Rolling Stones gear up to relaunch tour

Keith Richards had surgery in Auckland's Ascot hospital after falling from a tree in Fiji. Picture / Reuters.

After a drama-filled break that included brain surgery for Keith Richards and rehab for Ron Wood, the Rolling Stones are gearing up to relaunch what could be the top-grossing tour of all time.

The Stones' A Bigger Bang tour is set to resume July 11 in Milan.

"We were not the top touring band in the world in May and June, I know that," tour producer Michael Cohl told Billboard.

"We were the top resting and recovering band." Rehearsals will get under way next week.

The band already has grossed in the US$250 million-plus ($410 million) range, and has 21 more stadium dates in Europe on the tour, through September 3 in Horsens, Denmark.

Another 10 dates that were postponed due to Richards' injury could still be re-booked.

With stadium dates averaging in the $5 million-per gross range, at the very least another $100 million could roll into the Stones' coffers, which would take the tour to record heights.

- REUTERS