Nov. 1, 1964 | The Rolling Stones Play San Diego

Nov. 1, 1964 - Pounding drums, blaring electric guitars, and the shrieks of 2,000 teenagers shattered the silence of San Diego’s Balboa Park tonight.
The music was that of the Rolling Stones, and the shrieks belonged to their youthful fans.
The Stones are billed as the “top group in England” — and that includes the Beatles.
Young girls pelted the Stones with candy, gum, and combs, as lead singer Mick Jagger pranced and performed high-energy rhythm and blues numbers. The other members of the group are Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and Keith Richard.
Extensive security precautions were taken to avoid any incidents which could have been harmful to the entertainers or the hyperactive crowd. About 70 private patrolmen were stationed around Balboa Park Bowl.
Other than continual screaming and pushing to get a better look at the Stones, however, the crowd was well behaved.
A getaway that would have done justice to Jesse James was planned for the Stones to make sure no riot erupted when they ended their act. As the last note sounded, they dropped their instruments and ran for a limousine by the stage door that was scheduled to whisk them to the airport.
The Stones pattern their music after rhythm and blues singers in the United States who reached their peak of popularity in the mid-1950s.
They wear long shaggy hair similar to the Beatles — but it is more unruly and unsightly. Each member of the Rolling Stones dresses differently on stage.
This individuality of dress is one of their trademarks. The group is rated higher in England than the Beatles, but has not gained as much international attention.
“Wait until they come back next April,” Bob Bonis, their American tour manager said.
The San Diego show ended the first week of a three-week tour of the United States. The Stones flew to Los Angeles last night after their performance. A group of about 350 excited fans were on hand to greet the Stones when they arrived at Lindbergh Field yesterday evening. Some waited as long as two hours to see their idols.
With the fans expecting to see and talk to the Stones for a few minutes in a press conference, their chartered plane taxied up near the teenagers.

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