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No one's ruling out surprise big-name guest stars
CHRISTOPHER HUTSUL
STAFF REPORTER
First it was U2.
Then it was just Bono.
And now it's Paul McCartney.
Only three days away from the Rolling Stones super-concert, rumours about a surprise stage appearance are flying. While such prognostications are based solely on hearsay at this point, there is reason to believe that the audience will see more than the 15 acts that have been officially announced by promoters.
Organizers alluded to as much at last Tuesday's news conference.
"I think we're going to hear ... some nice surprises," said Riley O'Connor of House Of Blues, the company promoting the event.
Some would argue that if a superstar such as Paul McCartney has been added to the concert's roster, it would be made public to give ticket sales a last-minute boost. But the show's organizers seem content with the number of tickets sold so far, and don't seem keen on having to deal with the thousands of extra fans a big name would draw.
The Bono appearance would make sense. Not only did Bono sing on a recent Mick Jagger solo album, he also joined the Rolling Stones onstage at a Chicago show in September. The U2 front man shocked the crowd by stepping on to the stage to sing "It's Only Rock And Roll" with his old pal Jagger.
More likely, and, to some, perhaps less scintillating than some of the other rumours, is that Christina Aguilera will make an appearance. She's in town for shows with Justin Timberlake, who's already on the playbill, on the nights before and after the Downsview Park spectacle. But the possibilities don't end there. There are a handful of intriguing talents touring in or near southern Ontario this week who might be keen on taking part in the event. Joe Cocker played in Toronto last night and plays tonight in London. He's got some time in southern Ontario before he plays Cohasset, Mass., Friday. Would he drop in to get a "little help from his friends?"
Legendary progressive rockers Roxy Music are doing a show at the Molson Amphitheatre tomorrow night , while Chicago is playing Casino Rama the night after the big bash. Another intriguing possibility is an appearance by Aerosmith. They're kicking off a pan-American tour next Saturday in Hartford, Conn., and a warm-up in front of 400,000 people might serve them well.
Another reason we can anticipate a surprise guest is because it happens routinely with concerts of this scale. At the 1997 Tibetan Freedom Concert in New York City, Pearl Jam did a surprise 15-minute set. Sheryl Crow has hopped onstage with the Dixie Chicks, Stevie Wonder has crashed a Billy Joel show, and Joel did the same at a Garth Brooks concert.
Said O'Connor last week: "I've done a lot of concerts in the last 30 years, and I can tell you I've had special guests show up the night before the show or while the band's on stage."
No one's ruling out surprise big-name guest stars
CHRISTOPHER HUTSUL
STAFF REPORTER
First it was U2.
Then it was just Bono.
And now it's Paul McCartney.
Only three days away from the Rolling Stones super-concert, rumours about a surprise stage appearance are flying. While such prognostications are based solely on hearsay at this point, there is reason to believe that the audience will see more than the 15 acts that have been officially announced by promoters.
Organizers alluded to as much at last Tuesday's news conference.
"I think we're going to hear ... some nice surprises," said Riley O'Connor of House Of Blues, the company promoting the event.
Some would argue that if a superstar such as Paul McCartney has been added to the concert's roster, it would be made public to give ticket sales a last-minute boost. But the show's organizers seem content with the number of tickets sold so far, and don't seem keen on having to deal with the thousands of extra fans a big name would draw.
The Bono appearance would make sense. Not only did Bono sing on a recent Mick Jagger solo album, he also joined the Rolling Stones onstage at a Chicago show in September. The U2 front man shocked the crowd by stepping on to the stage to sing "It's Only Rock And Roll" with his old pal Jagger.
More likely, and, to some, perhaps less scintillating than some of the other rumours, is that Christina Aguilera will make an appearance. She's in town for shows with Justin Timberlake, who's already on the playbill, on the nights before and after the Downsview Park spectacle. But the possibilities don't end there. There are a handful of intriguing talents touring in or near southern Ontario this week who might be keen on taking part in the event. Joe Cocker played in Toronto last night and plays tonight in London. He's got some time in southern Ontario before he plays Cohasset, Mass., Friday. Would he drop in to get a "little help from his friends?"
Legendary progressive rockers Roxy Music are doing a show at the Molson Amphitheatre tomorrow night , while Chicago is playing Casino Rama the night after the big bash. Another intriguing possibility is an appearance by Aerosmith. They're kicking off a pan-American tour next Saturday in Hartford, Conn., and a warm-up in front of 400,000 people might serve them well.
Another reason we can anticipate a surprise guest is because it happens routinely with concerts of this scale. At the 1997 Tibetan Freedom Concert in New York City, Pearl Jam did a surprise 15-minute set. Sheryl Crow has hopped onstage with the Dixie Chicks, Stevie Wonder has crashed a Billy Joel show, and Joel did the same at a Garth Brooks concert.
Said O'Connor last week: "I've done a lot of concerts in the last 30 years, and I can tell you I've had special guests show up the night before the show or while the band's on stage."
Just reporting the news. 
