As part of today’s anniversary celebrations marking 60 years since the July 12, 1962 live debut of the Rolling Stones, the band’s global flagship store RS No.9 Carnaby is staging a series of activations and giveaways throughout the day.
A pop-up installation has been revealed as part of the the Spirit of Soho Mural located above the store on the corner of Carnaby Street and Broadwick Street, in the heart of the district. It features an illustration based on a well-known latter-day image of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and the late Charlie Watts.
The entire mural stands some 30 feet tall as a visual representation of many of the most famous residents of Soho, from artist William Blake and poet Dylan Thomas to jazz musician George Melly and Venetian adventurer Giacomo Casanova. The Rolling Stones were frequent denizens of the famous London locale, especially in the early days in the 1960s, at Soho venues and clubs.
Spirit of Soho mural photo – Courtesy: Doug Peters/PA Wire
Customers visiting the store today can enjoy limited edition cupcakes, created specially for the anniversary by the rebowned Hummingbird Bakery. Sixty will be given out every 60 minutes. Visitors can also see and purchase from the recently-launched SIXTY capsule collection, which marks the anniversary and the band’s current, rapturously-received SIXTY tour.
In-store activations include the Instagrammable giant tongue and lips, the ‘Stones Red’ soundbooth, and exclusive footage of the band’s incredible 60-year history, playing on five 90-inch screens. Meanwhile, the windows of RS No.9 Carnaby are displaying a world-first soundwave installation, visualized from the introduction of the Stones’ 1966 classic “Paint It Black” into a striking red metal sculpture.
The Stones’ social media outlets are today inviting fans around the world to shares stories of why they love the band and to talk about their favourite songs. The SIXTY tour played to an audience of some 50,000 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels last night (11) and next visits the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna this Friday.
Buy or stream the Rolling Stones’ Live At The El Mocambo.