Rolling Stones gather no kudos from young

Teens Esme and Roma. Photo / Michael Craig

The Rolling Stones wowed more than 40,000 fans in Auckland last night - but time is not on their side with some of the younger generation.

Stones fanatics of a certain age couldn't get enough of evergreen classics like Satisfaction and Jumpin Jack Flash as the veteran band rocked a packed Mt Smart Stadium.

But when the Herald on Sunday took to the streets in Auckland yesterday many younger music fans could not pick out Mick Jagger, 71, Keith Richards, 70, Charlie Watts, 73, and Ronnie Wood, 67, when showed a picture of the band among men of a similar vintage.

Roma Prangley and her friend Esme Zanchi, both 17, mistook the Stones for The Wiggles. "I presume the men at the back with the sunglasses and kinda cool clothes are in a band," Roma said. "I am guessing it is the guys from The Wiggles because I think I recognise some of them from TV."

Esme said she had heard her parents talk about the Rolling Stones but could not recall hearing any of their songs. "They just look like a bunch of random old people on a day out."

Glenfield brothers Dylan and Ryan Davy, 16 and 15 respectively, had no sympathy for the old devils either. They had no idea the Stones were even in town.

Both thought guitarist Ronnie Wood was "probably" the singer because he was "in the middle" and they had never heard of guitar legend Keith Richards.

"If guys from the Rolling Stones are in that picture then one of them must be called Mick Jagger," Dylan said. "I have no idea what he looks like though. "