By the spring of 1975, The Rolling Stones were dealing with a major lineup change. Guitarist Mick Taylor had walked out in late 1974, leaving the band to find a replacement before hitting the road again. Their answer was Ronnie Wood, then still a member of The Faces. Wood had been jamming with the Stones informally for months, and when the Tour of the Americas ’75 was announced, he was officially on board — at first as a temporary stand-in, though he would never really leave.
The band made the tour announcement in the most attention-grabbing way they could. In May 1975, they loaded onto a flatbed truck and played live as it rolled down Fifth Avenue in New York City, drawing crowds of stunned onlookers along one of the most famous streets in the world.
Mick Jagger announces the ‘Tour of the Americas ’75’ on a flatbed truck on 5th Avenue, New York, May 1975.The Rolling Stones announce the ‘Tour of the Americas ’75’ on a flatbed truck on 5th Avenue, New York, May 1975.
Mick Jagger performs on a flatbed truck to announce the ‘Tour of the Americas ’75,’ New York, May 1975.
Mick Jagger announces the ‘Tour of the Americas ’75’ on a flatbed truck on 5th Avenue, New York, May 1975.
The Rolling Stones announce the ‘Tour of the Americas ’75’ on a flatbed truck on 5th Avenue, New York, May 1975.Mick Jagger performs on a flatbed truck to announce the ‘Tour of the Americas ’75,’ New York, May 1975.Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Bill Wyman perform on a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1975.Mick Jagger poses with a parasol, while Charlie Watts is visible, as The Rolling Stones perform on a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1975.Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Bill Wyman perform on a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1975.Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Bill Wyman perform on a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1975.Mick Jagger and Billy Preston perform on a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1975.Charlie Watts and Keith Richards perform on a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1975.Billy Preston, Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, and Keith Richards perform on a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1975.Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards perform on a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1975.Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, and Bill Wyman perform on a flatbed truck on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 1975.
The Fifth Avenue stunt also introduced another key player: keyboardist Billy Preston, who joined the Stones on the road as a touring musician. Preston’s presence added a soulful, gospel-tinged layer to the band’s live sound throughout the tour. Percussionist Ollie Brown also joined the expanded lineup, giving the rhythm section extra depth on stage.
The full tour ran from June through August 1975, covering North America before heading to South America. The setlist drew heavily from the band’s back catalog while also featuring tracks from their 1974 album It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll. Venues ranged from arenas to full stadiums, with the band filling each one.
Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts perform live on stage , 1975.Mick Jagger, draped in an American flag, performs with Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Ronnie Wood , 1975.Mick Jagger, draped in an American flag, performs with Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Ronnie Wood , 1975.
Mick Jagger’s stage presence on this tour was notably theatrical. He wore elaborate costumes, draped himself in American flags, and moved across the stage with a restless energy. At Madison Square Garden in June 1975, he literally swung out over the crowd on a suspended rig — a stunt that underlined how much the Stones were pushing the boundaries of what a rock concert could look like.
Mick Jagger, with Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts, performs with The Rolling Stones , 1975.
Mick Jagger, wearing an American football shirt, performs with The Rolling Stones , 1975.
Mick Jagger, wearing an American football shirt, performs with The Rolling Stones , 1975.
Keith Richards, wearing a ripped vest, performs with The Rolling Stones , 1975.
Keith Richards, wearing a ripped vest, performs with The Rolling Stones , 1975.
While Jagger dominated the front of the stage, Keith Richards anchored everything from behind his guitar. His chemistry with Ronnie Wood was immediate. The two locked into a dual-guitar interplay that gave the Stones’ live sound a looser, more spontaneous feel than it had during the Taylor years. Wood matched Richards’ rhythmic instincts while bringing his own slide guitar style to the mix.
The Rolling Stones perform on their tour in the United States, June 1975.Mick Jagger seated in a limousine car during the tour, June 1975.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards perform on stage during the tour, June 1975.
Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger perform on stage during the tour, June 1975.
Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood perform on stage during the tour, June 1975.Mick Jagger and Keith Richards perform on stage during the tour, June 1975.Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, and Keith Richards perform on stage during the tour, June 1975.Mick Jagger and Keith Richards perform on stage during the tour, June 1975.The Rolling Stones perform on their tour in the United States, June 1975.
On June 6, the band played Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri — one of the larger outdoor shows of the tour. The open-air stadium format was still relatively new territory for rock acts at the time, and the Stones handled it without missing a beat.
The Rolling Stones perform at Arrowhead Stadium during their “Tour Of The Americas” on June 6, 1975, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Madison Square Garden served as one of the tour’s focal points, with the band playing multiple nights there. The June 25 shows featured the full expanded lineup — Wood, Richards, Watts, Wyman, Jagger, Preston, and Brown — all performing together on one of the most famous stages in the world.
Mick Jagger performs on stage at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on July 23, 1975, in New York, New York.Mick Jagger performs on stage at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on July 23, 1975, in New York, New York.Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards perform on stage at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on July 23, 1975, in New York, New York.Mick Jagger performs on stage at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on July 23, 1975, in New York, New York.Billy Preston, Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts, and Keith Richards perform on stage at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on July 23, 1975, in New York, New York.Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger perform on stage at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on July 23, 1975, in New York, New York.The Rolling Stones perform at Madison Square Garden with Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Billy Preston, and Ollie Brown on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.
Mick Jagger swings over the crowd at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Charlie Watts perform with percussionist Ollie Brown at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.
Mick Jagger swings over the crowd at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Charlie Watts perform with percussionist Ollie Brown at Madison Square Garden during the band’s ‘Tour of America ’75” on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, and Bill Wyman perform with percussionist Ollie Brown at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, and Keith Richards perform with percussionist Ollie Brown at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.
Mick Jagger performs at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.
Mick Jagger performs with Ronnie Wood at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.
Mick Jagger performs at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Ollie Brown, and Billy Preston perform at Madison Square Garden during the band’s “Tour of America ’75” on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.
Mick Jagger performs with Keith Richards at Madison Square Garden during the band’s ‘Tour of America ‘ 75″ on June 25, 1975, in New York, New York.
Mick Jagger performs on one date of The Rolling Stones Tour of the Americas ’75 in July 1975.
Heather Brown is a writer and historian with a passion for all things vintage. She shares her knowledge of the past through her blog, with a particular focus on historical photos and the stories they tell.
