In a story that we’re 90 percent sure is some sort of elaborate trap for snarkily minded headline writers, The Rolling Stones have announced that they’re putting together a museum exhibit of old relics from a bygone musical era, and then touring it around the world for people to gawk at out of a mixture of nostalgic curiosity and sincere regard.
The band announced the upcoming museum exhibit—titled “Exhibitionism,” because there are some things you’ve just got to do when you’re a group of 70-year-old men who’ve spent more than half their lives as increasingly improbable sex symbols—via a video on its YouTube channel. Surprisingly, the video gives most of its focus to drummer Charlie Watts, who takes center stage while the iconic percussion from “Sympathy For The Devil” plays in the background. Watts declares that the exhibit will be all about him for once, while his bandmates lurch around behind him the telltale mixture of feigned and sincere camaraderie so often associated with musicians trying to do comedy. (To be fair, Mick Jagger seems as amused as anyone else at the idea of the spotlight not being directly on him for once.)
The exhibition’s online entry at London’s Saatchi Gallery, where it’ll first take up residence, gives more details about what viewers can expect to see when they visit.
“From never before seen dressing room and backstage paraphernalia to rare instruments; original stage designs, iconic costumes, rare audio tracks and video footage; personal diaries; poster and album cover artwork; and unique wraparound cinematic experiences that celebrate every aspect of their careers. Centre stage is the musical heritage that took them from a London blues band in the early 1960s to inspirational cultural icons.”
“Exhibitionism” will take up residence at the Saatchi from April to September, 2016, before touring to 11 other cities, and then presumably reuniting periodically for farewell tours until everything involved breaks down, or the heat death of the universe, whichever comes first. Advance tickets for the exhibition’s residency at the Saatchi will go on sale next week.