Production Credits
Rolling Stones Urban Jungle European Tour 1990

Performed by the Rolling Stones
Production design:  Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Patrick Woodroffe, Mark Fisher
Stage Design:  Mark Fisher, Jonathan Park
Lighting Design:  Patrick Woodroffe
Graphic Design:  4I Limited
Production Manager:  Michael Ahern
Scaffolding stage structure:  ESS
Some scenery by:  Tait Towers Inc
Inflatables:  Maquettes by Paul Wright
Balloons by Air Artists
Original scenic painting by FM Productions, San Francisco
Scenic re-painting by Keith Payne

Mark Fisher writes:
Seeking as ever to reduce the cost of moving the USA touring structure into Europe, where venues were generally smaller, ticket prices lower, and transport costs higher, the Rolling Stones’ producers decreed a smaller, cheaper stage set to replace the Steel Wheels show for the summer of 1990.

Michael Ahern had insured the delivery of the massive Steel Wheels project in the USA by touring two complete sets of scenery, lights, sound and video.  One immediate cost saving was the decision to tour only one set of scenery.  This required a simpler design, and the Urban Jungle design was based around straightforward modifications to a conventional ESS flat roof with scaffolding PA towers.  The structure was completely sheeted with panels of scenically painted 73% Textalene mesh – a salute to the myth beloved of production managers everywhere that perforated mesh delivers less wind-load to a structure than solid sheeting.  The final design echoed the derelict corrugated iron distillery buildings of Paul Theroux’s Mosquito Coast.  Large scale paintings of the scenery were prepared and approved by the band, even though the new show would tour only in Europe, the painting was undertaken at FM Productions in San Francisco and the panels air-freighted to Mile End for test erection in the Edwin Shirley yard.  Photographs of the completed structure were delivered to the band at their chateau du jour in France, where they met with general approval.

The stage was moved to Feyenoord Stadium, Rotterdam and assembled for three days of rehearsals prior to the opening show in Europe.  The arrival of the band was slightly marred by their conclusion that the appearance of the stage, whilst identical in every way to the photographs seen the previous week, was so completely unsatisfactory that it needed to be repainted immediately.  Fortunately the Ahoy exhibition halls were vacant, so all the scenery was stripped off and an army of Dutch stage hands, directed by Keith (Art is Payne) Payne (a man in greater pain than usual because of a recent wisdom tooth extraction) repainted all the Textalene in 48 hours flat.

In celebration of the Mad Maggie’s Dangerous Dogs Act, which was passing through Parliament as the show was being designed, the Urban Jungle stage was embellished with a collection of cuddly cannines sculpted in clay by Paul Wright, rendered in vinyl by Rob Harries at Air Artists and painted by Keith Payne.  Mark Norton at 4I Limited extended the rabid dog styling to the tour program and street flyer posters.