly belonged to Anthill.

Il Divo's non-stop touring schedule brought them to Antwerp Friday the first. With just one month left on this record breaking world tour, the Boys are still thrilling audiences with dramatic flair and Pete Bell keeps sending them home with a great range of collectibles.

Next stop was beautiful Brussels where Josh Groban made his Belgium debut in a perfect concert setting-the acoustically perfect and totally intimate Cirque Royal theater. In support of his multi platinum selling CD, AWAKE, the 17 piece band helped Josh show why he has earned so many accolades thus far and just how diversified his repertoire has become. And although he'll deny it Bob Hannam has admitted that he has strongly considered joining the German chapter of the Grobanites!

At the same time in a studio in Brussels, the rehearsals for the final leg of The Rolling Stones' Bigger Bang world tour were wrapping up. After a six month break and recharged batteries, band and crew both did some dusting-equipment and some songs from the vast Stones catalog. At the same time hundreds were already busily transforming Park Werchter into the site of 07's first Stones gig.

As busy was the newest Anthill Stones team delivering and allocating the latest Rockware range to Ash and Ruth of vending experts IVS who were putting finishing touches to the 7 impressive sales locations that just 24 hours later would be rocking.

Merchandising Money Makers

According to the March 3, 2007 issue of Billboard Magazine ( Money Makers - pages 30-31) - "The Rolling Stones Bigger Bang Tour has taken in more than $450 million - the top grossing tour ever - The Stones' estimated 2006 income omits their merchandising fees. The band routinely generates per capita spending between $16 and $20 at its shows, and the band's retail, online, direct - to - consumer and third party licensing worldwide make them far and away the world's top - grossing merch band."

Anthill Trading is very proud to have it's efforts recognized and as always will continue to champion all of our artists.

We Finally Get to Say Congratulations !!!

We're so happy to extend our congratulations to Martin Scorsese for his " Best Director" and
" Best Picture" win for " The Departed " at Sunday's Oscars ceremony. Mr. Scorsese and The Rolling Stones recently collaborated on a feature length documentary about the band, which will be released this fall. Portions of the film were shot during a two night stand at New York's Beacon Theater late last year. We're keeping our fingers crossed that next year we'll get to see Martin, Mick, Keith, Ron and Charlie all up on that Oscar stage. And Mick Jagger and Martin Scorsese are now looking beyond the documentary realm and are joining forces to make a movie spanning three decades in the music business. Martin Scorsese will direct " The Long Play" to be produced by Mick's Jagged Films. William Monahan , who won an Oscar for writing " The Departed" will write the screenplay.