Stones album: fans storm pop-up store in Vienna

2023-10-20 19:07:00

Fans flocked to buy special versions of the Hackney Diamonds record and be the first to hear the songs. “Normally we’re already asleep at this time, but we stay up for the Stones,” said Michaela and Thomas from the Baden district.

The couple wanted a vinyl edition that was only available for this occasion. You have to go to work in the morning, but you’re happy to accept that for this band. The two of them have experienced more than ten Stones concerts so far. “It’s simply the cult band that embodies rock and roll,” said Joachim from Favoriten, who was at the front of the queue. “Releasing an album with new material after 18 years is already a highlight. And then also in terms of quality! I thought the first single ‘Angry’ was great, there’s no need to discuss it.”

Susanne from Vienna attended her first Stones concert in 1982. It goes without saying that she wanted to be there at midnight: “I’ve been a fan and collector for decades. I’ll see what special editions I can get today. I’ll buy the normal editions in the record store tomorrow “Because I support them,” she said in the APA interview. The Viennese also revealed a secret about her companion: “My husband is the only non-Stones fan in the room,” she laughed. “He came to visit me here unexpectedly.” He added: “I brought champagne.”

What makes the Stones so fascinating? “That after 60 years they are still as agile and good as ever,” said Susanne. “If you look at Mick Jagger, he’s the best frontman.” Nino, who didn’t miss the event with his friends Benjamin and Michael, stated: “It’s the greatest rock band of all time, the greatest band of all genres.”

Younger generations also took advantage

It wasn’t just older students who grabbed the picture discs, colored vinyl and T-shirts, including one just for this event. Paula and Elsa, for example, do not share the preferences of many others of their generation: “Harry Styles and Taylor Swift don’t interest us at all. We were given the Stones’ music by our parents.” Why line up at midnight for a Stones LP? “We wanted to take this feeling with us because it’s really cool that a Stones album is coming out again after such a long time.”

By the way, Samir from Leopoldstadt was the first to ring the cash register at exactly midnight. A picture disc with the logo of the Stones and FC Barcelona – the band and the football club cooperate for purposes – now adorns his extensive record collection. The police also stopped by the Stones witching hour: not because the rocking sounds were too loud for anyone, but to buy a record.

“Positively surprised”

And the music itself? The first impression was “very good, maybe we should talk about it again in a week or two, but at the moment I’m positively surprised,” said Michael. When we talked shop, all the fans agreed: the comments ranged from “that sounds typical Stones, but also fresh” to “sensational”. Nobody went home disappointed, but with their bags bulging. “I would love to take everything with me,” grinned Jochen, a native of Upper Austria. “But four different vinyl editions and three T-shirts will do the trick too.”