This is the ticket stub from the first time I saw the Rolling Stones, on the Steel Wheels tour in 1989, at Sullivan Stadium, the old dump where the Patriots used to play before they moved across the parking lot to the beautiful Gillette Stadium. This was a huge moment at the time, because the relationship between Mick and Keith had been frosty for a few years, and there was quite a bit of doubt as to whether we'd see them again.

As I was shelling out the ticket money (28 bucks, an out-freaking-rageous sum of money at the time) I clearly remember saying " It's the Stones...I'll never get another chance to see them!"

Oh well. In fact, in the two subsequent times I've seen the Stones, I was convinced that this would be "The Last Time". Corny joke, I know.

Either way, it was money well spent, and the Halifax Commons show will be no exception. Make all the jokes you want about the band being over the hill, but anybody who went to Magnetic Hill last year will say that the old buggers can still blow just about anybody off the stage.

Now, we're wondering who the openers will be. That'll probably have to wait a couple of weeks.

We can tell you who they aren't going to be, though... Aerosmith and Motley Crue are in New Jersey. The Who, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wolfmother and The Raconteurs are names that have popped up, but they're all playing at a big festival in Baltimore the same day.

Never did like Baltimore. Charm City, my ass!

You hate to throw names out there, especially if they don't pan out. I remember watching the TV in February, and there was a guy from a radio station (what do we know, anyway?) saying with absolute 100% certainty that U2, Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac (?) were going to play Magnetic Hill this summer. How's that working out for ya, Sparky?

Either way, the Stones always have a big name opener on their tours...it's just a matter of who's available at the time.