Published: Dec. 1, 2012 By

Mick Jagger in Folsom

Three decades ago, Mick Jagger stood in Folsom Field for the last time, dressed in a red tank top and football pants.

As the Rolling Stones celebrate their 50th anniversary this year, many Buffs remember the band鈥檚 three riveting performances in Folsom Field. From 1966 to 1981, the Stones toured the United States every three years. During their 1978 鈥淪ome Girls鈥 tour, the band hit 24 cities, playing in Folsom July 16 with Kansas, Eddie Money and Peter Tosh. They opened with a Chuck Berry cover, 鈥淟et It Rock,鈥 and ended with 鈥淛umpin鈥 Jack Flash鈥 before an encore of 鈥(I Can鈥檛 Get No) Satisfaction.鈥

On Oct. 4-5, 1981, the Stones were back, joined by George Thorogood and Heart. Promoting their 鈥淭attoo You鈥 album, the band arrived in two black helicopters, landing behind the stage as Heart belted out 鈥淐razy On You.鈥 When the giant blue-and-pink curtains finally parted, the Stones broke into 鈥淯nder My Thumb.鈥 The crowd stood on its feet for the two-hour performance. Meanwhile, the Buffs, coached by Chuck Fairbanks, lost to UCLA 27-7 in California during the concert. Some students brought transistor radios into Folsom to follow the game.

During the 50-show tour, the band reaped $50 million in tickets sales, making it the largest grossing music tour of the year. The average ticket price was $16. It was the band鈥檚 final concert in Folsom and last in the United States until 1989.

After five decades, the legendary band may be ready for their final curtain call on the rock 鈥榥鈥 roll stage.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 expect to last until 50 myself, let alone with the Stones,鈥 Keith Richards has said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible, really. In that sense we鈥檙e still living on borrowed time.鈥

Check out these other photos of the Rolling Stones at Folsom Field taken by Michael Goldman (Pharm鈥78) when he was a Program Council photographer at CU.聽The first two were taken in 1978 and the rest are from 1981.

Photo at the beginning of the story courtesy of the聽1982 Yearbook by Doug Conarroe

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Mick Jagger

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