Rolling Stones tour opener bumped to May 3 by NBA playoffs

By Randy Lewis

April 23, 2013 12 AM PT

The Rolling Stones famously expressed their sympathy for the devil, and now they’ll get a chance to do the same toward the NBA, as the league’s basketball playoffs have shifted what was to be the opening of the band’s 50 and Counting tour back a day to May 3.

Other dates on the tour, now consisting of 17 dates in 10 cities through June 21, are unaffected. Tickets for the originally announced tour opener on May 2 at Staples Center in Los Angeles will be honored on the new date. Those who cannot attend on May 3 will be able to get refunds at the point of purchase.

The Stones have added several shows to the original batch announced earlier this month, including a second Staples show on May 20 and an additional performance in Orange County at the Honda Center in Anaheim on May 18.

The tour now has multiple nights slated in L.A., Anaheim, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Toronto.

It’s unknown how many more stops may be added. Earlier this month, guitarist Keith Richards told The Times: “The thing about the Stones is, once you start this thing rolling, it’s hard to stop. I’m happy to play as many gigs as we can.”

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