Cross-Fire Hurricane Leaves Mass-Disruption In Its Wake

It came and went. Like Hurricane Katrina blowing through the Gulf Coast, The Rolling Stones beared down on Ottawa with category 5 force and turned the nation's capital upside down for much longer than the nearly two hour performance they gave to a Stones-starved crowd of 43,000. The intensity of the waves of anticipation increased with each minute leading up to the show. You could feel it. But, unlike the ominous taste of destruction from an oncoming storm, this was a welcome sensation. It was in the air and everyone knew of its magnitude and, moreover, everyone basked in its overwhelming mantle of historic importance. This was to be and ended up being the biggest, most important rock and roll concert event in the history of Ottawa. And I can't really articulate why. I just know it.

Arguably the world's greatest rock and roll band, The Stones have defied all logic and conventional longevity to not only remain simply in-tact, they're productive and successful and show no signs of slowing up. Mick Jagger, at 62, ran - no, sprinted - the width of the stage the entire show, exhibiting more energy and passion than he did that April night back in 1965 at the YMCA. For men who just don't need the money, they're firing on all cylinders from other motivations. Charlie Watts, recovering from throat cancer, is just doing what he loves - but, clearly, would otherwise be enjoying retirement had he been anything else but a Rolling Stone. Ron Wood, acknowledging the importance of such an undertaking as a Stones tour, voluntarily checked himself into rehab to clean himself up. And Keith - Keith! - conspiracy theories still abound as to his true mortal existence. Yet, there he is - in the flesh - albeit quite weather-beaten.

Yet, while we all joke about the 60-plus year old men who are old enough to be our fathers, if not our grandfathers, still touring like 20-somethings, there is a piece in everyone of us that is grateful for their staying power and never wants them to quit. It is, seemingly, the vicarious statement of our own mortality. "Rock and Roll will never die." Keith is proof enough for us all. And it's the band. It's the music; the soundtrack to our lives for over 40 years. The Rolling Stones are sole contributors to some of rock's most defining moments in our culture; from Satisfaction to Altamont to Maggie Trudeau to this year's defiant middle finger in father time's face.

And, so it was, on a balmy August evening in 2005, the pilgrimage to Ottawa's Frank Clair Stadium culminated - from Ticketmaster to ticket-taker - with the communion and celebration of our fabric as "rockers". The Rolling Stones were and are, on that night, to us all, the Mecca of Rock and Roll. And, as a Stones visit to Ottawa holds the same frequency as a Haley's Comet sighting or a Papal tour, you bet it holds importance. After all...

...this could be the last time
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
I don’t know. oh no......

You don't even have to be a fan of the band. All you have to do is witness its path of disruption.

Forecast for tomorrow: More damage from the cross-fire hurricane. The Stones are still to be spotted around town for the next few days. Updates when warranted.