Rolling Stones to Rock Super Bowl

The Rolling Stones will perform during the halftime show at Super Bowl XL, set to air live on ABC February 5th at Ford Field in Detroit.

"We are thrilled to perform for millions of fans at one of the most exciting and highly anticipated sporting events of the year," the band said in a statement.

The legendary rockers join the event's star-studded ranks, whose past performers have included heavyweights Paul McCartney, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Aerosmith, Nelly and Kid Rock. In 2004, Justin Timerberlake and Janet Jackson's breast-baring incident sent shockwaves through viewers and the Federal Communications Commission alike, resulting in heavy fines for the network and its affiliates.

The Stones also announced a European summer tour in support of their latest album, A Bigger Bang, set to kick off May 27th in Barcelona. While they are currently the only act confirmed for the event, additional musicians are expected to be announced in coming weeks.

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Great Gatsby' Is a Crushing Disappointment
• 
  TV Why You Should Watch 'Happy Endings'
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter