KEY POINTS:
The Rolling Stones finished their final US concert by thanking the New Zealand surgeon who saved Keith Richards' life.
The legendary guitarist, who suffered a blood clot after falling out of a tree in Fiji earlier this year, told fans of his gratitude to the medical team who looked after him after he was airlifted to an Auckland hospital.
Singer Sir Mick Jagger, 63, also thanked fans at the Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium for their patience after the show was postponed for four days when doctors told him to rest his voice.
A source said: "They weren't the most rock 'n' roll of announcements. But now the band can settle down to a well-earned rest."
The Stones' 'A Bigger Bang' tour has been beset with problems since it began last August. Several dates were rescheduled when Richards underwent brain surgery in New Zealand, while further delays occurred when Jagger experienced throat problems and then returned to the UK to visit his sick father, Joe, who died of pneumonia earlier this month.
Despite the difficulties, the tour is the highest-grossing in history after generating £226 million so far - overtaking U2's 'Vertigo' tour, which grossed £195 million - according to figures compiled by Billboard magazine.
The band has performed 110 shows in front of 3.5 million fans since the run of shows began last year.
- BANG! SHOWBIZ
