How the Rolling Stones' Licks Tour Celebrated 40 Years With a Rotating Setlist Strategy

The Licks Tour (2002–2003) marked the Stones’ 40th anniversary, and instead of just playing the greatest hits every night, they pulled a smart move: they rotated deep cuts, rarities, and fan-voted songs alongside the classics. Over the course of the tour, they performed around 80 different songs, which is insane for a band that could’ve coasted on “Satisfaction” alone.

The setlist strategy was built around the Forty Licks compilation — a double album that skimmed every era — so each show had a core block of obvious hits (“Start Me Up,” “Brown Sugar”) plus a rotating middle section. That middle section was where the fun happened: they’d dig out “Hand of Fate,” “Loving Cup,” or “Moonlight Mile,” stuff they hadn’t played in decades. They also let fans