The Rolling Stones opened up their 2013 North American leg of their "50 And Counting..." tour Friday night in Los Angeles, but it was rather obvious special guest Gwen Stefani didn't quite get the memo.
The group's 23-song set at Staples Center kicked off with the UCLA Marching Band coming out before "Get Off My Cloud" but it was Stefani's guest appearance during "Wild Horses" which had many diehard fans talking afterwards. As shown in a YouTube clip, Stefani didn't quite know the lyrics to the classic, fumbling through a few lines in the second verse before Mick Jagger saved her from further embarrassment.
The lyrics are: "I watched you suffer a dull aching pain/Now you decided to show me the same/No sweeping exits or off stage lines/Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind." However seconds into the clip (which doesn't show the entire song) Stefani can be heard singing "...give me the same" before the snafu continues.
The No Doubt singer — sporting a sleeveless Stones t-shirt — continues "No offstage... could help me feel bitter." From there Jagger — positioned to Stefani's left, looks at her before glancing downward to what is most likely the lyrics teleprompter. Meanwhile, guitarist Keith Richards gives Stefani a glance wondering what just happened.
"It would never make me feel bitter or treat you unkind," Stefani continues before Jagger comes in for the chorus. The remainder of the song is error-free but Jagger seems to keep a watchful eye on Stefani throughout.
"Gwen Stefani, thanks Gwen," Jagger says as the two hug after the song, adding he's got to "get one of those t-shirts." Stefani also got kudos from fellow No Doubt member Tom Dumont.
According to authoritative Stones fan site It's Only Rock N' Roll the concert also featured the live premiere of "Emotional Rescue" as well as the inclusion of "Factory Girl," a song the band hadn't played since 1997. Keith Urban appeared as a special guest for "Respectable" while former Stones guitarist Mick Taylor guested on "Midnight Rambler." But one poster to the fan site's message board didn't mince words regarding Stefani. "The looks mick and keith give her when she butchers the lyric is amusing... sad that they have guests come on who don't even know the songs," a poster named Sonomastone wrote.
The tour continues Sunday night at Oakland's Oracle Arena.
